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Information for PhysiciansDear Doctor, Various national surveys have given Arkansas the unfortunate distinction of being one of the most "unhealthy" states in the country, largely due to the high incidence of obesity-related medical problems such as diabetes, hypertension, coronary disease, and degenerative joint disease. As a physician who deals with the medical consequences of obesity daily, you undoubtedly appreciate the importance of preventive medicine, and in particular the importance of secondary prevention in patients who already have medical problems. We have developed a comprehensive weight control program at UAMS, and we invite you to refer patients. We have designed this program to be an integral component of good medical care aimed at reducing comorbid conditions in obese patients. At the UAMS Program for Weight Loss and Metabolic Control, we emphasize long term lifestyle change as the main route to weight loss and weight maintenance. Patients are required to come to weekly behavior modification/nutrition classes taught by a registered dietitian. The diet will consist of a combination of food and/or dietary supplements. The nutritional composition of the Health One supplement includes a balanced amount of carbohydrates and protein, a generous amount of important minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium, and enough fiber to prevent constipation in most patients. Our program emphasizes achieving long-term weight loss through lifestyle change, but we may use anti-obesity medications on occasion. In most cases, however patients will not be started on a medication until after a period of initial weight loss through diet, exercise, and behavior modification. In the UAMS Program for Weight Loss and Metabolic Control, we consider ourselves consultants to your patients’ weight problem and we send you reports of your patients’ progress on a regular basis. We do not practice primary care, and consider ourselves partners with you in the overall care of the patient. Patients are followed medically by our professional staff and have routine laboratory tests as needed. The frequency of visits is determined by us, and depends on the degree of overweight and the level of medical complexity. In most cases, we assign patients into one of three levels of medical supervision. Elsewhere on this Web site is information that may be useful to your patients, and links to other sites that describe in greater detail the epidemiology and risks of obesity. Please feel free to contact me if you have additional questions about this program and how it may help you care for your patients. Sincerely, Philip A. Kern, M.D.
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