The Medi-Weightloss Program is a physician-supervised weight loss program designed to help individuals achieve and maintain a healthy weight through personalized plans and lifestyle changes. Launched in 2005 by entrepreneur Edward Kaloust, with the assistance of physicians, dietitians, and fitness experts, the program has expanded to over 90 locations across the United States. It emphasizes medical supervision, customized plans, and long-term lifestyle changes.
Introduction to Medi-Weightloss
The Medi-Weightloss Program is not just another diet; it’s a physician-supervised and clinically-proven approach that helps patients achieve and maintain a healthy weight. It's a lifestyle change! Get off the dieting roller coaster and rejuvenate your life, learning to live healthy and lean for a lifetime. Our trained professionals help make your weight loss journey stress free and uncomplicated. It’s true! Come see for yourself! The Medi-Weightloss Program is not just another diet it’s a physician-supervised and clinically-proven approach that helps our patients achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Our professionals focus on preventive medicine. After medical tests and in-depth consultation with each patient, our medical staff creates an individualized and comprehensive plan for each patient. It combines medical supervision, nutritional education, and lifestyle modifications to support effective and sustainable weight loss. The program aims to help individuals lose weight and keep it off long-term.
Core Components of the Program
The Medi-Weightloss Program integrates several key components to facilitate weight loss and promote overall wellness:
Initial Consultation and Personalized Plans
The Medi-Weightloss Program starts with an initial consultation with a medical professional at one of the company’s clinics. During your consultation, the professional will collect information about your health history and may ask you to go through several tests, such as a blood panel or body composition analysis. The medical professional will use this information to create a custom diet and exercise plan for you. These plans include meal plans, supplementation, and lifestyle modifications In addition to supervised weight loss support and nutritional education, Medi-Weightloss franchises offer prepackaged meals and supplements for an additional charge.
Medical Supervision
This program emphasizes the involvement of physician providers who are trained in obesity medicine and bariatric care. After medical tests and in-depth consultation with each patient, our medical staff creates an individualized and comprehensive plan for each patient. Because our program is physician-supervised and evidence-based, certain services provided - such as the Initial Consultation, Office Visit and Preventive Medical Counseling - may be covered by a patient’s insurance plan.
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Nutritional Education and Diet Phases
The Medi-Weightloss Program provides comprehensive guidelines for which foods you should eat and avoid while following the diet. The diet is divided into three phases:
Acute Phase
In the "acute phase," patients follow an individualized, low-calorie and low-carbohydrate diet. The diet features lean protein, vegetables and healthy fats that support weight loss and induce ketosis, a metabolic state in which the body shifts to burning fat for energy. A self-directed keto diet can also induce ketosis. The plan, which is low-carb - with between 5% and 20% of your caloric intake coming from carbohydrates - should generate a caloric deficit on the order of 500 to 1,000 calories per day, Pumper says. The plan does not discuss carbohydrates consumed, however. Nor does it require you to count calories. How long you stay in the lower-calorie phase depends on a range of factors, including how much weight you have to lose.
Short-Term Maintenance Phase
As you approach your target weight, you’ll transition to the “short-term maintenance phase" of the program. “In this phase, patients gradually increase daily calorie and carbohydrate intake and are provided the tools necessary to achieve sustainable lifestyle and behavioral change to support long-term weight maintenance,” Pumper says. You’ll continue receiving weekly consultations and individualized guidance.
Wellness Phase
During the “wellness phase,” which occurs after you’ve hit your goal weight, you’ll move to monthly consultations that have a strong focus on continued accountability, support, education and guidance to achieve overall health and wellness. You’ll also have the opportunity to undergo advanced testing and metabolic analysis, and your body composition will be remeasured. During this phase, you’ll adopt a 40:30:30 eating plan. For most people, the Medi-Weightloss Program recommends transitioning to a 40/30/30 plan, which is made up of about:40% of total daily calories from carbohydrates, 30% from healthy fats and 30% from protein.
Lifestyle Modifications and Support
Ongoing one-on-one meetings with a health coach aim to help you make behavioral and lifestyle changes to lose weight and keep it off long-term. Throughout the program, patients are encouraged to exercise. Trying to lose weight on your own can be challenging. Many individuals find they need guidance and direction on their weight loss journey. Research has demonstrated that personal counseling can help people lose weight and keep it off.
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Dietary Guidelines and Food Choices
While on the Medi-Weightloss program, you’ll be able to shop and cook for yourself. The exact guidelines for which foods you should eat vary depending on which phase of the program you are in. However, the program typically involves eating plenty of fruits, non-starchy vegetables, heart-healthy fats, and lean protein sources. Since the initial acute weight loss phase of the program is meant to get you to enter ketosis, you may have to reduce your intake of high carb foods.
Foods to Include
Here are some foods the diet recommends:
- Fruits: apples, oranges, berries, kiwi, pears, peaches, plums
- Non-starchy vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, spinach, kale, tomatoes
- Proteins: lean cuts of beef and pork, skinless poultry, seafood, eggs, tofu, tempeh
- Nuts: almonds, walnuts, macadamia nuts, pistachios, cashews
- Seeds: hemp seeds, chia seeds, flaxseed, sunflower seeds
- Cooking oils: olive oil, coconut oil, vegetable oil
- Beverages: water, coffee, unsweetened tea
Some foods that are higher in carbohydrates are also permitted in moderation, including:
- Dairy products: milk, cheese, yogurt, butter
- Whole grains: quinoa, brown rice, oats, farro
- Starchy vegetables: potatoes, corn, peas, beets, yam, parsnips
- Legumes: black beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, lentils
Foods to Limit
On the Medi-Weightloss Program, you should limit foods that are highly processed or rich in carbohydrates or added sugar. Here are some foods you may need to limit on the diet:
- Processed foods: fast food, convenience meals, fried foods, chips, pretzels
- Refined carbs: white pasta, white bread, crackers
- Sweets: baked goods, cookies, cakes, candies
- Beverages: soda, juice, sweet tea, energy drinks, sports drinks
- Sugar: white sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey
Effectiveness and Scientific Evidence
According to a 2020 study, people following the Medi-Weightloss Program lost an average of 21% of their body weight after 39 weeks. They also experienced significant reductions in body fat and belly fat throughout the program. However, keep in mind that this study was funded by Medi-Weightloss and the researchers were employed by the company. Thus, these results may be biased. While there is no other peer-reviewed research available on the effects of this diet specifically, studies show that similar eating patterns may be effective for weight loss. For instance, multiple studies have found that low carb diets can increase weight loss and reduce body fat. Other research shows that increasing your intake of protein can enhance feelings of fullness, reduce your appetite, and change body composition. The plan also involves regular check-ins and counseling from a medical professional. Not only can this help keep you accountable by providing extra support and guidance, but some studies also show that this could be beneficial for weight loss.
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Potential Benefits
In addition to its potential for helping with weight loss, the Medi-Weightloss Program may offer several other benefits.
Personalized Guidance
First of all, the program is tailored to your needs and includes personalized guidance from a healthcare professional along with detailed resources like shopping lists, recipes, and workout plans. For people who have underlying health conditions or food allergies or take medications, this may be a better fit than a one-size-fits-all diet plan that doesn’t take your individual needs into account. It also enables a healthcare professional to offer support and adjust your plan as needed, which can set you up for long-term success.
Structured Approach
Additionally, the plan is split into several phases, which may be a good fit for those who prefer a more structured program. It also eases your transition into the final phase, or wellness phase, and allows you to stay in this phase for as long as you want to help you maintain your weight loss over time.
Potential Drawbacks
There are several downsides to consider when determining whether Medi-Weightloss is right for you.
Limited Research
For starters, there’s very little research on the program specifically, apart from studies funded directly by the company.
Supplement Concerns
Second, Medi-Weightloss supplements contain herbs, including hoodia, guarana, and Gymnema sylvestre, that may interact with medications and lead to side effects. Most people would probably find these supplements unnecessary.
Restrictive Diet
Furthermore, the plan can be very restrictive and difficult to follow, especially during the initial weight loss phase. Because many foods high in carbohydrates are limited, eating at restaurants or in social settings may also be challenging, which can make the diet more difficult to stick to long-term.
Cost
Although prices can vary depending on which clinic you go to, Medi-Weightloss programs can also be very expensive. For example, prices for the initial consultation typically range from $250-300, and check-ins cost an additional $75-100 per week. This is significantly more pricey than other popular diet programs, such as WW (formerly Weight Watchers) or Noom. In contrast, most health insurance policies cover medical nutrition therapy with a dietitian. This is a much more affordable way to get personalized weight loss therapy. If you purchase any packaged foods, supplements, or medications along with the program, the total price will increase further.
Accessibility
Finally, keep in mind that the program requires weekly or monthly check-ins at one of the 90 Medi-Weightloss clinics around the country. Therefore, the program may not be ideal for those who don’t live near a clinic.
Costs and Insurance Coverage
Program fees vary depending on the services you select. The cost of the initial consultation, which includes taking baseline weight measurements and drawing up an initial plan, typically ranges from $275 to $300. Each weekly session typically costs between $75 and $100, and the average cost for 14 weeks of treatment can total more than $1,200. Food and supplements cost extra. You can call 1-877-MED-LOSS or contact a Medi-Weightloss location near you for specific pricing tailored to your location and needs. Many Medi-Weightloss franchise locations accept insurance, so your costs may be at least partially subsidized by your health instance. Just be sure to check with your insurance provider to understand what’s available. For example, vitamin injections may be a covered benefit if they’re deemed medically necessary, but food and dietary supplements are rarely covered.
Medical and Health Considerations
Any weight loss program will have some medical and health implications that must be managed from the outset. Before you begin Medi-Weightloss, you should talk with your primary care provider to discuss the risks and benefits. Some of the ingredients in the dietary supplements offered for sale by the company could cause adverse effects or interact negatively with medications. People with an eating disorder or those who are at risk of developing an eating disorder. “The rigid diet may lead to a dichotomous or an ‘all-or-nothing’ approach to eating, dieting and weight,” Pumper explains. Athletes and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should also avoid this plan. “A healthy, varied diet providing sufficient calories remains the preferred means of meeting nutritional requirements in pregnancy, while breastfeeding and in athletes. People with preexisting medical conditions. If you have a medical condition, it's extra important to speak with your health care provider before beginning Medi-Weightloss, as there can be some additional, unintended consequences.
Example Meal Plan
Your specific diet plan can vary based on your nutritional needs, your weight loss goals, and which phase of the program you’re in. Here is a 3-day sample meal plan to give you an idea of what your menu may look like during the initial acute weight loss phase of the program.
Day 1
- Breakfast: omelet with mushrooms, tomatoes, and bell peppers
- Lunch: garlic baked salmon with asparagus
- Dinner: salad with grilled chicken, tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, cucumbers, and avocado
- Snacks: apple slices with peanut butter
Day 2
- Breakfast: smoothie with almond milk, protein powder, flaxseed, spinach, and berries
- Lunch: tofu stir-fry with peppers, broccoli, green beans, and ginger
- Dinner: beef and cabbage soup with veggie side salad
- Snacks: turkey roll-ups with tomatoes and lettuce
Day 3
- Breakfast: scrambled eggs with garlic and kale
- Lunch: baked pork chops with cauliflower rice and broccoli
- Dinner: lemon pepper chicken with sautéed Brussels sprouts
- Snacks: chia pudding with fresh fruit
Comparisons with Other Weight Loss Programs
The number of commercial diet plans available continues to grow, and some of these, like Medi-Weightloss, include one-to-one counseling and education.
- Profile Plan diet: This customized, low-carb, low-calorie meal plan includes weekly appointments with a health coach to keep you on track.
- Jenny Craig: This structured diet plan also uses prepackaged foods to help users lose weight. Members work with coaches to guide and support their journey.
- WeightWatchers: Long considered the gold standard of commercial weight-loss programs, WeightWatchers uses a points-based system and behavioral change support and coaching to help members shed pounds and keep them off.
- Nutrisystem: This long-lived commercial diet program reports it can help people lose 1 to 2 pounds per week with its prepackaged, portion-limited meals.
- Optifast: Optifast reports an average weight loss of 50 pounds in 26 weeks. Participants must have a body mass index of 30 or above, or 27 along with weight-related medical conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes or hypertension.
- Health Management Resources, or the HMR program: HMR is also a shorter-term commitment than Medi-Weightloss and has no specific criteria for who should enroll. It claims its at-home program produces an average weight loss of 23 pounds in 12 weeks.
By comparison, Medi-Weightloss is marketed as a longer-term commitment for people with obesity.
Is Medi-Weightloss Right for You?
For people who’ve been struggling with their weight or have been diagnosed with obesity and haven’t found an effective way to shed pounds, Medi-Weightloss may be worth a try. Individuals who want the accountability of working one-on-one with a coach often find this approach keeps them on track and losing weight. Whether you need to lose 10 or 110 pounds, Medi-Weightloss can help you reach your weight loss goals.