Our Programs - Weight Loss Programs

Find The Program For You

If your BMI (see BMI chart) is 30 or higher, you have the medical diagnosis of obesity. If you have a BMI of 27 with a condition such as diabetes, hypertension, pre-diabetes you also qualify for our obesity treatment program. Our comprehensive weight loss and behavioral education/ aftercare program, administered under physician care, is right for you.

Phase I - Weight Loss

  • Option 1 - Uses a nutritionally-complete, beverage prescribed through OTC to provide all nourishment. This approach, which can only be used under a physician's care, ensures nutritional balance and makes the process easier by eliminating the issue of food choices entirely during your weight loss phase. Over 80% of OTC patients choose or ultimately convert to Option 1 for its simplicity and comfort (lack of hunger, feeling of fullness). Women typically lose 2.5 to 3 pounds per week. Men typically lose 3.5 to 5 pounds per week. The average patient will lose 30% of their total body weight. This is one of the few program that allows patients to successfuly reach their target weight.
  • Option 2 - Uses one meal per day with fewer beverages. Part of your nutrition comes from a strictly-measured meal of conventional foods, prepared at home (or ordered out) from a wide list of choices. This option is designed for those who are required to eat outside the home for business or family reasons. Typical weight loss is approximately 2 pounds per week. Most patients can reach their target weight in Option 2.
  • Education - Both Option 1 and 2 are accompanied by our 20-week educational program in lifetime weight management. This program, lead by experienced behavioral educators, includes concepts of nutrition, physical activity, conflict-resolution and a new battery of problem-solving skills to implement and shape new behaviors.

Phase II - Skills

"Skills" begins with the end of weight loss. Conventional food is carefully reintroduced over a period of several weeks and the weight management program begins. Patients start the process of actively applying information learned in class: achieving nutrition goals within calorie goals; portion sizes and ideas for cooking at home, and how to shop for food; ordering in restaurants; building and maintaining an active lifestyle; incorporating time for oneself in daily life, separating life stress from food and finding non-food "rewards". Small groups meet weekly under the guidance of a behavioral educator. Skills participants further refine their calorie and nutrition methodology with instruction and demonstrations, share discoveries and find solutions. OTC recommends 12 to 18 months of Skills. In an outcomes study just completed in 2006, OTC patients who participated in at least 18 months of Skills were able to maintain an average 15% weight loss measured eight years after they first became a patient, thus reducing their obesity-related risk of death, and diabetes nearly by half, and their risk of obesity-related heart disease by more than one-third.

For all current and former OTC patients regardless of their weight, we offer:

Meal Replacement Program

For on-going weight maintenance, former/current patients are entitled to purchase New Direction beverage (available only from authorized physician practices), up to 14 packages per week (28 per shipment). This is a quantity safe to consume on a continuous or as-needed basis with appropriate nutrition in the rest of your diet. We also offer a variety of bars and other meal replacement products that are high in protein and low in carbohydrates (to curb the sensation of hunger), and not available in grocery stores. Our program includes an informational package on how to use meal replacements and a list and analysis of commonly-available products available in grocery and health-food stores.

One and Two Week Resets

Designed for patients who are struggling with their appetite and need to get back on track. The protocol is simple and convenient.

Skills and Weight Loss Combination

Patients who have previously attended our re-entry program, may attend a Skills class while in weight loss. Weekly medical monitoring is provided at the time of the Skills class or as alternatively arranged.

return to top ^