Weight Management Program

The Weight Management Program for adults at UCSF Medical Center offers customized weight management plans including weight loss techniques, dietary plans, exercise programs and behavior modification as well as support groups and educational lectures. Research has shown that combining a variety of weight loss and management techniques increases a person's chance of long-term success in weight management. Our goal is to help you adapt to and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Established in 1985, our program is led by doctors who have over 20 years of experience in weight loss management, including caring for patients with complicated medical conditions. Our doctors collaborate as needed with other medical specialists at UCSF Medical Center to design the most effect plan for each patient. Our team includes a registered dietitian and clinical psychologist who are specially trained in weight management. Spanish speakers are available on staff.

We offer three weight management plans that can be customized to fit your individual needs. These include:

Step-By-Step Program

This is a comprehensive one-year weight loss program that emphasizes aerobic exercise, healthful food and cognitive behavioral therapy to promote long-term weight loss and management.

The program includes:

• Regular meetings with doctors for medical supervision and education.
• Formal assessment and follow-up with a dietitian including review and analysis of the patient's food diary, nutrition education and meal advice.
• Thursday evening support group, followed by a lecture series, including written curriculum.

Participants

This plan is designed for people who are:

• Mildly to moderately obese.
• Committed to personal lifestyle changes for better health and weight loss.
• Able to attend weight management sessions for a year.

Cost

The fee of the Step-By-Step Program is $1,250. Patients must pay $500 for the first three months and then $250 every three months for the remainder of the year. Additional fees are required for laboratory tests and other services. Some services may be covered by insurance.

Meal Replacement Program

This is a one-year medically supervised rapid weight loss program utilizing a very low calorie diet comprised of nutritionally complete, prepared foods. The program emphasizes regular aerobic exercise, healthy food and cognitive behavioral therapy for long-term weight loss and management.

The program includes:

• Regular meetings with doctors, including an initial medical clearance for the meal replacement program.
• Formal assessment and follow-up with a dietitian including review and analysis of the patient's food diary, information on the meal replacement diet, nutrition education and meal planning advice.
• Bars, shakes, soups and oatmeal as nutritionally complete meal replacements.
• Thursday evening support group followed by a lecture series, including written curriculum.

Participants

This plan is designed for people who meet the following criteria:

• Moderately to severely obese.
• Patients with existing diseases associated with obesity, or those who are at risk of developing diseases due to excess weight.
• Patients preparing for surgery, including bariatric surgery, organ transplant, joint replacement or other elective procedures.
• Able to commit to a very low calorie diet consisting of bars, shakes, soups and oatmeal for one year.
• Able to attend sessions for personal lifestyle changes for one year.

Cost

The fee for the Meal Replacement Program is $1,250. Patients must pay $500 for the initial three months and then $250 every three months for the remainder of the year. Additional fees are required for laboratory tests and other services. Some services may be covered by insurance.

There is an additional estimated $300 fee per month for prepared meal replacements, which you'll eat instead of regular meals.

Individual Consultations

We offer individual consultations and assessments of nutritional consumption, energy balance, lifestyle and psychological factors that influence health and weight. Counseling and diet and activity plans are individually tailored to meet goals and everyday realities.

The program includes:

• Formal sessions in our clinic with the specialist of the patients' choice for personal counseling and advice.

Participants

This plan is designed for people who meet the following criteria:

• Any weight profile, but a medical referral is required for treatment of serious obesity or medical problems.
• Able to commit to personal dietary and exercise changes.
• Able to attend sessions in the clinic.

Cost

Costs for individual consultations depend on the specialist you see and the number of visits. Some services may be covered by insurance.

• Dietitian sessions are $124 for the initial visit and $62 for follow-up visits.
• Psychologist sessions are $52 for the initial assessment and $23 to $50 for follow-up visits depending on the length of the visit and whether visits are individual or for families.
• Psychologist sessions for psychiatric clearance before a patient undergoes bariatric surgery is $180 to per session, with a total of two or three sessions.
• Sessions with a doctor specializing in weight loss and management is $370 for the initial visit if new to UCSF General Medicine, $211 for the initial visit if an established patient of UCSF General Medicine and $111 for follow-up visits.
• Additional fees are required for laboratory tests and other services.

Payment

Payment for the Weight Management Program depends on your health insurance coverage. Call your health insurance company for coverage information and the required referral process. Sessions not covered by insurance plans must be paid in full by the patient.

More Information

For more information, please call:
Weight Management Program: (415) 353-2105.

To make an appointment with the program, please call:
Appointments: (415) 353-7999. Fax: (415) 353-7901. TTY: (415) 885-3889.

For information about the UCSF Bariatric Surgery Center, call: (415) 353-3619.