Medical Weight Loss Program

The VCU Health Weight Loss Program is dedicated to helping you meet your weight loss goals and reclaim your health. For more information or to schedule your first visit, call (804) 828-0761. 

Program Features

The majority of patients follow a low carbohydrate diet but the program can be tailored to meet your needs. Weight loss medications are used on a case-by-case basis.

Patients in the program have:

• Decreased diabetes medications and most have come off of insulin
• Decreased blood pressure medications
• Decreased cholesterol medications
• Stopped CPAP for sleep apnea
• Stopped oxygen
• Been able to increase exercise
• Been able to lose enough weight to get needed surgeries (orthopedic, transplant, plastic surgery, hernia)

Reoccurring visits are essential for your weight loss to be successful. From your first visit, we’re with you every step of the way. You’ll experience consistent support and contact from the team, who frequently tailor the program to fit your individual needs. Some visits may be done through telemedicine.

You’ll have access to:

• Informational session: a free seminar devoted to addressing the causes, complications and treatment of excess weight (must be attended prior to an initial weight loss visit)
• An initial weight loss visit (individual)
• A weight loss class (group)
• A follow-up weight loss class (group)
• Weekly lifestyle coaching sessions (group) once a week for 4 weeks
• Monthly individual sessions with a provider

Initial Weight Loss Class

This class is taught by a provider and covers the topics of:

• Basic nutrition
• Reading food labels
• Low carbohydrate eating plan
• Shopping
• Recipes

Support

• Closed Facebook group for education, recipes and encouragement
• A secure patient portal for questions to provider
• Optional monthly support groups

Educational Sessions

Education sessions are led by a mental health professional. Each week will cover different topics:

• Week 1: Motivation, monitoring and goal setting
• Week 2: Stress management
• Week 3: Assertiveness, self-care and positive thinking
• Week 4: Coping with cravings and relapse prevention

“I was able to come off insulin that I had taken for over 30 years.” - Gail, Patient