Welcome to The Medical Weigh: Medically Managed Weight Loss for a Healthier You!

Introducing

OPTIFAST: Your Personalized Medical Weight Loss Plan

GI Consultants, Carson City Office is pleased to announce the opening of The Medical Weigh, a company that offers medically supervised weight loss programs. We have acutely been aware of the affect obesity has on many of the medical conditions we see and treat. Among the gastrointestinal conditions affected or caused by obesity are cholelithiasis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, steatohepatitis, pancreatitis, and numerous cancers including esophageal, gastric, gallbladder, liver, pancreas, and colorectal carcinoma. Our frustration with the futility of admonishing our patients to “exercise more and eat less” led us to consider development of a formal weight loss program one and a half years ago. The Medical Weigh opened to our employees in early April of 2011 and to the general public in May.

We employ techniques that are scientifically validated and endorsed by the American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP). Each patient undergoes a history and physical examination as well as an assessment of obesity-related health risks by one of our physicians. The patients then undergo a nutritional assessment by our registered dietitian. Our dietitian has completed the American Dietetic Association Certification in Adult Weight Management and has extensive clinical experience with weight reduction programs. An individualized program is created for each patient including options of full or partial meal replacement utilizing the Optifast shakes, bars, and soups as the meal replacement formula. This phase of the program generally lasts 12 to 18 weeks, and the patient is then carefully transitioned back to food over a period of 6 weeks. The average weight loss in Optifast programs is 52 pounds over 22 weeks. Our current Medical Weigh participants are losing at a rate in keeping with these results.

Patients are seen weekly by one of our physician assistants, and every 2 to 4 weeks by their supervising physician. In addition, patients are asked to attend weekly group sessions during which a variety of topics relevant to weight management are discussed, including nutrition education, the role of exercise in weight management and health maintenance, behavior modification, and stress management. Select patients can be treated with anorectic medications if needed. We will also offer ongoing support and treatment to help patients maintain weight loss after they have completed the initial program.

Patients who would be appropriate for our program include anyone with a BMI over 30; anyone with a BMI over 25 who has diabetes, metabolic syndrome, fatty liver disease, or other conditions adversely affected by being overweight; patients with a genetic predisposition to obesity who are having a difficult time avoiding weight gain; patients who are regaining weight following bariatric surgery; or patients who need to lose weight prior to elective surgery.

The Medical Weigh is affiliated with Gastroenterology Consultants, Ltd. in Carson City, NV. and is conveniently located at 1385 Vista Ln, Carson City, directly across the street from Carson Tahoe Hospital. Call our office today to set-up your complimentary weight loss information session and body composition analysis and let our physician team help you get started on your journey to a healthier you!