ONLINE ORIENTATION
Vincent Pera, MD
Medical and Program Director
WELCOME
We hope this orientation will help you learn about the treatment of obesity and help you make an informed decision about whether our program is the right choice for you.
Vincent Pera, MD
Medical and Program Director Center for Weight & Wellness
With our 30-plus years of experience, treating more than 10,000 patients, we are here to help improve your weight management skills and achieve health goals.
The Center for Weight & Wellness offers you EXPERIENCE Providing safe and effective treatment for more than 30 years, with more than 10,000 patients treated COORDINATED, MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO TREATMENT Including medical, behavioral, nutritional, and exercise CUSTOMIZED TREATMENT Addressing the causes of obesity with programs for all EXCELLENT OUTCOMES Average body weight loss of 10 – 21 percent for LEAN, Modified Fast & Full Fast LONG-TERM SUPPORT The Masters Program and Back on Track
Meet Our Zoom Group Leaders
Maria Buckley, PhD
Ernestine Jennings, PhD
Norma FaraoneLedgard, LCMHC
Arianna Colella Ex. Physiologist
Nicole Tella, MS Registered Dietitian
Katy MacQueen, MS Registered Dietitian
Camille Gregorian, LICSW
Joanne DeCataldo, MA Health Educator
Testimonial “Eat smart, go to all the treatment groups, apply what you learn, become mindful about your choices, and find an exercise that you will enjoy doing – and finally, don’t give up!” “It’s a challenging journey but the destination is so worth it!” - Michael lost 80 pounds in the Modified Fast Program
Mike’s Transformation:
What is Obesity? A disease of excess fat storage with a number of associated diseases, such as Type 2 Diabetes, known as comorbidities.
Obesity also… • has many different contributing factors (genetic, environmental, behavioral, etc.) • is lifelong/chronic • is progressive • is potentially life-threatening • can increase patient’s health care costs
Evaluations before Enrollment • Weight and Lifestyle
• Assesses lifestyle and behavioral issues that may be affecting weight • Assesses triggers such as stress • Assesses daily habits • Reviews personal goals
• Medical
• Includes comprehensive physical exam and lab work • Seeks medical causes of obesity and presence of other disease • Provides baseline assessment of medications • Identifies medical problems that may interfere with exercise
• Exercise
• Assesses: • exercise history • body composition • measurements • Referral for stress test (as needed) • Individual exercise prescription is developed for each patient
Variety of Programs offered based on… • • •
• Weight Medical Conditions • Lifestyle
Psychological Factors Personal Goals
Full Fast Fast Track or Modified Fast Your Choice, Your Weigh or LEAN
Your Choice, Your Weigh! This solid food diet helps patients focus on total health through behavioral, nutrition, exercise and wellness, while receiving resources to ensure a well-rounded and balanced approach to their goals. Target Weight Loss
Length of Program
Protocol
10 – 25 lbs.
Ten Weeks
All food plan
Medical visits: 2 Ten-week nutrition programs include: • Mediterranean diet to improve cholesterol • DASH protocol to improve blood pressure
• • •
Vegetarian, plant-based approach Customized diet for specific needs Traditional balance deficit diet for weight control
Weekly behavioral, nutrition/food preparation, stress management or exercise education
LEAN Program LEAN = Lifestyle, Education, Activity, & Nutrition The LEAN program is an all solid food diet that aids patients to form healthy eating habits while steadily losing weight. No supplements are used. Behavioral, nutrition, and exercise components are covered in group sessions. Target Weight Loss 20-40 lbs.
Averaging: 1-2 pounds per week
Length of Program 20 weeks
Protocol Balanced deficit diet (about 1,200-1,500 calories/day) Weekly behavioral, nutrition or exercise treatment education
Medical visits weeks: 1, 10, and 20
Modified Fast This program encourages patients to learn healthy eating habits. The plan consists of one healthy meal per day, in addition to three or four OptiFastÂŽ supplements. Behavioral, nutrition, and exercise components are covered in group sessions. Target Weight Loss
Length of Program
Protocol
40-100 pounds
20 weeks
Diet: 3 OptiFastÂŽ supplements and 1 meal per day
Averaging: 2-3 pounds per week
Includes: 16 week fast and 4 week re-introduction to food
Weekly behavioral, nutrition or exercise treatment education
Medical visits weeks: 1 and 2, then bi-weekly
Sample Day: Modified Fast Protocol 7 AM:
7 PM:
11 AM:
8:30 PM:
3 PM:
Drink water all day!
*Fast Track 30-Day Modified Fast This program is an abbreviated version of Modified Fast with one healthy meal per day, in addition to three or four OptiFast® supplements. Behavioral, nutrition, and exercise components are covered in weekly group sessions. Target Weight Loss 10 – 15 pounds
Length of Program 4 weeks on Modified Fast Protocol followed by 10-20 weeks in an all-food program
Protocol First 4 weeks: 3 OptiFast® supplements and 1 meal per day After 4 weeks: all-food plan of your choice*
Medical visits: 2
*The Fast Track program is only available when you enroll in Your Choice, Your Weigh (10 weeks) or the LEAN Program (20 weeks).
Full Fast To achieve stimulus narrowing (chewing/eating process), solid food is not consumed on this plan. Behavioral, nutrition, and exercise components are covered in group sessions. Transition back to solid food under the supervision of our medical team. Target Weight Loss
Length of Program
Protocol
75+ pounds
20+ weeks
Full liquid diet consisting of OptiFastÂŽ products
Averaging: 3-5 pounds per week
Includes: 12+ week fast Weekly behavioral, and 8 week re-introduction nutrition or exercise to food based on goals treatment education Medical visits weeks: 1 through 20
Sample Day: Full Fast Protocol 6 AM:
6 PM:
10 AM:
9 PM:
2 PM:
Drink water all day!
Dietitian Available by Appointment • Our Modified Fast and Full Fast medically supervised programs safely use OptiFast® meal replacement supplements. • Daily caloric intake is greatly reduced, producing a quick and steady rate of weight loss. This increases motivation and compliance. Theresa Jerominek MS, RD, CDOE Registered Dietitian
• Meal replacements narrow your food choices and make it easier to stick to your plan.
What is Optifast®? • High-quality nutritional supplement • 100 percent RDI for vitamins and minerals in five servings per day • Designed for long-term use and meal replacement • Options are available for gluten, lactose, dairy and soy sensitivities. • Several types of products are available.
Weight Management Treatment Groups • Psychologists, licensed clinical therapists, dietitians and exercise physiologists facilitate the groups • Provide skills, strategies, support interventions and education for losing weight and maintaining weight loss • Gain support and learn from experience of other members • Patients choose a specific day and time • Groups have rolling admissions Evidence shows that combining behavioral therapy with other weight management methods can help patients lose weight and keep it off
Specialty Treatment Groups
Emotional Eating
*Diabetes
• Emotional eating issues and triggers • Support interventions and education for emotional eating issues • Discuss with provider at medical evaluation or weight and lifestyle evaluation
• Diabetes education, nutritional and exercise needs of the patient with diabetes • Certified Rhode Island Department of Health Diabetes Outpatient Education program • Visiting experts, including podiatrist and pharmacist *Available for future enrollment
Continued Support
Masters • Focuses on skills and strategies for weight maintenance • No cost for one year (no more than 15% re-gain) • Weekly group sessions • Continued multidisciplinary approach • Medical visits every eight weeks • Ongoing supervision and support
Back on Track • This group is designed to help returning patients to reconnect and refine the behaviors and attitudes that brought them success in the past. • Return to the program within three years of last visit • Initial program fees waived • Expedited treatment start
Your Commitment… Daily requirements: • • • •
Drink at least 64 oz. of calorie-free fluids No more than 16 ounces of caffeinated beverages 50 extra calories daily No alcohol • liver distress, high calorie content , association with food
Weekly requirements:
• Attend Zoom educational/behavioral group sessions • Weigh-in and blood pressure recording at home via home scale and blood pressure monitor (or, in-person) • Attend Zoom Medical visits according to treatment plan • Purchase of Optifast® products as needed
Initial Evaluations Out of pocket cost with Medical Insurance coverage Weight and Lifestyle Evaluation ~with behavioral clinician Medical Evaluation ~with physician Exercise Evaluation ~with exercise physiologist Total for Initial Evaluations:
Copay/deductible Copay/deductible $0
(part of Item 2, see next slide)
Two copays/deductible
Enrollment Fee Covers Exercise evaluation and ongoing meetings and measurements with the exercise physiologist Visits with the dietitian Patient education materials: specific to treatment group
• • •
Non-refundable fee, three years Paid at start of program Out-of-pocket expense for all patients
Enrollment Fee
[
[
Fast Track
$29
Your Choice, Your Weigh
$99
LEAN
$249
Modified Fast
$249
Full Fast
$249
Medical Visits
[
[
Fast Track
2 visits
2 copay
Your Choice, Your Weigh
2 visits
2 copays
LEAN
3 visits
3 copays
Modified Fast
11 visits
11 copays
Full Fast
20 visits
20 copays
Behavioral Treatment Groups
[
[
Fast Track
4 weeks $100
Your Choice, Your Weigh 10 weeks $250 LEAN
20 weeks $500
Modified Fast
20 weeks $500
Full Fast
20 weeks $500
OptifastÂŽ Costs
*Does not apply to LEAN or YCYW Programs* Weekly Cost for Powdered Shakes
Weekly Cost for Ready to Drink Shakes
Modified fast (3 per Day)
$66
$81.90
Full Fast (5 per day)
$110
$136.50
The average adult spends $68.88 on Supermarket food each week (not including fast food, restaurant, or convenience food purchases).
Treatment Charges 10% discount for group costs paid in full at enrollment. Monthly payment option on the 15th of each month. Bonus weeks for LEAN, Modified Fast and Full Fast: two extra weeks to your program allowing for sickness, vacation, etc.
Payments or copayments for medical visits must be paid at the time of service. See visit codes below. Common medical visit codes: 99203, 99204, 99213, 99214 Psychological visit code: 90791
Financial assistance available on a limited basis.
Testimonial “I stayed the course, attended all weekly groups and did not cheat and always prepared my mindset for weight loss. I’m feeling healthy and happy! The continued support of the staff and the members of the weekly group made it all possible.” - Emily lost 130 pounds in the Modified Fast Program
Emily’s Transformation:
Teen Program – Lighten Up • Offered to Teens 14-18 years of age • Zoom Behavioral, nutrition, and exercise components are covered individually and in weekly Zoom group sessions • Zoom Parent Education Sessions offered separately to support teen success • Zoom Medical visits as needed
The Center for Weight & Wellness has two sites for your convenience
Center for Weight & Wellness 146 West River Street, Suite 11A, First Floor Providence, RI
Center for Weight & Wellness 1377 South County Trail Unit 1A, First Floor East Greenwich, RI
Currently, all appointments and groups are using Zoom.
Weight Management Treatment Groups Schedule You may select a ZOOM group session from one of the following time periods: • • • • • •
Monday – morning and evening Tuesday – morning and evening Wednesday – morning, afternoon, and evening Wednesday – Lighten-Up, Adolescent Program evening Thursday – evening Saturday - morning
Zoom Video Appointments • • • • •
Weight & Lifestyle Evaluation Medical Evaluation Weekly & Bi-weekly Medical Visits Exercise Evaluation (unless otherwise instructed) Weekly Treatment Groups
Zoom Video Invite • You will receive a Zoom Link in your email 3-5 days prior to each scheduled Zoom appointment with us • Your message will come from: 6060606@lifespan.org or WeightandWellness@Lifespan.org
We must have your up-to-date email address on file!
Thank you for completing your online orientation! Next steps: • To complete the quiz, click here. You must answer all correctly to proceed with scheduling your evaluation. • A staff member will call you within 2 business days to review your quiz results and schedule your evaluations.
Should you experience any technical problems with your quiz or have any further questions call 401-793-8790, Option 1, and a team member will be happy to assist you.