Medically Supervised Weight Loss Options

We understand how difficult weight loss can be. Even with the best of efforts, managing your weight can involve frustrating ups and downs, and can even feel hopeless at times. Weight loss can be especially difficult when you try to do it on your own. Our medically supervised weight loss options offer the support and accountability of a team that’s on your side.

At Brigham and Women's Hospital, our team of board-certified physicians and registered dietitians specialize in helping people lose weight in a safe and healthy way. We'll help you develop healthy habits that last a lifetime, ensuring you achieve your goals, improve your health and increase your quality of life.

To make sure you achieve the best health outcome possible, we offer several different plans that can be personalized to your individual weight loss goals and the foods you prefer. Our range of weight loss approaches are tailored to meet your needs, and we base our treatment approaches on the latest scientific evidence about what strategies work.

Our medically supervised weight loss options include:

• Calorie-Controlled Plan
• Food/Liquid Meal Replacement Plan
• Liquid Meal Replacement Plan
• Prescription Medications for Weight Loss

You can learn more about each plan below.

Calorie Controlled Plan for Weight Loss

This plan involves eating only healthy foods you purchase for yourself. Our dietitian guides the process and designs a healthy meal plan based on your own food likes and dislikes. Our Calorie Controlled Plan includes:

• Initial consultation with our team to talk about your personal weight loss goals
• Follow-up appointment with a dietitian who helps design an individual meal plan tailored to the foods you prefer
• Regular meetings with your dietitian to check in on progress and revise or update the plan as needed
• Regular meetings with a doctor to evaluate your progress
• Access to interactive groups led by registered dietitian

Food and Liquid Meal Replacement Plan for Weight Loss

This plan involves replacing some of your meals with liquid meal replacement shakes you purchase. Meals that aren’t replaced with shakes will consist of healthy foods you buy at the supermarket (or make at home). Liquid meal replacements are well-studied tools that help people achieve their weight loss goals. Our Food and Liquid Meal Replacement Plan includes:

• Initial consultation with our team to talk about your personal weight loss goals
• Follow-up appointment with a dietitian who designs an individual meal plan tailored to your preferences, including liquid meal replacement shakes
• Weekly meetings with your dietitian to check in on progress and revise or update the plan as needed
• Regular meetings with a doctor to evaluate your progress
• Access to interactive groups led by registered dietitian
• Guidance when you transition back to a full-food plan

Liquid Meal Replacement Plan for Weight Loss

In this plan, all your meals are replaced with liquid meal replacement shakes you purchase. The plan consists of drinking five or more nutritionally complete meal replacement shakes, along with two prescribed vitamin and mineral packets every day. This combination provides everything you need for good nutrition while also initiating weight loss. Our Liquid Meal Replacement Plan includes:

• Initial consultation with our team to talk about your personal weight loss goals
• Follow-up appointment with a dietitian
• Weekly meetings with your dietitian to check in on progress and revise or update the plan as needed
• Regular meetings with your doctor to evaluate your progress
• Access to interactive groups led by registered dietitian
• Guidance when you slowly transition from meal replacements back to a full-food plan

Prescription Medications for Weight Loss

This plan involves combining the healthy eating, Calorie Controlled Plan with an FDA-approved prescription medication for weight loss. These medications lessen your appetite or can make you feel full earlier. Our Prescription Medication Plan includes:

• Initial consultation with our team to talk about your personal weight loss goals
• An appointment with a doctor who can see if you’re a good candidate for weight loss medication
• Follow-up appointment with a dietitian to design a calorie-limited eating plan tailored to your individual preferences
• Weekly meetings with your dietitian to check in on progress and revise or update the plan as needed
• Regular meetings with your doctor to evaluate your progress
• Clinical exams and bloodwork as needed depending on the medication you’re on
• Access to interactive groups led by registered dietitian

Am I a candidate for medically supervised weight loss?

For the Calorie Controlled Plan, you qualify with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or above. Healthcare professionals use BMI to check your risk for weight-related diseases. It’s based on a formula that considers your current weight and height. While it’s not a perfect method, BMI can be a useful health indicator for many people. To find out your BMI, you can use our BMI calculator.

For our other weight loss plans, we can help you find out if you qualify. Your doctor can work with you to see if any of these options is a good fit for your needs. For example, plans that use liquid meal replacements may not be right for people with only a small amount of weight to lose, unless you also have a weight-related medical condition like high blood pressure.

For our Prescription Weight Loss Plan, your doctor decides if weight loss medication is right for you based on your personal medical history and current medications.

Do you offer long-term weight management support?

Yes. We offer two opportunities for long-term support after treatment.

Group Support

As part of our plans, all active program participants are invited to take part in group sessions designed to help you build skills for successful weight loss and a healthier lifestyle, as well as longer-term weight loss maintenance. Led by experienced registered dietitians, our groups discuss nutrition education, exercise and more.

Weight Maintenance Program

Our weight maintenance program is for those who’ve reached their weight loss goals and desire additional support to prevent weight re-gain. The program includes weekly weigh-ins and weekly group participation. Out of pocket costs are associated with this program

Which providers offer medically supervised weight loss options?

• Caroline Apovian, MD
• Co-Director, Center for Weight Management and Wellness
• Mehmet Furkan Burak, MD
• Nawfal Istfan, MD, PhD
• Tara Iyer, MD
• Dong Wook Kim, MD

How can I schedule an appointment for medically supervised weight loss plans?

You can schedule an appointment by calling our phone number at 617-525-3597. Patients may need a referral depending on their individual health insurance specifications.

What is the cost of the weight loss program and is it covered by insurance?

Visits are covered by insurance and medications may also be covered by insurance, depending on the individual insurance plan. Some weight loss plans – such as meal replacement – are often not covered by insurance and could result in out-of-pocket costs.

I’m a doctor. How do I refer a patient for medically supervised weight loss plans?

Please call 617-525-3597 for information on referring a patient. Patients typically need a referral for their first visit.