University of Alabama at Birmingham Weight Loss Medicine, the only program in the Southeast to offer a multidisciplinary, medical approach to weight management, has launched at the University of Alabama at Birmingham to address a consistent rise in the regional rates of obesity, diabetes and hypertension.
The program is a collaborative effort of the UAB Health System, the UAB School of Medicine and the UAB School of Health Professions. The new program began serving patients in early January. It is open to self- or physician-referred patients and provides access to top experts, as well as to the newest technologies in nutrition and bariatric surgery with faculty physicians from the departments of Medicine, Nutrition Sciences, Surgery and Pediatrics. It occupies the first and fifth floors of UAB Highlands, located at 1201 11th Ave. South in Birmingham.
“UAB Weight Loss Medicine serves as a comprehensive resource for those who want to lose weight, maintain weight loss, or prevent excessive weight gain during high-risk medical conditions such as post-injury rehabilitation and breast cancer treatment,” said Amy Warriner, M.D., co-director of the program and associate professor in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism in the School of Medicine.
“UAB Weight Loss Medicine was built on the longstanding, successful EatRight program of the Department of Nutrition Sciences,” said Taraneh Soleymani, M.D., EatRight medical director, co-director of Weight Loss Medicine, and assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition Sciences in the School of Health Professions and the School of Medicine’s Department of Medicine.
“The program offers a team approach to weight management, in which the physician, dietitian, behaviorist and exercise trainer play critical roles in helping the patient achieve the goal weight,” Soleymani said. “A variety of programs are available to the patients, including OPTIFAST meal replacement.”
Each program offers physician oversight, tailored diet plans, behavioral modification, weekly classes and exercise planning. Patients who may benefit further from surgical weight loss are seen by the weight-loss surgeons in conjunction with the program.
Learn more about Weight Loss Medicine at http://www.uabmedicine.org/patient-care/treatments/weight-loss-medicine-services.