Licensed physicians (MD or DO) who practice weight loss medicine are called “Bariatricians.” As a member of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP), bariatricians receive special training in the medical treatment of overweight and obesity and its associated conditions. Bariatricians address the obese patient with a comprehensive program of diet and nutrition, exercise, lifestyle changes, and, when indicated, the prescription of appetite suppressants and other appropriate medications.

While any licensed physician can offer a medical weight loss program to patients, members of the ASBP have attended extensive continuing medical education programs to give them the specialized knowledge, techniques, and tools they need to design specialized medical weight loss programs. These programs are tailored to the needs of individual patients and are modified as needed, as the treatment progresses. ASBP members are uniquely equipped to treat overweight and obesity and associated conditions.

A physician-supervised medical weight loss program may be the safest and wisest way to lose weight and maintain the loss. Overweight and obesity are frequently accompanied by other medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer and others. A bariatric physician is trained to detect and treat these conditions, which might go undetected and untreated in a non-medical weight loss program.

As a specialist, weight loss with a Bariatrician is a total program, not just weight loss but also in weight maintenance. Bariatricians are experienced in helping overweight patients in the personal highs and lows during a weight loss program. They are experienced in the roadblocks to becoming successful in controlling the disease called overweight and obesity.

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Costs of non-medical weight loss programs also vary widely. Most charge an enrollment fee, and then a certain amount weekly or monthly to continue the program. Some also charge for the food you will eat while you are in the program.

In setting her fees, Dr. Zechmann considered carefully the need to keep her costs as low as possible, so as to make the program affordable and available for anyone who wanted treatment for this disease.

The first visit to the office costs $205. This includes:

• History and physical exam done by the doctor
• Body composition determination
• Weight measurements and vital signs
• Dr. Zechmann gives a 45 minute presentation in a small group
• Basic blood work is done
• An EKG (heart tracing) is done if indicated.

Medications are charged separately, and generally run around $20, but will vary depending on medications used.

If you have had blood work or an EKG done within the past 6 months, please bring in the results. The basic blood tests done here include blood chemistries, liver functions, kidney functions, cholesterol and triglyceride tests, CBC (blood cell counts) and 2 thyroid blood tests.

A heart tracing is done if indicated, depending on your medical history and other factors. They are not done on everyone.

Follow-up visits typically are monthly, and most often cost about $75, depending on the medications used. After the active weight loss phase, patients will see the doctor much less frequently. However, all patients are encouraged to enter the maintenance program, in order to protect their weight loss and keep their disease of obesity under control.

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