Comprehensive Weight Management Program

About the Comprehensive Weight Management Program

Jefferson's Comprehensive Weight Management Program in Philadelphia focuses on more than a target weight. Our highly trained medical staff will work with you to devise a customized plan for a healthier and more active lifestyle. With over 70 active participants in maintenance, this is one of the largest and most dynamic Optifast® maintenance programs in the country.

Whether you are living with an obesity-related health condition or you are simply frustrated with the limitations on your lifestyle, we offer a number of options to guide and support you in your journey to a healthier weight, from short-term education classes to a medically monitored comprehensive weight loss and maintenance program.

Interested in Jefferson's Weight Management Program? Attend a free session for a complete overview. Classes are held in our offices at Walnut Towers (211 South 9th Street, 6th Floor) in Center City Philadelphia.

To find out the dates and to register for a class, please call 215-955-5732 or use our e-mail form.

Short-Term Education Programs

We offer several short-term programs for individuals looking for information and medically based support in their efforts to lose weight:

One-Session Weight Loss Class
This program provides simple strategies to start managing your weight. Explore such topics as:

• How many calories a day should you eat?
• Are calories even important?
• Should your diet be low fat or low carbohydrate?
• How important is breakfast?

Six-Session Weight Loss Class
This more in-depth program focuses on food management and offers detailed information about weight loss from the perspective of:

• Protein, fat and carbohydrates
• Calories
• Meal planning and restaurant eating

We will help you develop an eating plan to maintain weight loss and incorporate ongoing group sessions.

Comprehensive Medically Monitored Program

Patients who opt for a more long-term program that involves a medically supervised liquid fast — paired with lifestyle education and ongoing personalized support — will undergo three phases:

1. Beginning (lasts six to 12 weeks)

• An 800-calorie-a-day OPTIFAST® liquid diet
• An average 15 to 20 percent loss of body weight
• Mandatory weekly group meetings (held days and evenings), led by our highly trained facilitators, to understand and recognize food-related attitudes and behaviors

2. Beyond Diets (lasts six weeks)

• Transition from the liquid Optifast to a new, healthy way of eating
• Implementation of a detailed transition-eating plan
• Weekly education sessions on nutrition and long-term weight management

3. Maintenance (ongoing)

• A program with some of the nation's highest success rates
• Either continued use of some Optifast products as meal replacement or another customized eating plan
• Ongoing group support sessions to learn about nutrition, maintenance issues and healthy behaviors for a lifetime

Participants must commit to all three phases to develop skills for long-term maintenance.