Is Obesity a Disease?

Yes. The American Medical Association (AMA) recognizes obesity as a disease. Please read the following article for more information: https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/19/business/ama-recognizes-obesity-as-a-disease.html

What is an Obesity Medicine Specialist?

An Obesity Medicine Specialist is a physician who is board-certified in Obesity Medicine by the American Board of Obesity Medicine. Obesity Medicine Specialists treat overweight and obesity as chronic metabolic conditions and manage chronic diseases associated with unhealthy weight. New Start Medical’s medical team includes an Obesity Medicine Specialist as well as Physician Associates and Nurse Practitioners who have been trained specifically in Obesity Medicine. Each Physician Associate and Nurse Practioner at New Start Medical is trained for months by Dr. Pallin before seeing patients in order to provide a consistent and standardized level of care in obesity medicine.

The American Board of Obesity Medicine provided the following information on their website:

“An obesity medicine physician is a physician with expertise in the sub-specialty of obesity medicine. This sub-specialty requires competency in and a thorough understanding of the treatment of obesity and the genetic, biologic, environmental, social, and behavioral factors that contribute to obesity.”

What makes your practice different from other practices and programs?

We provide a comprehensive obesity medicine program with a team of 5 medical providers who have additional training in nutrition, exercise, behavioral modification and anti-obesity medicine. We follow-up with our patients every 2 weeks during the initial phases of the program and manage their chronic metabolic diseases associated with obesity, such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, OSA, fatty liver disease, Insulin resistance and many more listed on our website. We created an intensive lifestyle change program that includes frequent individual and optional group visits.

We accept most commercial insurances and Medicare.

How will I pay for the weight loss program? Is this program expensive?

A 2010 George Washington University study measured the costs of being overweight or obese and concluded that the “overall, tangible, annual costs of being obese are $4,879 for an obese woman and $2,646 for an obese man.” (https://stop.publichealth.gwu.edu/sites/g/files/zaxdzs4356/files/2022-06/fast-facts-costs-of-obesity.pdf). This doesn’t include the societal costs of obesity, which are summarized in the same document.

A 2013 US News and World Report article found that the average gym cost $55 per month and the average weight loss program cost $270 to $300 per month with some programs costing more. (http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2013/01/02/the-heavy-price-of-losing-weight)

New Start Medical’s weight loss and wellness programs are individualized, which means that they will vary according to the needs of each patient. Typical out-of-pocket costs for New Start Medical’s weight loss and wellness programs will be about the same or even less than for a commercial weight loss program, especially if your medical care is covered by insurance or Medicare. New Start Medical offers self-pay patients affordable pricing and accepts commercial insurance and Medicare patients. Also, no long-term contracts are required. Please see our Financial & Insurance page on this website for more information.

What are some common medical conditions that can be improved by losing weight?

Obesity is one of the leading contributing factors to disease in America. Obese patients are at an increased risk for developing medical problems. A recent Medical Economics article notes that “there are 236 diseases that are associated with obesity including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and depression.”(https://www.medicaleconomics.com/view/the-economic-costs-of-obesity).

Typical comorbidities, or associated diseases, related to being obese include:

  • Type 2 Diabetes

  • Metabolic syndrome

  • Hypertension/high blood pressure

  • Dyslipidemia/high cholesterol

  • Hepatosteatosis/fatty liver – one of the main causes of cirrhosis in the United States

  • Cardiovascular diseases

  • Stroke

  • Sleep apnea

  • Neuropsychiatric diseases, such as worsening depression

  • Asthma

  • Osteoarthritis

  • Reflux esophagitis

  • Increased surgical risk and postoperative complications

  • Infertility

  • Certain cancers, including colorectal and prostate cancer in men and endometrial, breast and gallbladder cancer in women

How often do I need to come to New Start Medical for treatment?

Programs are individualized according to each patient’s needs and goals. Success in our program is strongly related to close monitoring by your New Start Medical providers. Our medical team will work closely with you to determine the optimal frequency and number of visits to help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight while minimizing disruption to your daily life.

Per the Obesity Medicine Association’s guidelines, we typically recommend follow up visits every 2 weeks while in an active weight loss program (first 6 months) and monthly follow up visits once you transition to a weight maintenance program.

What medications do you use as appetite suppressants?

When indicated, we prescribe FDA-approved medications. They are safe and effective when used as prescribed by a medical provider and are used in addition to a meal plan recommended by your New Start Medical provider that matches your specific metabolism. These include semaglutide and terzepatide where indicated.

We do not prescribe medications for patients who are not following our nutritional and behavioral recommendations or do not follow the New Start Medical safety policy. Additionally, we do not prescribe compounded versions of semaglutide or tirzepatide due to potential safety concerns (https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/medications-containing-semaglutide-marketed-type-2-diabetes-or-weight-loss).

Do you offer video (i.e., telemedicine) visits?

Yes. Video visits are only available to Pennsylvania residents as our providers are only licensed to practice medicine in the state of Pennsylvania. Having a BEAT Blood Pressure cuff is a requirement for the video visits. You can purchase this device out-of-pocket from our office.

What resources are available to patients that need additional help?

Dr. Pallin hosts monthly Weight Loss Journey calls on the first Saturday of each month at 7 PM. During these live Zoom calls, Dr. Pallin will answer questions from attendees and review answers to frequently-asked questions. All current patients are invited to attend these calls. Our front desk team can provide the Zoom call information.

I only want weight loss medication. Can New Start Medical (NSM) just prescribe this for me?

At NSM, we provide a comprehensive weight management program that follows the four pillars of obesity medicine: nutrition, behavioral modification, exercise and anti-obesity medications. We see our patients every 2 weeks in the first six months and then monthly during weight maintenance. This follows the Obesity Medical Association guidelines that were created to provide the most effective and safest method for weight loss and maintenance of that weight loss.

What is included in the New Patient Program Fee?

  1. Initial Body Composition, results provided and reviewed at the initial visit.
    • Evaluates amount of muscle mass, body fat and water to provide a baseline measurement before starting weight loss with the goal of losing less than 10% muscle mass out of the whole weight loss.
    • Significant muscle mass loss can occur during weight loss if not closely monitored via body composition measurements and can severely decrease your basal metabolic rate. This is turn will decrease weight loss rate and increase the risk of weight regain.
    • The New Start Medical providers will advise you on the appropriate protein intake and the recommended level of exercise needed to prevent significant muscle mass loss.
  2. Digital library access via the New Start Medical (NSM) app
    • Comprehensive educational materials in the form of videos and modules on nutrition, behavioral modification, exercise and medication.
    • Your New Start Medical providers will recommend reading specific modules or watching certain videos depending on the barriers you encounter during your weight loss journey.
  3. Muscles and Mindset program
    • One year access to a 3-phase strength training on-demand exercise program created by Dr Ali Novitsky, an Obesity Medicine Specialist who focuses on fitness, mindset and exercise.
    • This program was specifically created for New Start Medical patients and is available via The Fit Collective app.
    • This program is designed to reduce muscle mass loss while losing weight and to build muscle mass in weight maintenance.
  4. New Start Medical educational binder with a custom nutrition plan and program details, bag & starter kit
      with fiber supplements (chicken bouillon and cherry gelatin), magnesium gluconate and Senna plus.

What additional resources are available to me should I have questions?

Patients are more than welcome to bring their questions to their regular follow up appointments. In addition, live calls with Dr. Pallin will be held the first Saturday of each month at 7 PM, starting on Saturday, January 4, 2025. These are Q&A calls designed to educate and encourage you through your health journey.