About Obesity Treatment Centers

Obesity is a major problem in America today. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, nearly 31 percent of all Americans are clinically obese, which means that they have a Body Mass Index of more than 25. This usually means that a person is more than 100 pounds overweight, which is exactly why obesity treatment centers exist. They realize that losing 100 pounds is neither a quick nor easy task to undertake alone.

Time Frame

Beginning treatment or counseling at an obesity treatment center may take a few months to more than a year. You usually must receive a referral from your primary care physician first, then must wait to be contacted by the center. They will likely invite you to attend a class on obesity, which will discuss some common reasons behind obesity and some treatment options. This class usually seats about 30 people and is held only a few times a year, meaning that you may have to wait a few months before the center contacts you. Counseling will also be needed to determine how you got to your current weight, how long you've battled weight issues and what you've done to lose weight. This data will be used to determine the best treatment methods for you. If surgery is recommended, it may take a few more months before you're properly prepared for the procedure. Therefore, it can take several months to two years before treatment at an obesity center may begin. Insurance approvals may also slow down the treatment process.

Geography

Though obesity treatment centers can be found anywhere, the midwest and south seem to have a larger percentage of centers than other regions. Some of the more popular research and treatment centers include the Medical University of South Carolina Weight Management Center, University of Pennsylvania Weight and Eating Disorder Program, the Minnesota Obesity Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Interdisciplinary Obesity Center, the Obesity Treatment Centers of New Jersey, the New York Obesity Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Nutrition Sciences and Obesity Research Center.

Features

There are many weight-loss solutions that are available to obese individuals. When researching the proper obesity treatment center for you, you'll want to be sure that the center has many different options and programs, including diet and exercise, gastric bypass surgery, the lap band procedure, therapy and nutrition counseling. You also want to be sure that they not only have medical doctors on staff who can deal with your physical weight, but also psychologists, psychologists or other trained professionals who can deal with the psychological and emotional issues that can come with obesity. Group sessions and support groups are also commonly recommended for many patients.

Types

There are many associations that can refer obese individuals to specific obesity treatment centers. Some of the most popular ones are the American Obesity Association, the American Society for Bariatric Surgery, the American Council for Fitness & Nutrition, the International Association for the Study of Obesity, the Partnership for Healthy Weight Management, the Obesity Action Coalition, the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior and the International Obesity Task Force. Many of these organizations are affiliated with specific treatment centers, obesity journals and clinical research studies.

Considerations

Unless you're entering a clinical trial, receiving treatment at an obesity treatment center can be expensive. You usually must receive a referral from your primary care physician first, then must wait to be contacted by the center. They will likely invite you to attend a class on obesity, which will discuss some common reasons behind obesity and some treatment options. Counseling will also be needed to determine how you got to your current weight, how long you've battled weight issues and what you've done to lose weight. This data will be used to determine the best treatment methods for you.

Resources

• The Obesity Society's Organizations
• Obesity Treatment Centers of New Jersey