Columbus, Ohio, offers a variety of medical weight loss programs designed to help individuals achieve and maintain a healthy weight. These programs provide a structured, physician-guided approach, incorporating medical expertise, personalized plans, and ongoing support. Unlike fad diets, medical weight loss focuses on sustainable results and improved metabolic function.
Understanding Medical Weight Loss
Medical weight management programs offer a structured, physician-guided approach to weight loss and long-term health. This approach is based on scientific principles that promote sustainable weight loss and improved metabolic function. Recognizing that weight management is not as simple as "calories in, calories out," these programs consider various factors, including hormonal shifts, genetics, and lifestyle choices.
Comprehensive Programs and Services
Medical weight loss programs in Columbus, OH, offer a range of services tailored to individual needs. These programs often include:
- Medical Evaluation: A thorough review of your medical history, lifestyle, and goals, including a BMI assessment and blood work, to create a tailored approach. During your enrollment visit, you can expect one-on-one meetings with program experts. You will meet with a provider for a detailed weight and medical history, physical exam, and review of test results.
- Personalized Plans: Custom medical weight loss plans that are effective, safe, and sustainable long-term. These plans are guided by provider recommendations, your health conditions, and your personal preferences.
- Nutritional Guidance: Collaboration with a dietitian to create a personalized meal plan based on your health conditions and preferences. At OhioHealth Weight Management you’ll have the tools you need for success, including an understanding of how to eat right and live a healthy lifestyle.
- Exercise Support: Meeting with an exercise physiologist for goal setting, considering your exercise history, preferences, and limitations. Instruction on healthy and safe exercise.
- Behavioral Counseling: Support from psychologists to address behavior changes related to stress management, sleep, coping strategies, and your relationship with food. You’ll also benefit from counseling to help with the emotional aspects of changing your eating habits.
- Medication Management: Prescription weight loss medications, including Wegovy®, Zepbound®, and Mounjaro®, when medically appropriate. These medications work by slowing digestion and reducing hunger, which helps to regulate patients' of blood sugar levels and appetite. Also, GLP-1 medications are incorporated into program to further enhance the services we provide to our patients.
- Ongoing Support: Continuous education, accountability, and support through weekly class series and individual consultations.
Featured Programs in Columbus, OH
Several reputable medical weight loss programs are available in the Columbus area. Each program offers unique features and benefits:
Mount Carmel Bariatric Center
Mount Carmel's Bariatric Center offers a comprehensive weight loss surgery program tailored to individual needs. The program includes three bariatric surgeons in Ohio and specialized staff, including a nurse practitioner, bariatric nurse navigator, bariatric dietitian, and specially trained nurses.
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Key Features:
- Surgical and Non-Surgical Options: A variety of options available for those looking to lose weight, from medical treatments like medications and lifestyle changes to surgical interventions such as bariatric surgery.
- Holistic Approach: Comprehensive support before, during, and after treatment to help maintain a healthy weight for life.
- InBody Technology: Utilizes InBody technology to accurately measure fat mass, muscle mass, body fat percentage, and basal metabolic rate. InBody devices use an advanced form of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) with a combination of Direct Segmental Measurements and Multi-frequencies to measure body composition.
- Core Concepts Classes: Virtual classes taught by expert clinicians covering foundational concepts for a medical weight loss journey. Core Concepts is a virtual class that is offered twice monthly. It is a 90 minute class that is taught by our team of expert clinicians, including a dietitian, a psychologist, and an exercise physiologist. You will learn foundational concepts that are important for anyone starting a medical weight loss journey.
Options Medical Weight Loss
Options Medical Weight Loss offers science-backed, customized plans for residents of Columbus, OH, and surrounding communities like Dublin, Gahanna, Upper Arlington, and Grove City.
Key Features:
- Doctor-Led Programs: Medically supervised care, FDA-compliant medications, and guidance from licensed professionals.
- Personalized Approach: Medically supervised, personalized programs tailored to your unique health profile.
- Metabolic Testing: Free metabolic test and consultation to create a personalized plan. Schedule a free metabolic test and consultation with our expert team.
- FDA-Approved Medications: Offers FDA-approved medications, including GLP-1 treatments, when medically appropriate. These medications support appetite control and blood sugar regulation.
- Flexible Payment Plans: Costs vary based on your personalized plan, and flexible payment plans are available.
Yi Wellness
Yi Wellness is committed to helping individuals achieve sustainable results that enhance their health and quality of life through a holistic approach to weight loss.
Key Features:
- In-Depth Consultation: Your weight management journey begins with an in-depth consultation with our medical team. We will discuss your medical history, lifestyle, and goals, conduct a BMI assessment, and complete blood work to create a tailored approach.
- Personalized Care: We work one-on-one with each patient to establish a custom medical weight loss plan that is effective, safe and sustainable long-term under the guidance of Dr.
- Functional Medicine Team: Our functional medicine team takes a complete approach to your health by understanding your unique history - how you were raised, past medications, life experiences and daily schedule.
- Medication Options: Yes, our physicians can prescribe weight loss medications, including Wegovy®, Zepbound®, and Mounjaro®. These medications work by slowing digestion and reducing hunger, which helps to regulate patients' of blood sugar levels and appetite.
- Holistic Approach: We take a holistic approach to weight loss, giving you the support you need before, during and after your treatment to help you maintain a healthy weight for life.
OhioHealth Weight Management
OhioHealth Weight Management offers a unique hands-on approach to weight loss, focusing on individual needs and providing personalized resources, knowledge, and encouragement.
Key Features:
- Individualized Programs: We understand that each person has a different path to his or her ideal weight, and we design a program to fit your individual needs. We take the time to learn about your life, so we can provide the personalized resources, knowledge and encouragement you need for success.
- GLP-1 Medications: One of these tools includes GLP-1 medications, which have recently risen in popularity through the positive results achieved by many individuals. We have incorporated GLP-1 medications into our program to further enhance the services we provide to our patients.
- Comprehensive Support: At OhioHealth Weight Management you’ll have the tools you need for success, including an understanding of how to eat right and live a healthy lifestyle. You’ll also benefit from counseling to help with the emotional aspects of changing your eating habits, and instruction on healthy and safe exercise.
- Hands-on Approach: Our weight management program goes beyond the excellent work we do in the operating room. What makes our program truly unique is our hands on approach for every step of your journey.
The Role of Medications in Medical Weight Loss
Prescription medications can play a significant role in medical weight loss programs. Medications like Wegovy®, Zepbound®, and Mounjaro® work by slowing digestion and reducing hunger, helping to regulate blood sugar levels and appetite. Originally used to treat Type 2 diabetes, these medications have been proven to help patients safely lose excess weight and maintain the loss.
GLP-1 medications are another tool used in weight management programs. These medications have gained popularity due to the positive results achieved by many individuals.
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It's important to note that weight loss medications are not a standalone solution. They are most effective when combined with lifestyle changes, nutritional guidance, and exercise.
Initial Steps and What to Expect
Starting a medical weight loss program typically involves several steps:
- Initial Consultation: Review of your health history, lifestyle, and goals.
- Medical Evaluation: A physical exam, BMI assessment, and blood work.
- Personalized Plan Development: Creation of a tailored weight loss plan based on your individual needs.
- Enrollment Visit: One-on-one meetings with program experts, including a detailed weight and medical history review. After completing your new patient packet, our team will call you to schedule your enrollment visit. During your enrollment visit, you can expect one-on-one meetings with program experts. You will meet with a provider for a detailed weight and medical history, physical exam, and review of test results.
During these initial steps, programs often utilize advanced technology like InBody to measure body composition, providing a detailed understanding of fat mass, muscle mass, and metabolic rate. Our program uses InBody technology to quickly and accurately measure fat mass, muscle mass, body fat percentage, and basal metabolic rate. InBody devices use an advanced form of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) with a combination of Direct Segmental Measurements and Multi-frequencies to measure body composition. Our exercise physiologist will review these results with you and you will receive a copy of your results for your records. As you reach different milestones, you may repeat your body composition to show your progress.
Lifestyle Changes and Support
Medical weight loss programs emphasize the importance of lifestyle changes for long-term success. This includes:
- Dietary Modifications: Creating a personalized meal plan with the guidance of a dietitian. After your provider visit, you will collaborate with your dietitian to create a personalized meal plan for you. The plan will be guided by the provider recommendations, your health conditions, and your personal preferences.
- Increased Physical Activity: Meeting with an exercise physiologist to develop a suitable exercise plan. The next step is to meet one on one with an exercise physiologist for a goal setting appointment. The exercise physiologist will learn about your exercise history, things you enjoy, and any current limitations or barriers to exercise.
- Behavioral Support: Addressing emotional and psychological factors that contribute to weight gain. To help your weight loss journey you may schedule one to three appointments with our psychologists to provide support in behavior change related to stress management, adequate sleep, coping strategies, and to improve your relationship with food.
Many programs offer ongoing support through classes, support groups, and individual counseling to help individuals stay on track and maintain their weight loss. After you complete your intake visits, the next step is to attend one of our Core Concepts classes. Core Concepts is a virtual class that is offered twice monthly. It is a 90 minute class that is taught by our team of expert clinicians, including a dietitian, a psychologist, and an exercise physiologist. You will learn foundational concepts that are important for anyone starting a medical weight loss journey. One of the keys to long term success and a hallmark of our program is the ongoing education, accountability, and support you receive in the weekly class series. You will have the option to select a class time that works with your schedule. Classes are taught by a dietitian, exercise physiologist, or a psychologist. Our curriculum covers essential learning topics you will need to successfully lose weight and keep it off. The weekly classes are designed to be both educational and conversational in nature.
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Success Stories and Patient Experiences
Hearing about the experiences of others can be inspiring and provide valuable insights into the weight loss journey. Rachael Rush's story of finding freedom through bariatric surgery highlights the emotional and physical transformation possible with the right support and commitment. Transform Your Life: A Patient's Journey Through Bariatric Surgery: Join us as Rachael Rush shares her heartfelt journey from struggling with weight to finding freedom through bariatric surgery. Discover the emotional ups and downs she faced, the support she received, and the transformation that changed her life forever.