Medical Weight Loss Clinic in Miami Lakes

A medical program, not a diet

Most people who come to a weight loss clinic have already tried the diets. What changes in a medical program is who is watching and what they are watching for. A provider examines you, looks at your blood work and your medications, sets a goal against your own numbers, and keeps adjusting the plan at follow-up visits.

That’s also what the National Institutes of Health tells people to look for. A safe and successful program includes a reduced-calorie eating plan, a plan for physical activity, guidance and support for building the habits, and a plan for keeping the weight off, with regular feedback and monitoring along the way. One of the first questions NIH suggests asking is whether a doctor or other certified health professional oversees the program (NIDDK). At Ambert, the program is run by the practice’s own providers, the same people who handle primary care.

Where you start: what your BMI means

Body mass index is where the conversation starts, not where it ends. The CDC calls BMI a screening measure, to be considered with other factors such as blood pressure and cholesterol (CDC). Here is how the categories line up with what is usually considered:

BMI (adults)	CDC category	What is usually considered
18.5 to under 25	Healthy weight	Keeping it there; no weight-loss treatment needed
25 to under 27	Overweight	An eating and activity plan, with follow-up
27 to under 30	Overweight	The same plan; medication may be considered if you also have a weight-related condition such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes
30 to under 40	Obesity (class 1 and 2)	An intensive program of eating, activity and behavior support; medication may be considered
40 or more	Class 3 (severe) obesity	All of the above, and a conversation about every option, including referral to a specialist

The medication thresholds come from NIH’s guidance on weight-management medicines (NIDDK). For adults with a BMI of 30 or more, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends intensive programs that combine eating changes, physical activity and support, most of them running a year or more (USPSTF).

What your first visits cover

Your history. What you eat, how you sleep, what you’ve tried before and what happened, and every medicine you take, including the ones you buy over the counter.

An exam and your measurements. Your weight and blood pressure, recorded so that every later visit is measured against the same starting point.

Blood work. Your provider may order tests such as an A1C (your average blood sugar over the past two to three months), a cholesterol panel and a thyroid test. Blood is drawn right at the office; see blood work and lab tests for how that works, including which tests need you to fast.

A plan with numbers in it. A goal, an eating plan, an activity plan, and a date for your next visit.

A goal you can reach and keep

NIH experts recommend an initial goal of losing 5 to 10 percent of your starting weight within six months (NIDDK). That sounds modest until you see what it does: weight loss in that range may lower blood sugar, blood pressure and triglycerides (NIDDK). For a person who weighs 200 pounds, 5 percent is 10 pounds.

Pace matters too. People who lose weight at a gradual, steady pace, about 1 to 2 pounds a week, are more likely to keep it off than people who lose it faster (CDC). That’s why follow-up visits are part of the program rather than an extra.

Medication: who it’s for and how it fits

Prescription weight-management medicines are for adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight-related health problem. Some help you feel less hungry or full sooner; others reduce how much fat your body absorbs. They don’t replace healthy eating and physical activity: they work best combined with a lifestyle program (NIDDK).

A few things worth knowing before you start, all from the same NIH guidance:

• If you haven’t lost at least 5 percent of your starting weight after 12 weeks on the full dose, your provider will probably advise stopping that medicine.
• Most people regain some weight after stopping. Keeping up the eating and activity habits helps you regain less, or none.
• Weight-management medicines are never taken during pregnancy or while planning one.

Not everyone qualifies, and not everyone who qualifies needs one. Your provider will tell you which group you’re in.

Food and movement

The activity target for adults is at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week, such as 30 minutes a day, five days a week, plus muscle-strengthening on two days (CDC). If you’re starting from zero, the plan starts smaller and builds. For help with food, our nutrition counseling works hand in hand with the weight loss program, and if your weight is tied up with diabetes or blood pressure, the same visits can manage both.

Getting started

Call the office to book your first weight loss visit. If you’re new to the practice, the new patient guide covers what to bring, and the insurance page lists the plan types the practice accepts; coverage for weight-loss medicines in particular varies by plan, so ask when you call. If your provider orders an A1C or a cholesterol panel, our guide to reading your blood test results explains the numbers. The program runs at both the Miami Lakes and Kendall offices.