Weight loss is a primary therapy at the Whitaker Wellness Institute and we treat it very seriously. We begin by testing for undiscovered health problems that may have made it difficult for you to lose weight in the past. Then, we work with you to create an individualized program that targets your specific needs and helps you quickly and permanently achieve your weight loss goals.

The Conventional Approach to Weight Loss

Excess weight has a tendency to creep up on us. Two of every three American adults are overweight, one in three is obese, and obesity rates are soaring in our children as well. It’s important to remember that obesity is much more than a cosmetic issue. If you’re carrying extra pounds, you’re walking a dangerous tightrope towards heart disease, diabetes, and myriad other health concerns.

While most any diet can take off a few pounds over the short term, the weight invariably comes back as we return to our “normal” lifestyles—90 percent of those who lose weight regain it within five years. As a result, they may end up in a cycle of chronic or “yo-yo” dieting, which slows down metabolism and makes weight control all the more difficult.  

Weight gain is almost always a consequence of poor eating habits and too little exercise, and most physicians acknowledge the role of therapeutic lifestyle changes in weight management. However, they often fail to stress the importance of weight loss as a medical therapy that can lower blood pressure, control blood sugar, relieve pain in arthritic joints, and improve the course of scores of medical conditions. After all, it’s easier to pull out the prescription pad than to take the time to guide patients through the necessary lifestyle changes.

Another flaw in the conventional approach is the tendency to ignore or discount underlying medical conditions that may contribute to weight gain.

How We Treat Weight Problems

At the Whitaker Wellness Institute, we take a broader approach to weight problems. Thousands of scientific studies show that obesity is a significant factor in dozens of diseases. Therefore, weight loss is a primary therapy at the clinic, and we treat it very seriously.

We begin by testing for undiscovered health problems that may have made it difficult for you to lose weight in the past. Your complete blood workup will include a full hormone panel. If your thyroid hormone levels are in the low normal range—a level conventional physicians would consider to be fine—but you still have symptoms of hypothyroidism such as weight gain, we’ll give you a therapeutic trial of natural (not synthetic) thyroid. Thyroid supplementation can jumpstart metabolism and dramatically improve chances of success. 

Sleep apnea is another overlooked cause of weight gain, and the Whitaker Wellness Institute offers an easy, reliable overnight test for this very common condition. Once sleep apnea is treated, energy rebounds and health—and weight control—often return.     

Personalized Lifestyle Program for Weight Loss

The most important therapy for permanent weight loss is, of course, therapeutic lifestyle changes. During your stay at the Back to Health Program you will learn about carbohydrates, fats, and protein and how they affect appetite and weight. You’ll be taught which foods help burn fat and reduce cravings, and which ones you need to avoid. Instruction includes group lectures and nutritional discussions as well as individual consultations.

Exercise is also emphasized as a therapy for burning calories and building lean muscle, which is important for long-term weight control because it increases overall metabolic rate. Our exercise physiologist will give you specific instructions in how to exercise safely and when to exercise for maximum fat-burning benefit. We will also help you stay on track by tailoring a strengthening and aerobic exercise program to fit your lifestyle.

Although achieving and maintaining weight loss without regular exercise and attention to diet is next to impossible, your physician at the clinic will also prescribe targeted nutritional supplements and medical foods that help control appetite and boost the effects of a lifestyle regimen.

Unique Therapies for Weight Loss

Your Whitaker Wellness physician may also refer you to our TLC (Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes) Program. We recognize that implementing and, above all, sticking with a diet and exercise program is extremely difficult. TLC is designed to dramatically improve your chances of success.

You will meet with your TLC Educator, who will help pinpoint past problems you’ve had with weight control. You will also be given an individualized diet and exercise program, along with workbooks, recipes, meal plans, tracking charts, and other tools for staying on track. We can even arrange for meals to be delivered to your home, if desired.

You’ll find that the one-on-one counseling and encouragement you’ll receive from your TLC Educator during follow-up sessions (by telephone, if necessary) will make all the difference in the world. The Whitaker Wellness TLC Program has an excellent track record of success, not just for helping patients lose weight but also for reversing disease and improving virtually every aspect of health.

Real-Life Success Stories

Click here to read about how other people just like you achieved permanent Weight Loss and got back on the road to health.

Additional Information

Click here to read more about Weight Loss.

Contact Us

For more information on the Whitaker Wellness Institute’s proven programs for Weight Loss, contact a Patient Services Representative at (800) 488-1500 or click here.