The Emory Bariatric Center in Atlanta, GA, offers a multi-disciplinary strategy for combating obesity utilizing physicians, psychologists, dietitians, exercise specialists, and, when medically appropriate, surgery. This page describes the center's non-surgical, medical weight management options.

Overview: Medical (Non-Surgical) Weight Management
Comprehensive Weight Management Program
Fast Track Pre-Surgical Weight Management Program
Contact

The Medical Weight Management Program offers one-on-one treatment of obesity wherein patients meet individually with each member of the weight management team. The center also sponsors a Comprehensive Weight Management Program in which patients use liquid meal replacement and participation in group lifestyle education classes to achieve safe and, in most cases, rapid weight loss while learning long-term weight-management skills. Additionally, a Fast Track Program is offered for patients who desire to lose weight and reduce risk before bariatric surgery.

This approach treats the clinically obese or those patients who have significant medical problems related to being overweight such as high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, joint or bone disease and the need for non-emergency surgery. Before starting the program, all patients have a physical exam conducted by the center's bariatrician, comprehensive blood and urine testing and an ECG. During the first week, patients are asked to reduce their caloric intake to approximately 1,200 calories per day. Beginning the following week and continuing for 14 weeks total, patients are placed on an 800-calorie regimen using low-calorie liquids, vitamins and minerals and a special low fat supplement of purified protein and sugar. On week 15, food is re-introduced in a carefully regulated and methodical manner.

For the duration of the program's 21 weeks, the bariatrician and medical staff will medically monitor patients and perform periodic blood testing. While standard work activities are acceptable, heavy or unusual exercise is NOT permitted. If patients have a large amount of excess weight to lose, the bariatrician may approve that the program be extended in seven-week blocks.

Since this program is used to treat patients who must lose weight prior to weight reduction surgery, its goals are to reduce operative risks, improve healing, decrease post-surgical complications and prepare the patient for the nutritional and behavior modifications mandatory for maintaining weight loss following surgery. Fast Track occurs during the same period as the pre-surgical preparation process and is similar to the first seven weeks of the Comprehensive Program.

Before being evaluated by a surgeon as a candidate for weight reduction surgery, prospective patients must meet the required body mass index (BMI). For an overview of surgical interventions for obesity, please click here.

Those interested in enrolling in the Medical Weight Management Program should call Emory HealthConnection at 404.778.7777 or 1.800.75.EMORY (1.800.753.6679) to register for a free, informational seminar.

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