69°
For those of us who need to lose a few pounds gained from holiday snacking, it's mostly a matter of eating less and exercising more. But something more is required for others who are more seriously overweight and who have tried every type of diet and workout plan. That's where Dr. Raymond Sekiguchi and the Medi-Weightloss Clinic can help.
Dr. Sekiguchi has been the Medical Director for the clinic since opening in October, treating nearly 250 patients with a three-stage program.
For patients who are chronically obese, strong measures are required. The first stage of the program isn't easy, as food intake is often pulled back to 800 calories a day, 500 of which are from protein. "We closely supervise the patients during this phase, with weekly visits," says Dr. Sekiguchi. Patients' weight loss and overall health is monitored and they receive injections and supplements of vitamins, minerals and appetite suppressants. "Our goal is to get them down to a body mass index (BMI) of 24, a weight level they will feel comfortable sustaining."
The second phase consists of transitioning to a healthy dietary lifestyle.The appetite suppressants are removed but the weekly visits continue, including tests on a calorimeter to determine how much each patient should eat to maintain a desired weight. In the third, or maintenance phase, the office checkups are cut to once a month as long as the desired weight is maintained.
"What's unique is that this is a medically supervised diet plan," says Sekiguchi. "We're also doing food education, teaching people what they should eat as well as how much, and helping them make a shopping list accordingly.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Norwalk and receive free news updates.
