Weight-Loss and Healthy-Living Programs
There are many health benefits associated with employing a responsible and safe weight loss regimen. Overweight and obese people should consider healthy-living and weight-loss programs in addition to regular consultations with their healthcare providers or an endocrinologist. By educating patients on obesity issues and how to make important decisions about nutrition, weight loss and management, food and exercise, these programs offer overweight and obese individuals valuable information that impacts their health. Before committing to any nutrition or weight loss program, however, individuals should evaluate each program with their healthcare provider, including how each may assist with advancing their specific health priorities and considerations. It is also important that the nutrition or weight loss programs meet certain criteria. Safe and effective weight-loss programs should include the following121:
- A healthy, well-balanced eating plan that reduces calories without excluding important food groups;
- Regular physical activity and/or exercise instruction;
- Slow and steady weight loss of about three-fourths to two pounds per week and no more than three per week;
- Medical care, if planning weight loss by following a specially formulated diet; and
- A plan to maintain weight loss.
Weight-Control Information Network
(WIN)
Address: 1 WIN Way, Bethesda, MD
20892
Phone: (202) 828-1025 or (877)
946-4627
Fax: (202)
828-1028
Website: http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/nutrit/pubs/choose.htm
Email: win@info.niddk.nih.gov
Profile:
WIN is a national information service of the National Institute of
Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health.
WIN was established in 1994 to provide health professionals and consumers
with science-based information on obesity, weight loss and control and
nutrition122.
Sisters Together: Move More, Eat
Better
Address: 1 WIN Way, Bethesda, MD
20892
Phone: (202) 828-1025 or (877)
946-4627
Fax: (202)
828-1028
Website: http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/nutrit/sisters/sisters.htm
Profile:
Sisters Together is an initiative of the Weight-control
Information Network (see above) and is designed to encourage black women
18 and over to maintain healthy weight loss and management by becoming more physically
active and eating healthier foods123.
The Center for Weight and Health –
University of California, Berkeley College of Natural
Resources
Address: 101 Giannini Hall #310,
Berkeley, CA 94720
Phone: (510)
642-1599
Fax: (510)
642-4612
Website: http://nature.berkeley.edu/cwh
Profile: The Center for Weight and Health provides
leadership for the development of interdisciplinary, science-based
solutions to body weight, weight loss, health, and hunger-related problems through a
number of activities. Among these are participation in and leadership of
related research projects, development of informational materials to raise
awareness and various outreach efforts124.
Health Management Resources
(HMR)
Address: 59 Temple Place, Suite 704,
Boston, MA 02111
Phone: (617)
357-9876
Fax: (617)
357-9690
Website: http://yourbetterhealth.com/
Profile:
HMR specializes in professional programs for weight loss and health management.
After more than 20 years experience providing high-quality service, HMR
has grown to be the leading provider of weight loss and management programs and
training services in the medical community. Since 1983, HMR has treated
over 800,000 people in programs nationwide125.
The Theodore B. Vanltallie Center
for Nutrition and Weight Management –
St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital
Center
Address: 425 West 59th Street, 9th
Floor, New York, NY 10019
Phone: (212)
523-2181
Website: http://stage.wehealny.org/directory/vansite/vanital.html
Profile: The Theodore B. VanItallie Center for
Nutrition and Weight Management is recognized as an international leader
in obesity research, obesity treatment and weight loss and management. The Center is
composed of physicians, endocrinologists, obesity researchers,
nutritionists, psychotherapists and exercise physiologists who provide a
wide array of obesity treatment options, including low calorie diets, individually
tailored weight loss programs, obesity medications and surgery. These obesity treatment options
are supported with a regimen of weight loss maintenance, behavior modification
and exercise126.
Medical University of South
Carolina (MUSC) Weight Management Center
Address: IOP South, Suite 410, 67 President
Street, Charleston, SC 29425
Phone: (843) 792-2273 or
(800) 553-7489
Website: http://www.musc.edu/psychiatry/weight.htm
Email:
wmc@musc.edu
Profile:
Specialists at MUSC's Weight Management Center understand the complexity
of weight loss. A team of psychologists, physicians, dietitians and
exercise physiologists work together, using their diverse knowledge to
help overweight and obese individuals achieve weight loss and maintenance. Because MUSC
is part of an academic medical center, patients also benefit from the most
current and safe weight loss and management programs, obesity medicines and advances in
obesity research127.
Shape Up America!
Address: 15009 Native Dancer Road, N. Potomac, MD
20878
Phone: (240) 631-6533
Fax:
(240) 632-1075
Website: http://www.shapeup.org/
Profile:
Shape Up America! is a national initiative to promote healthy weight, weight loss, and
increased physical activity in America. Involving a broad-based coalition
of industry, medical/health, nutrition, physical fitness, and related
organizations and experts, Shape Up America! promotes the importance of
achieving weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight while increasing physical
activity128.
