Adult Program

UCSF Weight Management Program for Adults Specialized Service

The Weight Management Program for Adults at UCSF Medical Center offers customized weight management plans incorporating weight loss techniques, dietary plans, exercise programs, behavior modification, support groups and educational lectures. Established in 1985, our unique program is led by physicians with over twenty years of experience in managing weight loss for patients, including those with complicated medical conditions. Our doctors collaborate as needed with other medical specialists at UCSF to design the most effect weight management plan for each patient. Our interdisciplinary program team also includes a registered dietitian and clinical psychologist who are specially trained in weight management. Spanish speakers are available on staff.

Weight Management Plans

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

• Step-By-Step Program
• Meal Replacement Program
• Individual Consultations

Step-By-Step Program

This is a comprehensive one-year weight loss program that emphasizes aerobic exercise, healthful food patterns 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 dietitian including review and analysis of 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 meet the following criteria:

• Mild to moderately obese
• Able to commit to personal lifestyle changes for better health and weight loss
• Able to attend weight management sessions for one year

Cost

The program fee of the Step-By-Step Program is $1,250. Patients 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.

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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 also emphasizes regular aerobic exercise, healthful food patterns 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 dietitian including review and analysis of 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 replacement food.
• Thursday evening support group followed by a lecture series, including written curriculum.

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 program fee of the Meal Replacement Program is $1,250. Patients 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. This service may be covered by insurance.

There is also an additional estimated $300 fee per month for prepared meal replacement foods which will replace your usual grocery bill.

Individual Consultations

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

The program includes:

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

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 depends on which specialist you see and how many times. Some services may be covered by insurance.

• Dietitian sessions for weight loss are $124 for the initial visit and $62 for follow-up visits.
• Psychologist sessions for weight loss are $52 for the initial assessment and $23-$50 for follow-up visits depending on the length of the visit, and whether the visits are individual or for families.
• Psychologist sessions for psychiatric clearance before a patient undergoes bariatric surgery is $180-$200 per session with a total of two or three sessions.
• Session with a doctor specializing in weight loss and management is $370 for the initial visit if new to the UCSF General Medicine Practice, $211 for the initial visit if an established patient of the UCSF General Medicine Practice, 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.

• Brown and Toland patients require authorization from their regular medical doctor for the UCSF Weight Management Program, provider Dr. Robert Baron, director of the program.
• Medicare patients who have Type 2 diabetes or renal failure are covered by their insurance for nutrition sessions with a referral from their medical doctor.