What is an Obesity Medicine Specialist/Baritrician and What is Obesity Medicine?
Obesity medicine is a specialty of medicine. Obesity medicine clinicians work with their patients to help them lose weight, keep it off, and improve their health without having surgery or after having surgery. Even losing a little bit of weight can make a difference in your health!
Obesity medicine clinicians use a comprehensive approach that incorporates multiple treatment methods. The plan is personalized for each patient, so they have a better chance at successful weight loss. Plans may include nutrition, physical activity, behavior change, and medications.
Why see an obesity medicine specialist?
While many patients do achieve their weight and health goals with commercial programs, many do not or they experience weight regain. An obesity medicine specialist can provide additional expertise to move forward with weight loss and improve overall health. Patients with obesity frequently have other conditions in addition to obesity. Patients maybe on multiple medications, some of which may add to weight gain. The obesity medicine specialist can collaborate with the patient’s PCP, making recommendations for alternative medications. Additionally, the specialist would oversee the patient’s health during active weight loss to adjust current medications so patients do not experience low blood pressure, low blood sugar, electrolyte abnormalities, etc which may go undetected in a non-medical program. Finally, the obesity medicine specialist may prescribe weight loss medications as a useful additional tool.
Do you use medications?
Medications can be very important tools, along with nutrition and activity, in an individualized weight management program. Your weight management physician will look at the medications you may already be taking, make recommendations for alternative medications and collaborate with your PCP to make appropriate changes. Additionally, she may prescribe from a growing number of weight loss medications for a brief period of time to help with weight management.
http://www.obesityaction.org/
Do you treat adolescents?
Yes, we treat adolescents over age 11 who have a BMI over the 95th percentile. We follow the current guidelines for healthy weight loss goals for safe and effective weight management, and work with the entire family to meet the child’s weight goals.
What if I am interested in weight loss surgery?
Your doctor also works with patients who have had weight loss surgery and understands the process very well. She will talk to you about your options for weight loss surgery. Together you can decide if surgery is the best plan for you.
Do I have to buy food or supplements from your clinic?
Our focus is on whole food and real food. Some patients need additional help with meal replacement and we can make recommendations regarding healthy options. Frequently, we find patients need additional vitamin and mineral supplementation as they are improving their nutrition. Though we make Thorne products available at a discounted price, you are not obligated to buy them and we will make recommendations regarding other reputable products.
Do I have to see the social worker?
During the initial visit, you will be screened for various conditions which often accompany obesity. You and your doctor will decide together whether individual counseling would help move you forward with your health and weight goals. Sometimes patients identify issues they did not realize were barriers to weight loss and they find they are able to move forward by collaborating with the Stephanie Husk, LCSW.
Do you bill insurance?
Unfortunately, insurance does not cover the medical treatment of obesity. We will charge an affordable self pay fee based on a sliding scale. We can offer a superbill which you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. An FSA or HSA can also work for payment.
Our six month program is self pay. Please contact us for details.
Stephanie Husk does bill most major insurances for her one on one services.
Do you have a cash pay price?
We accept cash, credit, debit, FSA, HSA, and have many affordable plans.
How often will I be seen?
You will meet for a 60 minute initial consultation with your doctor and in a week for another 40 min treatment plan visit. From there you will follow up weekly for additional support from another team member depending on your schedule and your goals. Once you reach your initial weight goal, usually in the first 6 months, the follow up is less frequent, depending on your needs. If you are on weight loss medications, you will need to see your doctor on a monthly basis. The program is structured to last a year and then as needed once your R3 plan is in place.
What can I expect from the first consultation?
- A history and physical exam
- A comprehensive review of your weight history
- Screening for conditions frequently associated with obesity
- Detailed nutrition and activity plan, and goal setting
- Labs if not completed in the last 3 months
- Electrocardiogram (EKG) if weight loss medications are being considered
Do I have to exercise? What if I can’t exercise?
For many patients, exercise has become a drudgery, perhaps because moving worsens a chronic pain condition. We will help you become more active, whether that includes structured exercise or not. If you have pain barriers to movement, we can include a physical therapist as part of our team, who is specifically trained to help you find ways to move without hurting yourself. Though exercise may not be necessary for initial weight loss, it will be important for weight maintenance and overall improved health. By the end of the program, most patients find moving to be something they actually enjoy.
Do I have to eat vegetables?
Eating vegetables is the best way to enable you to get the maximum nutrition from food and enjoy the most quantity of food. In other words, vegetables give you the most bang for your buck. We won’t ask you to love brussel sprouts, but we will ask you to try foods you may never have considered and experiment in the kitchen. You too can become a Food Hero.
