Centers for Medical Weight Loss (medical chain)

Headquarters

Center for Medical Weight Loss

329 Middle County Road

Smithtown, New York 11787

914-332-4190 corporate, consumer info. 1-800-MD-BE-THIN

Website: www.centerformedicalweightloss.

Summary

This medical weight loss chain was founded by Dr. Michael Kaplan, an inte4rnist on Long Island, NY who later got board certified in bariatric medicine and made that the main focus of his practice. Dr. Kaplans business flourished since his patients mostly paid for services out of pocket. He eventually expanded to open 3 centers on Long Island.

Sensing the demand, he began marketing and selling the approach to other primary care doctors, for a 16,995 fee. The venture has since expanded to include 77 centers in 16 states: AZ, CA, CT, FL, GA, IL, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NY, PA, RI, TN, TX. The greatest number of centers are located in California, Florida, New York and New Jersey.

Doctors at each of the participating medical weight loss clinics are claimed to be experts in the subjects of obesity, nutrition, fitness, weight loss prescription medications, exercise, behavioral modification, weight loss counseling, and weight related illness.

Exclusive Territories Sold

For an initial fee of 16,995, internists in Dr. Kaplans venture get a 2-day seminar in New York, where they learn the science behind bariatrics and get suggestions on how to structure their centers.

They also get an exclusive territory in which to operate under the centers brand. For an additional monthly membership fee of 3,095, Dr. Kaplans center will advertise (print, radio, and online) in that designated area. Any calls to the centers national toll-free number, 1-800-MD-BE-THIN, are automatically routed to participating doctors in the callers geographic location based on ZIP codes.

The doctors then basically create their own Center for Medical Weight Loss within their practice, where they see their primary care patients and then carve out hours to see new weight loss patients. Since Dr. Kaplan launched his venture in September 2006, 60 centers have opened in 10 states.

The Program

The centers aim to treat people looking for both cosmetic and medical weight loss, but the doctors are not bariatric surgeons.

Patients are typically put on low calorie diets of shakes and nutrition bars and, in some cases, prescription appetite suppressants. As they approach their goal weight, they are eased back onto food. Dr. Kaplan says patients initially have weekly appointments and then often taper off, depending on their progress. Theres a big emphasis on counseling patients on behavior modification and lifestyle changes.

Three programs are offered

Low-calorie program

One of the nutritional programs offered at The Center for Medical Weight Loss is the medically prescribed low calorie diet program. These low-calorie diet programs, prescribed only by physicians, utilize several nutrition-rich liquid diets, high quality meal replacement formulas, protein bars and soups in combination with comprehensive lifestyle education, including exercise and counseling to help you lose weight, improve your health, and develop – and maintain – the new skills and habits necessary to successfully manage your weight in the future.

These programs utilize dietary products only available to physicians to ensure a medically sound program, with complete nutrition necessary to maintain optimum health.

Prescription drug program

Prescription drug medical weight loss programs involve the use of FDA approved prescription diet pills to curb the appetite and jump-start the weight loss process. It also involves an individualized counseling and exercise component as a part of a complete safe and healthy weight loss diet program.

Bariatric surgery program

Before recommending bariatric surgery as an option, your doctor will undertake a thorough evaluation and examination to assess appropriateness of the procedure.

In general, bariatric surgery is recommended for people who are at least 100 pounds overweight and have a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 40, or for those with a BMI between 35 and 39 who show evidence of weight driven disease. It is also critical that potential candidates are mentally capable of understanding the risks inherent in this surgery.

Bariatric surgery, sometimes referred to as gastric bypass surgery, involves surgical alterations to the stomach or small intestine so that significantly less food can be consumed and fewer calories absorbed.

Once surgery is deemed an appropriate choice, your doctor will create an individualized and comprehensive program involving pre-surgical care and counseling, post-surgical care and counseling, and a regimen for on-going success.

Costs

Patient costs will vary by doctor. Dr. Kaplans Practices charge 19 for an initial consult and fees for weight loss plans range from 75 to 640 a month, depending on the patients needs. Dr. Kaplan suggest prices but the doctors are free to set their own rates. For 640/month at the centers, a patient gets a weekly weigh-in, counseling and food.

Commentary

This appears to be a well supervised medical program. However, some critics questions whether brief seminars like Dr. Kaplans are sufficient training for doctors. Theyre not sure two days is enough time to learn the information. Also, we question whether these doctors are really knowledgeable about nutrition, fitness, exercise, behavioral modification, and weight loss counseling. These disciplines cant be learned in two days. If other staff with these backgrounds (i.e. nurses, nutritionists, RDs) are part of the doctors office staff, fine, but as a potential client, we would ask just who is providing these services. For example, who does the day to day counseling?

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