Cleveland Clinic’s Endocrinology and Metabolism Obesity Center offers medical weight management programs to help you achieve your weight loss goals through healthy lifestyle changes. Improving your health and quality of life is at the focus of everything we do.
If you’re looking to improve your health and quality of life through proven medical weight management techniques, our team of specialists is here to help. You’ll receive a personalized non-surgical weight management plan created by a variety of experts from fields including:
Endocrinology
Internal and family medicine
Nutrition
Exercise physiology
Psychology
Social work
Once enrolled in our program, your care team will create a plan for you that might include a variety of medical weight management techniques, including:
Nutrition support
Exercise and fitness programs
Appetite control techniques
Stress management
Sleep management
Prescription medication management
Management of other conditions related to obesity or overweight
What is obesity?
Having a healthy weight can mean many things for many people. Traditionally, having obesity is having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater. But BMI is just one way to measure obesity. Other measurements can also be used, like lean mass and associated comorbidities.
Similar to obesity, overweight is traditionally diagnosed when a person has a BMI of greater than 27 along with other related health conditions.
Over time, people with obesity or overweight have an increased risk of developing other serious medical conditions. Our program is committed to helping you achieve and maintain weight-loss success while addressing other medical conditions commonly associated with obesity, such as:
The Cleveland Clinic Endocrinology and Metabolism Institute's Medical Weight Management Program uses a team of highly trained and specialized interdisciplinary professionals who work together to help patients achieve their health-related goals. This team includes board certified in obesity medicine physicians, endocrinologists, internal medicine specialists and nurse practitioners, dietitians, exercise physiologists, pharmacists, psychologists and a social worker. These experts focus on five pillars of weight management - nutrition, exercise, appetite control, sleep, and stress management. Our team will balance all these areas to optimize your weight loss and make sure your success is sustainable.
At Cleveland Clinic’s Obesity and Medical Weight Loss Center, we know that even a small amount of weight loss can have a big impact on your overall health. We’re committed to helping you achieve your individual goals – and celebrate small wins along the way – by creating a personalized program tailored to you.
Whether you struggle to find the right exercise program that fits your busy schedule, or need help controlling your late-night cravings, we’ll work with you to create a plan that’s achievable and sustainable.
The goal of our program will never be focused on short-term weight loss. Instead, we’ll give you the tools you need to make sustainable lifestyle changes that lead to long-term success.
By working with an interdisciplinary team of Cleveland Clinic experts, you’ll have access to our tools and programs that have helped thousands of patients learn more about their disease, make sustainable lifestyle changes and maintain those healthy habits for years to come.
Benefits of our program include:
Medical oversight by an expert team of doctors and healthcare professionals
Creation of a personalized nutrition and exercise plan
Mental health management that targets stress, anxiety, depression and eating disorders
Management of sleep disorders that hinder weight loss by sleep disorder experts
At your first in-person or virtual appointment, you’ll meet with one of our doctors who specializes in medical weight management. Your doctor will ask questions about your medical history and learn what goals you have for this program. They’ll work with you to create a personalized plan.
After your initial visit, additional appointments will be scheduled, which may include:
Cleveland Clinic’s shared medical weight loss program creates a supportive environment to the weight loss by combining individualized medical assessment and care, education, and peer support to guide your successful weight-loss journey.
The SMA program provides you with:
Increased time with your healthcare team
Interaction and learning from other participants in the group
Individualized medical care, including review of laboratory results, treatment of relevant health conditions and medication adjustments
Condition-specific education and reinforced learning through collaboration with healthcare experts
Success in the program also offers the possibility of improving or resolving your chronic weight-related conditions, such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and sleep apnea.
After your first visit with one of our weight management specialists, you will meet with one of our registered dietitian nutritionists (RDN) for a complete nutrition assessment. Our dietitians will create an individual plan for you – taking into consideration your current lifestyle, medical history, food preferences, resources, health goals and evidence-based nutrition recommendations. Together, you and your dietitian will set realistic health goals for sustainable results.
Your nutrition program will focus on eating nutritious food, while also introducing behaviors that can help improve your relationship with food.
Exercise program
Your exercise plan will be created by one of our exercise physiologists based on your goals, lifestyle and abilities. Exercise has many benefits that can help directly with your weight loss, but also help improve related conditions like stress and sleep disorders.
To schedule an appointment with the Obesity and Medical Weight Loss Center within the Endocrinology & Metabolism Institute, please call 216.444.6568. To schedule an appointment with a dietitian, call 216.444.3672.
Locations
Appointments are offered at a variety of locations throughout Northeast Ohio, including:
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal imbalance caused by the ovaries creating excess androgens (male hormones). While the exact cause of PCOS is unknown, you may have a higher chance of developing the disease if you have overweight or obesity.
The Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Program is a multidisciplinary program that helps reduce the symptoms of PCOS by incorporating healthy lifestyle changes that promote weight loss. For those with PCOS, weight loss can often help improve your symptoms and increase fertility.
The program is led by Ula Abed Alwahab, MD. To schedule an appointment, call 216.444.9669. After your initial appointment, you will meet with a registered dietitian and have access to our shared medical appointments.
