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Weight Management Clinics
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Weight Management Clinics
The Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin Weight Management Clinics (Endocrinology) work with you to help you reach a healthy weight — and to help relieve health complications that result from being overweight. Because excess weight so often brings with it other health complications — for example, diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea — the specialists at the Weight Management Clinics use a team approach to carefully evaluate you and craft a plan that will lead to success.
Are the Weight Management Clinics for You? The Weight Management Clinics (part of the Comprehensive Weight Loss Center) are an appropriate option for anyone who is significantly overweight, especially individuals who are obese and struggle with other health issues, such as high blood pressure or cholesterol, diabetes or thyroid disorders. We encourage you to check with your health insurance plan to see what coverage your plan provides for treating obesity.
The first step on your journey toward weight loss and better health starts with a discussion of your weight loss goals and an intensive evaluation with one of our endocrinologists. The purpose of the evaluation is to assess your health history and any lifestyle or known genetic factors that may influence your weight. These factors may be very different for each individual
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For an appointment or more information, please call us at 877-770-LOSE or use our online form. |
The evaluation takes into account:
- Root causes of overweight and obesity (Did weight gain begin in childhood or adolescence? Did it begin with a specific, significant event?)
- Family history – to understand potential genetic components
- Personal medical history
- Emotional factors
- Exercise habits and capabilities
If not already documented by your own physician, we may also screen for lipid disorders, diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea – all of which may influence how we treat you. With a complete evaluation in hand, our team has a better idea of how to form a treatment plan that will work for your individual situation, no matter what your health picture looks like.
Because we are part of an academic medical center, patients have access to a complete range of specialists, so we can make sure we’re addressing all health conditions appropriately. Patients in our Weight Management Clinics routinely see a dietitian, exercise physiologist, physical therapist (if exercise capabilities are low) and a psychologist or behavioral therapist. All treatment is overseen by an endocrinologist.
For some patients, the evaluation determines that bariatric (weight loss) surgery will be the most effective means of achieving weight loss goals, and we refer to one of the surgeons in our Bariatric Surgery Program. Bariatric surgery is not for everyone; patients must meet specific requirements to be eligible for this surgery.
Our weight loss experts address overweight and obesity from all angles to give you the best chance at success. To support individual weight loss goals, each patient receives a personalized treatment plan that may include:
- Nutritional recommendations, education, eating strategies
- Activity adjustments
- Lifestyle modification
- Psychotherapy or behavioral therapy
- Management of medications (e.g., hypertension drugs, insulin, etc.; need for these may dissipate with successful weight loss; medications that may contribute to weight gain may be adjusted/changed)
In some cases, medications such as appetite suppressants and drugs that restrict calorie absorption may be helpful. If desired by you or your doctor, we’ll assist in managing other medications you may be taking, so that all medication efforts work to your maximum benefit.
We are committed to helping patients achieve success in their weight loss pursuits and stand ready to help you make the challenging changes that will lead to permanent weight loss. If one approach is not sufficient, we will try different approaches until we find the answer that is right for you.
Last Review Date: April 5, 2010 Online Editor(s): Christopher Sadler |
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