Headquarters

777 S. Harbor Island Blvd.

Tampa, FL  33602

Ed Kaloust, CEO, Carol Balkom, VP Marketing, Leslie Carter, Registered Dietitian

(877-633-5677)

www.mediweightlossclinics.com

Summary

This is a growing, 50-location medical weight loss program that's now available in 15 states: Alabama, Florida (18 locations), Arizona (8 locations), Nevada, California, Delaware, Kansas, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Tennessee, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Texas. Clinics are licensees--not franchises.

The program was began in 2004 and the clinics started opening in 2006. Each clinic does have an MD, who is required to become a member of the American Assn. of Bariatric Physicians.

About 5-7% of this company's clients are men, 93-95% women.

The Program

This program is completely physician supervised. It's a very low calorie (500/day) diet based on eating regular foods. Supplements and vitamin injections (amino acids, B-12, chromium), as well as prescription appetite suppressants may be used as well, if needed. The program includes a complete patient management tool, detailed scale and behavior modification. The company's Vita-Super Daily Supplement is taken as a tablet once a day with meals, and provides essential vitamins and minerals.

Clients are asked to come to the center once a week for monitoring, and there is an extensive maintenance phase. There are three phases to the program:

1) acute (weight loss phase) - This is a 500-600 calorie/day phase where you eat high protein foods and 2 servings of vegetables or 1 fruit and 1 vegetable.

2) short-term maintenance - In this phase, they wean you off the appetite suppressant meds and raise the calorie level.

3) long-term maintenance - In this phase, you get more emphasis on support and exercise, and skills needed to keep the weight off.

Clients get monthly check-ups and lab work. All counseling is performed by medical professionals such as physician assistants and nurse practitioners. The company employs a Medical Director and a registered dietitian.

Most of the clinics dispense the prescription appetite suppressants in-house.

Exercise is recommended but is not provided at the clinics. You basically do this on your own. Psychological issues are covered in the weekly meetings and the company does have a Psychologist on staff.

Cost

The Medi-Weightloss diet plan costs $268 for the initial consultation, lab work, EKG and a start-up kit, plus $70 per week. Prescription drugs, vitamin injections and counseling are all included in the $70. Supplements cost an additional $20-40/month and include vitamins, fat burners and a colon cleanser. If a person had 50 lbs. to lose and lost an average of 3-4 lbs. per week on this plan, their cost would be about $1,200. Most of these costs, with the exception of the supplements, would likely be covered by health insurance.