Medical Weight Loss Program
Millions of Americans struggle with obesity as they seek to maintain a healthy weight and live an active, healthy lifestyle. Deciding to lose even a moderate amount of weight can boost your physical health, mobility and energy levels. The Medical Weight Loss Program at OSF Medical Group in partnership with OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center empowers patients with a non-surgical way to start their process of improving their well-being.
What is our Medical Weight-Loss Program?
Our focus is always you: Through this program, we craft a customized, individual treatment plan to help you to improve your overall health and quality of life.
There are several central components to a successful weight loss program. Based on your weight loss goals and current health, our team will design a treatment plan that works with you individually, utilizing a variety of tools that may include:
- Behavioral and stress management tools
- Exercise planning
- Behavior modification regarding weight management
- Medication management
- Metabolic disease management
- Monitoring and treatment of ongoing health conditions
- Preventive care recommendations
- Pharmacotherapy for weight management
- Meal replacement program when appropriate
- Physical therapy evaluation
- Cardiology evaluation (when appropriate)
- Eating disorder evaluations (including for bulimia, binge eating disorder and night eating disorder)
- Weight loss goals and nutrition therapy
- Identifying medications that may contribute to weight gain
- Identifying clients who would benefit from weight loss surgery
- Follow patients after weight loss surgery for nutrition deficiencies as weight regain
Who is considered obese?
Overweight and obesity are different points on a scale that ranges from underweight to morbidly obese. Where you fit on this scale is determined by your body mass index (BMI).
BMI is a measure of your weight as it relates to your height. BMI usually gives you a good idea of the amount of body fat you have. Your health care providers use BMI to find out your risk for obesity-related diseases. Occasionally, some very muscular people may have a BMI in the overweight range. But these people are not considered overweight because muscle tissue is denser than fat tissue.
In general, a BMI from 20 to 24.9 in adults is considered ideal. A BMI of more than 25 is considered overweight. A person is considered obese if their BMI is greater than 30 and morbidly obese if the BMI is 40 or greater. If you have a BMI of 27 to 30 with co-morbidities, or if you have a BMI of 30 or more, you qualify for our medical weight loss program.
If you have a BMI of 35 to 39.9 with co-morbidities, or a BMI of 40 or more without co-morbidities, you qualify for weight loss surgery at OSF HealthCare.
Do you know your BMI?
What causes obesity?
The risk factors that determine obesity can be complex. They are usually a combination of your genes, socioeconomic factors, metabolism and lifestyle choices. Some endocrine disorders, diseases and medicines may also affect a person's weight.