Smart For Life (medical chain)

(chain of medical weight loss centers)

Type of Counseling: By physicians, other healthcare professionals

Typical Cost: 1,100 for 3 months and about 40 lbs. to lose (250 initial fee, 100/month, plus 6/day for cookies)

Type Program: Medically supervised, may use prescription appetite suppressant drugs

Type of Foods Used: Regular grocery store foods, meal replacements

At-Home or Direct Mail Plan Available? No

Headquarters

Smart For Life®

3350 NW Boca Raton Blvd.

Suite B-38

Boca Raton, FL 33431

1-866-821-THIN (8446), 561-394-5300

Website: www.smartforlife.com

Summary

This is a chain of 40 medical clinics in North America, founded in 2002, with locations in: AZ, CA, DC, FL, KS, MA, MI, NJ, NY, PA, TN and TX. About 75% are franchises and rest are company-owned. The company has plans to expand and add 30 new centers by mid 2008. Most of the centers are located in the United States and several in Canada. Each center has a physician dedicated to patients. Centers are usually stand-alone facilities but may also be located in a doctors office.

The chain was founded by a bariatrician (an MD board certified in bariatricsthe treatment of obesity). The companys unique proposition is that its known as the Cookie Program. It has grown by franchising, achieving the size of other leading U.S. medical weight loss chains such as Lindora Clinics and Physicians Weight Loss.

This is a very low calorie (VLCD) program in which you will consume only 800 calories per day (cookie squares and a low-fat, high protein dinner). The average person consumes about 2,500 calories/day, so your body will be burning up to 1,700 calories per day, from fat you have already stored. This medical chain claims that its patients average about 12-15 pounds per month of weight loss. Smart for Life™ Rapid Weight Loss Centers does not advocate calorie counting, contracts, or dieting.

Dr. Sasson E. Moulavi, M.D. is the Medical Director of Smart for Life™ Weight Loss Clinics. He is a graduate of the University of Montreal where he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He completed post graduate training at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Dr. Moulavi holds Board Certification in Bariatric Medicine and is a member of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians. He has completed the Annual Practical Approaches to the Treatment of Obesity at Harvard University and is a member of the American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine as well as the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. Dr. Moulavi is also a member of the College of Family Physicians of Canada. For more than 12 years he has specialized in the study and treatment of Bariatric Medicine. Dr. Moulavi has directed the operation of multiple Rapid Weight Loss Centers in both the United States and Canada. Prior to 1995, he practiced as a family doctor in Canada.

The company does run radio, TV, and newspaper ads in certain markets.

How The Program Works

One out of four of the people served by Smart for Life™ are unable to lose weight because of an undiagnosed metabolic problem. People with slow metabolism often never diagnose the thyroid problem or insulin resistance that often causes slow metabolism. Smart for Life™ physicians identify these problems in approximately 25% of their patients. To save time and money, when prescribed, medications can be dispensed at their clinics. Phentermine, a prescription appetite suppressant, may be used, but is not recommended. Drugs are usually not needed because the cookies and other items are sufficient to suppress ones appetite.

On your first doctor visit to the center, you get a complete physical, consultation on your medical history, Body Composition Analysis, appropriate lab tests, complete blood work, and an electrocardiogram.

The Smart for Life™ Rapid Weight Loss program features the use of the companys unique Smart Products. They come as Smart Cookie squares, muffins, shakes, soups and desserts. What Smart for Life™ is most famous for is their all-natural Smart Cookie square with organic ingredients. It’s scientifically formulated to be a perfect balance of fiber, protein and amino acids, with no drugs or preservatives.

The company says that three things differentiate it from other weight loss programs:

1. The all natural, organic Smart Cookie squares, muffins, soups, shakes and desserts that satisfy and trim you at the same time
2. The Smart Injection of vitamins to boost your energy and make you feel great (at select locations)
3. The physician supervision to customize your program and to treat the metabolic problems many overweight people have.

By eating six cookie squares a day (one every 2-3 hours) and drinking 8 glasses of non-caloric beverages, along with a high protein low-fat balanced dinner, like chicken and vegetables, the company claims that you’ll lose 3-4 pounds a week, 12-15 pounds a month. Realizing that most people need variety, Smart For Life also developed muffins, shakes, soups and desserts.

On your first visit, you start using the firms behavioral modification system and learning tools. During your first visit and your first physician visit, you receive:

• Complete Blood Work-up
• EKG
• BMI (body mass index calculation)
• Educational Audio and Video
• Program Handbook Review
• Review of Client History
• Physical Exam
• Setting of Goals
• Discussion of Program Vitamins and Supplements
• Smart Injection of Vitamins (at select locations)

Clients meet weekly with a nurse, although there are also long distance programs. Clients can meet with the doctor as often as they like. The first live, online group meeting was scheduled for Sept. 6th, where you can call in by phone or log on with your computer. Here, you can share your tips and support fellow Smart for Life™ clients. Dr. Moulavi will answer questions and discuss the latest weight management techniques.

From then on, the centers staff charts and monitors your weight and progress each week until you achieve your goal weight.

The second phase of the program begins after you reach your goal. Phase 2 is your new Smart Lifestyle. By this time, you will have learned to eat several small meals during the day, to eat only when hungry, to exercise appropriately, and to drink enough water to stay hydrated. The staff continues to work with you as long as you need to be sure you can keep your weight under control for life.

Management says that the program does address emotional eating, eating triggers, and other psychological issues, in their one-on-one counseling and program booklets. They say that exercise is not necessary while in the weight loss phase, but it is addressed in the maintenance phase via their osmosis program.

Staff at each center may include the following:

• Physician Assistant
• Nurse Practitioner
• Center Manager
• Phlebotomist
• Weight Counselor
• Medical Technicians
  
  

Fees

The initial cost of the program is 250 and there is an additional 100 monthly fee. The cookies cost 6 per day. Cookies can only be purchased by program participants. If a person has about 40 pounds to lose, it would take about three months on this program to do it. Adding up all the costs, the tab would be about 1,100about 50% of which goes for the cookies. This comes out to 27.50 per pound lost. If you only had 30 pounds to lose, the cost would be about 800. Vitamin injections (B-12, other B vitamins to boost energy), are optional and do cost extra (cost varies by center, not specified).

Comment

This is a medical weight loss clinic program by a bariatrician for persons with substantial weight to losenot for cosmetic weight loss of 15-20 lbs. Some may find the sudden change from the calories they normally consume to 800/day on this plan (which is by definition a very low calorie diet) to be difficult. The cost of the initial visit, which includes a complete physical and lab tests, and the monthly fees (which covers any appetite suppressant drugs needed) seems reasonable. However, at 6/day for cookies, 180/month seems a little high to us. If one were on this plan for 3 months, nearly half the costs would go for cookies.

BestDietForMe.com analysts feel that most all of the required components of a good and safe weight loss plan are in fact included here—continuous medical supervision and initial screening, programs that may be tailored to an individual’s needs (conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol), and one-to-one counseling by medical professionals. The one area where the program seems weak is the exercise component, which we feel should be a major part of any comprehensive weight loss and healthy lifestyle regimen. The psychological support area also seems light on substance.

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