Medical Weight Loss

While obesity is a national health issue, it’s much more personal for those experiencing it. The team at Hartford HealthCare’s Digestive Health Institute knows the struggle is real.

Maybe genetics or conditions like insulin resistance work against you, leaving you starving. Or, busy lifestyles mean eating on the go with little time to exercise. Whatever the challenge, our team of specialists in weight management, behavioral health and nutrition is here to help. Our goal is to create an individualized plan with you that will tackle weight concerns and set you on the path to a healthier future.

These powerful and effective weight loss medications require a prescription and should be taken under the supervision of a medical expert. Our skilled providers will determine the proper dose, help you avoid side effects, and monitor you for progress.

What We Offer

We can suggest various medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration to help you lose weight. Our specialists work with you to find the best option for your health and lifestyle.

Medication is only part of the equation, however. We also offer:

• Special diet programs. A registered dietitian will work with you to get started with one of our doctor recommended diet plans.
• Exercise plans. Our multidisciplinary program uses a variety of fitness programs to support your needs and help achieve your goals.
• Behavioral health support. Our behavioral health specialists are trained to address the emotional aspect of obesity and help you remove any barriers to success.

To make it easy for you to reach your goal weight, we created a treatment format that moves you through the process smoothly and with support.

Here are the steps if you are considering medical weight management:

• Referral: It is recommended that you get a referral from your healthcare provider, but not required.
• Attend a free introductory session. You’ll learn about the options available to you based on your health.
• Schedule a consult with a specialist. After speaking with you about your goals and calculating your body mass index (BMI), we will recommend the best options. These options may result in continuing with medical weight management services or potentially transitioning to our experts within our Surgical Weight Loss Program. Our goal is to support you through your entire continuum of care.

Who Should Consider Medical Weight Loss?

We’ve found that medical weight loss services – combining nutrition, exercise and lifestyle support, often with medication – can be ideal for patients who have a BMI > or equal to 27 with a weight related health issue, or BMI > or equal to 30, struggle losing weight on their own and have other chronic comorbidities like type 2 diabetes, congestive heart failure and obesity hypoventilation syndrome.

Our team works with each patient to find the approach that’s best for them, addressing their personal barriers to weight loss and control of cravings and binging behaviors.

In addition, we work with patients who have had weight loss surgery and experienced weight regain or weight plateau, and those who want to learn helpful behavioral strategies before bariatric surgery.