Diabetes and Other Endocrinology Disorders

Weight Management Program

A Comprehensive Approach

NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital offers a weight management program for adults that's customized to each patient's individual health needs and lifestyles. What makes this program different from other weight management programs is that each patient is guided by a board-certified physician and qualified team whose recommendations come specifically from the patient's needs and health risks.

The comprehensive weight management program is built on the belief that excess weight and related health risks are best managed through a partnership between a patient, the patient's family, and their healthcare team. NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital has partnered with MetroFit to provide you with a health care team made up of board-certified internists, bariatric surgeons, endocrinologists, registered nurses, behavioral health counselors, psychologists, registered dietitians, and fitness trainers.

Interested in a weight management program for children? Learn more about the pediatric weight management program here.

How the Adult Weight Management Program Works

First, the prospective participant is either referred to the program by a primary physician or takes the initiative to ask for more information and/or make an initial appointment by calling 718-780-6212.

Every patient receives a full health exam during the first visit. The physician may refer a patient for additional specialized testing if necessary. After the exam, the physician and patient discuss program components which include the following:

Proper Nutrition

A registered dietitian reviews the patient's medical, family, social, and diet history. S/he then devises an individualized diet plan, working with food preferences, habits, and lifestyle, to create a balanced and healthy eating plan to encourage weight loss. The dietitian is available for regular follow-up consultation, which is encouraged.

Exercise And Fitness

Fitness is encouraged as part of a healthy lifestyle. Participants are required to join one of the fitness plans. Our certified fitness trainer will customize a plan to be carried out under supervised conditions. Private and group sessions are available.

Mental Health Check-Up

A licensed counselor conducts a psychological evaluation. The counselor discusses various factors that may or may not influence eating disorders and patient participation in the program.

Exams By Other Health Professionals

Appropriate referrals to other medical specialists such as a cardiologist, pulmonologist, endocrinologist, or orthopedist may be made, as indicated. The program's medical or surgical director will coordinate with the specialist(s) to best manage the medical problems and optimize medical treatment during the weight-loss program.

Evaluating the Options

Non-surgical and surgical options may be discussed. Basically, non-surgical weight loss means losing weight through conventional methods such as diet and exercise. For most people pursuing a healthy weight, the non-surgical methods make up the most appropriate way to get started on a path to better health.

Patients who decide to pursue non-surgical weight loss can expect:

• Follow-up visits with the physician, who may prescribe weight-loss medications.
• Continued consultations with the dietician.
• A fitness plan that is coordinated with the program.
• Continued consultations with the behavioral counselor.
• Monthly support group meetings to sustain participant motivation.
• Assistance from any member of the team at any time for questions, education, and/or support.

Patients who, with the guidance and support of a physician, choose a surgical form of treatment can expect excellent care through our Surgical Weight Reduction Program, which has been accredited as a "Center of Excellence" for bariatric surgery.

Weight loss surgery is generally reserved for those who have not been able to lose weight through a conventional weight loss program, one based on diet and exercise, and who have...

• A BMI of 35-40 and suffer from complications of obesity, or
• A BMI of over 40 (are approximately 100 pounds or more overweight).

NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital offers both gastric bypass surgery and gastric banding surgery, the two most common bariatric (weight reduction) procedures. These operations are actually components of an integrated program that includes diet, physical activity, and behavioral and social support, before and after the surgery.

People who desire the surgery and who, on medical assessment, are determined to be appropriate candidates for it, receive extensive preoperative education regarding this permanent rearrangement of their digestive system. In order to obtain a safe, permanent weight loss, it is critically important that potential surgical patients be fully informed about the benefits, as well as the side effects, and potential complications of the surgery. Learn more about the surgeries.

Maintaining a Healthy Weight

Patients who pursue the non-surgical option will continue to follow up with their medical team monthly at first and then on a less frequent but regular basis. During the follow-up visits, the team will closely monitor the weight loss and supervise your diet and exercise. The physician will monitor any underlying medical conditions and adjust medication as needed.

Patients who choose the surgical option may lose as much as 30%-80% of excess body weight. These patients require close follow-up care with the surgeon so that their weight and nutrition status can be monitored and so that any potential nutritional deficiencies can be corrected. After surgery, with the close guidance and monitoring of a physician, most people are able to reduce or discontinue some of the medication they are taking for hypertension, type-2 diabetes, and hyperlipidemia.