Overview
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:
- Type 2 diabetes.
- Hypertension.
- Sleep apnea.
- Polycystic ovarian disease.
- Fatty liver disease.
Why we use a team approach
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.
Why Choose Us?
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.
- Medical supervision of weight-loss medication.
- Access to shared medical appointments.
Learn more about Cleveland Clinic’s Obesity and Medical Weight Loss Center treatment outcomes.
Program Details
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:
- Follow-up visits with your doctor, which may be in-person, virtual or in a shared medical appointment.
- Meeting with a dietitian and the nutrition team.
- Meeting with an exercise physiologist to create a personalized and supervised exercise program.
- Meeting with a psychologist or sleep specialist, if necessary.
What is a shared medical appointment (SMA)?
SMAs provide a unique approach to the weight loss program by bringing healthcare providers and patients together in a group setting to discuss common medical issues, challenges and successes. Throughout the 60 to 75 minute session, patients have the opportunity to ask questions about the weight loss program or related health conditions from the entire healthcare team.
SMAs are a unique opportunity to meet in one setting with your caregivers and other patients enrolled in the same program. Patients often tell us benefits of SMAs include:
- A safe environment where patients can share questions with their caregivers and others in the program.
- Additional time with your caregivers to discuss the program or a specific disease or condition.
- Support from peers.
- Help with accountability.
- Visits can be in-person or virtually.
Medical nutrition therapy
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.
Appointments & Locations
Appointments
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:
X Building - Centers for Geriatric and Diabetes Care at Main Campus
F Building– 20 – Located in the J Building or Heart and Vascular Institute at Main Campus
Independence Family Health Center
PCOS Weight Loss Program
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Program
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.
Resources
- Diabetes Education Resources.
- Managing Your Weight Presentation with Marcio Griebeler, MD.
- Mindful Minutes with Susan Albers, PsyD.
- A Ketogenic Diet May Restore Fertility in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Case Series. Ula Abed Alwahab, Kevin M. Pantalone, and Bartolome Burguera AACE Clinical Case Reports 2018 4:5, e427-e431.
- Why People Diet, Lose Weight And Gain It All Back.
- 5 Reasons It's Harder To Lose Weight With Age.
- Can You Boost Your Metabolism For Weight Loss?
- Medical Weight Loss: Playing The Long Game.
- How to Balance a Healthy Diet During Self-Isolation.
- Weight Bias in Healthcare: Can It Be Prevented?
- The Possible Benefits of Metformin For Type 2 Diabetes And Other Health Conditions.
- Adult Obesity On Rise In The US, CDC Says.
- 6 Women Reveal Exactly What It Took To Lose 15 Pounds.
- The New You: Diet Pills - Are They Safe And Effective Way To Lose Weight?
