|
For many, obesity remains a complicated, frustrating and distressing condition. It is associated with a variety of medical complications, many of which are life threatening. In addition to the toll that obesity can take psychologically and medically, obesity can take a tremendous financial toll as well. Healthcare costs associated with obesity reached over $238 billion in 1999 and have steadily been rising. Experts agree that the key to successful LONG-TERM weight loss is to learn behaviors that will lead to permanent changes in eating and exercise habits.
In an effort to help people learn those behaviors the WelloLife Department at Saint Joseph Health Center is now offering Lifestyle Strategies for Health and Weight Management. The program provides a formal, comprehensive lifestyle change approach, the intent of which is to teach patients to have a significant impact on their health for the rest of their life.
"Lifestyle Strategies was developed more than six years ago as a serious treatment option for those overweight," says Marti Macchi, MEd. Macchi, an exercise physiologist, has been involved with the program since its inception. "I had worked with athletes trying to shave a half-second off their times-and while that's important for them, most of us don't intend to compete, we just want a better quality of life. It's so much more rewarding to help people in this way-to make a major improvements in their lives."
"The program is really for anyone-whether they have 10 pounds or 300 pounds to lose. What we teach are healthy lifestyle skills, so patients don't just lose weight, but learn to keep it off," says Marti. "Lifestyle Strategies has a professional team of health educators with advanced degrees in exercise physiology, nutrition and counseling who work to teach patients how to be healthy, how to live healthy and to stay healthy in the unhealthy and toxic environment that is the American culture."
The program consists of three phases with the first being 20 weeks long. During Phase I, patients participate in a highly structured, medically supervised treatment that enables them to see significant weight loss, while learning the foundational skills they will need to use for the rest of their life. The average weight loss during the first phase is 50 pounds.
During Phases II and III, patients continue to hone and practice their skills. It is recommended that patients continue with Phase II at their goal weight for an extended period of time. This phase gives patients ample opportunity to practice maintaining their new weight with accountability. Skills necessary for a healthy lifestyle are reinforced and practiced in Phase II. Patients must learn how to incorporate those new behaviors into their life and KEEP them there. Phase III allows patients to maintain contact with Lifestyle Strategies professionals and others "who've been there"-a support group of sorts.
"Lifestyle Strategies helps patients recognize that being healthy involves not only making changes in their physical environment, but also mentally and emotionally," says Marti. "We address patients' lifestyle goals in every class session as a way of looking at the whole person."
The cost of the program varies depending on the amount of weight a person wants to lose. Free information sessions and classes are offered frequently. Call 816-943-2502 for dates and times.
|
