Medical Weight Loss Program

There is a lot of information on the “best” way to lose weight. Some of that information is accurate, but unfortunately much of it is not. None of it takes into account your personal health issues. For individuals with more serious health concerns, it is especially essential to weed out fact from fiction. At Sentara Comprehensive Weight Loss Solutions we only practice evidence-based medicine, and we take your whole health into account.

We address multiple factors that affect your weight

Our Medical Obesity Treatment Program is truly comprehensive and addresses multiple factors that affect your weight such as:

Medical issues and medications that may contribute to weight gain
Dietary advice specific to each patient’s health and lifestyle
Behavior Modification and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help make needed changes easier and long-lasting
Exercise Therapy customized to each patient’s specific need

Our program is designed to teach you how to eat healthier and be healthier for the rest of your life. We do not endorse extreme or fad diets for short-term weight loss.

We may prescribe medications to make following your eating plan easier

We may prescribe medications to make following your eating plan easier. Remember, there is no pill that can make you lose weight. Medications only help you to follow your weight loss plan. To achieve your weight loss goal, you will need to follow the comprehensive plan that we formulate together. Sometimes, we can adjust current medications from ones that encourage weight gain to ones that encourage weight loss instead. You will have a full evaluation to see what, if any, medication options are appropriate for you, and we will re-evaluate regularly to adjust if needed.

We will be happy to keep your primary care physician updated with our office notes and lab results. Even though we will help monitor and treat your obesity-related health concerns, it is important that you continue to see your primary care physician as regularly as is recommended.

Am I a candidate?

Medical Weight Loss is a good option for patients who have a BMI over 30, which indicates obesity. A good definition of obesity is when a person’s percent of body fat reaches a level where it negatively affects that person’s health. This generally happens when the BMI reaches around 30 or above. Morbid obesity means your weight is at a point where you are statistically less likely to live as long as should, because of your weight.

If your BMI is greater than 30 and you have at least one health problem exacerbated by your weight, you are a good candidate for our program. There are many health issues related to obesity such as high cholesterol or blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease, even knee and hip arthritis, fatigue and shortness of breath with exercise. If you are in doubt you have health issues which could improve with weight loss, please call our office and we will be happy to assist you to see if you would be a good candidate for our clinic.

Additionally, there is a good chance your visit will be covered by your health insurance if you meet the above criteria. If you do not meet our criteria, we have cash pay programs which also incorporate our registered dietician and exercise physiologist to help you be the healthiest you can be.

Getting started

Watch an online seminar to learn more about Medical Weight Loss at Sentara