Weight Center Programs

The MGH Weight Center is dedicated to running high quality; medically managed weight loss programs that partner with the patient to improve overall health and well being. After a complete initial evaluation, you will receive treatment recommendations that are customized based on your Body Mass Index (BMI), medical complications of obesity and genetic risk. The customized program may include medical or behavioral interventions alone for patients with low risk BMI or for patients with High Risk BMI, surgical interventions may be recommended. All of our programs utilize a combination of individual sessions and weekly group sessions and include long-term care helping patients integrate new health practices into their lives. The MGH Weight Center is a Center of Excellence for patients who may have participated in other medical or surgical weight loss programs and are subsequently experiencing difficulties. We will partner with you to find the MGH Weight Center program that is right for you and be available for you throughout your life.

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Healthy Habits for Life: A Weight Center Medically Managed Program

The Healthy Habits for Life Program is a lifestyle-focused intervention program designed to address the knowledge, skills, attitudes and thoughts that drive behaviors related to eating and activity. Weight loss is only one of the few important goals for this program. Healthier eating and activity are also important goals. Your expectations about the rate, amount, and overall importance of weight loss are addressed realistically from the outset. You will be helped to make a personal commitment to behavior change. If indicated, your Weight Center physician may prescribe a weight loss medication and be monitored by the Weight Center M.D. As with all prescribed and customized programs indications for weight loss medications are determined by your Weight Center physician in consultation with you and your Weight Center team.

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MGH Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery: A Weight Center Surgical Program

Since 1999, the MGH Weight Center has provided weight loss surgery for appropriate patients. The MGH Weight Center surgical program begins with a pre-surgical program that helps prepare you for the nutritional and psychological effects of surgery and sets you on the course of better eating and establishes appropriate expectations. Post-surgery you will attend a multi-week support and nutrition education program that monitors your progress and health. Patients have expressed the importance of these programs to their long-term success. Weight loss surgery starts you on your journey towards health but your success relies on you. The Weight Center Staff is here to help you along the way.

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Pediatric and Adolescent Programs

The pediatric/adolescent program at the MGH Weight Center provides comprehensive evaluation and care for children and adolescents who are overweight or obese. Each child and their family has an evaluation by a team of clinicians to discover the underlying causes of the child’s weight gain and any medical and emotional risks. The team then works with the family to develop a personalized treatment plan. This usually includes work on diet and exercise habits. Medication to support weight loss or weight loss surgery is considered in some cases. More information about the process is available in Pediatric/Adolescent Programs.

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Special Programs

Healthy Eating After Surgery (HEAS) Program
This program is for patients who are at least 15 months post-gastric bypass surgery and are experiencing unhealthy eating patterns – for example, eating as a way of coping with emotions. The primary goal of this program is to help patients who have undergone weight loss surgery to better manage and cope with emotions, in order to facilitate the balanced, structured eating style that will help to maintain your health. The program is led by a Weight Center psychologist, in coordination with the Weight Center dietitians.

The program is primarily in a group format, and includes these specific components:

• 1 Individual pre-group appointment with a Weight Center psychologist before the group sessions
• 12 weekly group sessions, led by a Weight Center psychologist
• Up to 4 individual sessions with a Weight Center dietitian
• 1 individual session with the Weight Center psychologist who lead the group the end of the weekly sessions
• 1 individual session with your Weight Center doctor at the end of the program

The cost of this program will depend on your insurance coverage for nutrition and psychology services.

POWR/PLUS
The MGH Weight Center and the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine have designed a program aimed at reducing weight and teaching relaxation techniques. Research shows that both weight loss and stress management help patients prepare for surgery and contribute to positive outcomes after surgery. This Pre-Operative Weight Reduction and Program for Lowering of Unwanted Stress (POWR/PLUS) is designed to improve surgical outcomes. More information about the program is available at POWR/PLUS.