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Serving the Fort Worth, Dallas and Arlington areas – Bariatric Surgeon David D. Kim, M.D.

Affordable, Flexible and Effective

Thank you for your interest in our medical weight management programs. We are passionate about helping people attain their wellness and weight loss goals and look forward to helping you. You may have read through Dr. David Kim’s website and noticed that there are several surgeries which result in excellent weight loss and long term results. Surgery, however, for some people is not an option, either due to finances, personal preferences or possibly due to not meeting eligibility criteria. Whatever your circumstances, Dr. Kim understands that your weight and health conditions are a burden to you and that you still may wish to pursue weight loss through non-surgical methods. Methods other than surgery used to treat people who are overweight and obese include diet, behavior modification, exercise and emotional health. All together these tools are the pillars of lifestyle change needed to successfully lose weight and maintain weight loss for as long as possible. In addition to lifestyle change, special medical nutrition programs such as protein sparing modified fasts (PSMF), which use meal replacements, have been successful in reducing weight. Another tool used to curb appetite and assist with lifestyle changes are medications called anorectics. These medications are used to help reduce the desire to eat and help people control calories. I would like to spend a brief moment to describe the pillars of lifestyle change, medical nutrition therapy and weight loss medications so you can better understand how they may assist you.

Please contact the Live Life Again Center for more information, or to schedule a consultation for non-surgical medical weight loss programs at our Dallas – Ft. Worth and Arlington, Texas-area practice.

Pillars of Lifestyle Change

The pillars of lifestyle change, also called therapeutic lifestyle change, include healthful well-balanced low calorie meal plans, exercise education and participation and behavior modification. Lifestyle changes are started immediately when pursuing optimal health and are important for all people, not just those who are very overweight or obese. As a matter of fact, people who are slightly overweight, those with a BMI as low as 25 will benefit from the pillars of lifestyle change. At every stage of overweight or obesity these principles are stressed in our programs. As a patient you will benefit from lifestyle coaching from your peers at weekly group meetings, shopping excursions, exercise classes and one-on-one counseling with Registered Dietitians. In addition to healthful eating, and exercise, addressing emotional eating and behavior is also an important part of weight management.

We are happy to provide the “The Inner Diet”, a program built around your unique personal profile. Funny as it may sound, it is a “non-dieting” approach to weight management and comes with a personalized profile and workbook. The profile and workbook address your level of commitment, discomfort with weight loss, inner control, perfectionism, secondary gain, why you may want to be overweight, and stress eating. Completing the comprehensive workbook will provide you with insight and success.

Medical Nutrition Therapy

Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) programs include using specialized meal replacements and very low calorie diets (VLCD), also called protein sparing modified fasts (PSMF). These plans usually reduce calories using meal replacements for as long as several months to reduce weight rapidly. We offer a variety of plans to suit your particular tastes and medical nutrition needs. We carry OPTIFAST®, Bariatric Advantage®, Isagenix® and other supplements that can safely be used as liquid meal replacements. These programs are guided by medical, nursing and nutritional professionals who are experienced in their use. We realize that people may require supplements that are lactose-free or are made of vegetable proteins instead of milk. We will try our best to accommodate your unique nutritional needs.

Medical nutrition therapy is used to change the course of disease. Just like physical therapy can rehabilitate a sprained ankle or an antibiotic can treat a bacterial infection. A medical nutrition therapy program tailored to your unique health status can be formulated by our healthcare providers. It is important to understand that these diets may be very low in calories and can be potentially harmful if not guided by a healthcare professional. These plans are never intended for self-use without supervision. Complete liquid plans require weekly meetings and medical risk evaluation with labs, EKG and other medical studies if indicated. Our primary program includes OPTIFAST® and its clinically proven Lifestyle Education Program, which lasts about 18 weeks and results in about 2-5 pounds per week weight loss. Protein sparing modified fasts can be especially useful for those with a BMI of 27 to 35 or greater who may have concerns about their weight, disease risk, or current health status.

Weight Loss Medications

In addition to therapeutic lifestyle changes and/or medical nutrition plans, weight loss medications may be needed to get the results you are looking for. They come in several categories. Two prominent categories include appetite suppressants, also called anorectics, and those that cause malabsorption. Only two drugs have been approved by the FDA for long-term use, which include Meridia® (Sibutramine) and Xenical® or Alli® (Orlistat). Meridia® is a medication that works on brain neurotransmitters and helps suppress appetite. Alli®, which is now available over-the-counter, is a drug that inhibits pancreatic lipase, an enzyme that breaks down fat and decreases fat absorption. There are other medications that have been approved for short-term use at three month intervals. Adipex® or Fastin® (phentermine) and Tenuate® (diethylproprion) are popular drugs used for their appetite suppressing qualities. Both phentermine and diethylproprion are controlled substances and may have side-effects.

Life is full of risks and choices regarding health and medications. One benefit you will find at Dr. Kim’s bariatric center is knowledgeable staff that will take the time to review these medications with you. Ultimately it is up to you and your health provider to safely add medication to any weight loss program. Medications are only useful for those already on a healthy lifestyle program who are not losing weight as expected. They are especially beneficial for people with BMI of 27 or greater who are concerned about their weight, disease risk, and current health status.

No matter which program you choose, we are excited to be on your team. Numerous programs place emphasis on vitamin pills or herbs. They may promote certain medications, injections or surgery. Our programs are so flexible they work with any program you may be on. For example, you may want to add medication to the benefits of Weight Watchers® or Jenny Craig®. Any program you use that is effective for you can be continued. At Dr. Kim’s bariatric center we put the person first above all else. When you are first, you can’t lose. Whether you join us on a grocery store tour, attend support groups, take prescribed medication, or choose surgery, NO is not an option.

Medical Weight Loss Services

• Comprehensive consultation
• Motivational appointments
• Monthly grocery store tours
• Educational seminars
• Educational exercise classes
• Body fat analysis
• "The Inner Diet" personal profile
• OPTIFAST® meal replacements
• Bariatric Advantage® meal replacements
• Isagenix® nutritional products
• Weight loss medication prescription and supervision
• Psychotherapy referrals for disordered eating

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