Bariatric surgery is often the best treatment for morbid obesity, but sometimes surgery is not immediately possible due to health, lifestyle, or insurance concerns, or because less-invasive options must be attempted first. In such cases, nutrition, exercise, and psychosocial counseling with WLS experts can provide a promising alternative.

Formal programs such as LEARN (Lifestyle, Exercise, Attitude, Relationships, and Nutrition) and OPTIFAST® are also available, both as primary treatments and as pre-surgery requirements to help patients qualify for a specific procedure. Even when they are not strictly required, pre-surgery counseling and treatments can give patients an advantage by preparing them well for dietary, activity, and lifestyle changes occurring after surgery.

WLS currently offer three primary non-surgical weight loss programs:

LEARN only
This 12-week program includes weekly classes taught by WLS’s lead dietician, as well as one-on-one consultations with a nutritionist and other counselors. The classes explore common causes and complications of obesity, as well as critical aspects of diet, activity, attitude, and other factors that affect weight and health. The focus is on simple, effective strategies to help participants achieve and maintain weight loss. This non-invasive, low-intensity program is perfect as a first step toward surgery, for less obese patients, or to help develop skills for long-term weight loss.

OPTIFAST/LEARN
This option combines the LEARN program with an OPTIFAST diet to encourage faster weight loss. Patients who are moderately or severely obese but not qualified or ready for surgery may find success with this more intense program. Initially, participants go on an OPTIFAST diet, in which special shakes and bars replace ordinary food and provide a full day’s nutrition while greatly reducing calories. As the adjustment to OPTIFAST occurs, LEARN courses begin to teach effective strategies for long-term weight loss.

OPTIFAST only
Some patients who choose to undergo surgery are not medically ready, and a physician may require a certain amount of weight loss before the procedure can safely take place. In such cases, an aggressive OPTIFAST program can help participants make steady progress toward their target weight and make surgery possible sooner. OPTIFAST can also help prepare the digestive system for post-surgery recovery and long-term dietary adjustments.