Summary
This is a growing, 70-location medical weight loss program that's now available
in 20 states: Alabama, Arizona, Florida (18 locations), Arizona, Nevada, Ohio,
Connecticut, California, Kansas, Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Mississippi, Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York,
Texas (8 locations). Clinics are franchises.
The program 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 15% of this company's clients are men, 85% 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) wellness - 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 on the program and they have a fitness program that can
be done at home that includes access to over 400 exercises on-line, portable
fitness equipment, educational manuals, and a DVD. Psychological issues are
covered in the weekly meetings.
The company has a signature patient website that has additional recipes for all
phases of the program (more than 20), instructional exercise videos, and a
weight loss tracker. This weight loss tracker plots the patient’s progress week
by week.
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.
In certain large metro areas such as New York City and Chicago, prices may be
slightly higher. 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.