Medical Weight Management FAQ
Product Questions:
Yes. Our team of experts have worked with patients who are dealing with a variety of medical conditions such as chronic kidney disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, depression, heart disease in addition to obesity.
Yes, the connected scale and app are key elements to the success of our patients.
No, unless you have one of our Omron or Body Trace scales from an earlier program enrollment with us, you will need to buy one of our scales.
Yes, our registered dietitians and medical providers have worked with patients who have a variety of dietary needs and preferences.
Lactose content of the meal replacement products will vary. Your dietitian can help you determine which products would be appropriate for you.
Most of our meal replacement products do not contain gluten, however, some do. Your dietitian can help you determine which options would be appropriate for you.
The meal replacement products use a variety of sweeteners and artificial sweeteners depending on the product and the flavors.
Yes, if you are interested in using the meal replacement products you can take a sample packet home to try at your baseline visits.
No, you will pay for the meal replacement products separately.
Most patients can still use the meal replacement products we offer, however, our team will work with you to figure out the best plan for using these products based off your medical conditions and needs.
Program Questions
We help patients keep weight off by providing long-term, personalized support from a team of medical experts. Obesity is a chronic disease, and lasting success requires more than one-time treatment—it takes ongoing care. That’s why our Weight Management Center brings together obesity medicine experts, registered dietitians, health behaviorists, and exercise specialists who work with you to build sustainable habits and a healthier lifestyle. Patients who stay engaged with our program over time are much more likely to maintain their weight loss and avoid regain.
88% of our patients achieve enough weight loss to improve health factors such as blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. Moreover, over 44% of our patients lose 15% or more of their body weight.
We welcome all patients and are happy to provide accommodation as needed to ensure access for all patients including people with disabilities.
At the Weight Management Center, we offer programs tailored to individuals’ unique needs. This may include nutritional education, meal replacement options, prescribed medications, exercise and behavior change.
Yes, you can repeat a program to achieve your weight loss goals. We find the longer you stay engaged with treatment with us the better you do long term.
Yes, our medical providers use anti-obesity medications when it is determined to be a useful tool. We evaluate each patient and make recommendations about the best time to use medications and when medication might be most useful in the treatment course. We do recommend that you contact your health insurance provider to determine which anti-obesity medication is covered and what out-of-pocket expenses you may incur ahead of your first medical provider visit with us.
We do not administer or inject weight loss medications at our clinics; patients do this at home. If you are unable to inject a medication, that is okay, you should work closely with your doctor, as there are many pill forms of weight loss medication available as well.
You do not, our weight loss plans are individualized and many of our patients find our exercise, nutrition, medical and behavioral changes to be effective.
No, we do not.
Yes, we tailor your program to your unique needs.
Yes, you can follow a medical provider individually for medication management if your medical provider feels this is an appropriate option for you.
Our team of Exercise Physiologists are experienced in working with patients navigating a variety of barriers to exercise. We are versed in supplying exercise prescriptions for seated or aquatic programs and more.
No, our onsite fitness centers are only accessible by appointment. You can exercise in this space using your personal training sessions or during an in-person group exercise class. You will be completing most of your exercise on your own. You can choose to join a local gym, or we can give you workouts or resources you can use at home.
Yes, you will be completing most of your exercise independently. When you meet with our Exercise Physiologist, we will review your routine to ensure it is balanced and completed at the appropriate intensity and volumes.
Yes, you will still have visits with our Exercise Physiologists, as they are part of the multi-disciplinary team. Many of our Exercise Physiologists have Masters level degrees in Exercise Science and they are all certified by the American College of Sports Medicine.
Lipids (Cholesterol), CBC (Complete Blood Count) with Differential, TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone), CMP (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel), Insulin, and A1C (average blood sugar level from 3 months prior).
We will not repeat any labs already drawn within 6 months of your lab visit with us unless they were abnormal between 3-6 months from your visit. If you had the labs drawn outside of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist or Cone Health, we will likely need you to share a copy of your results to scan them into your chart.
Yes, we measure resting metabolic rate to find out how many calories you burn at rest in a day. We measure this on all our patients at the beginning of their program and usually at the end.
Things to AVOID:
- Do not eat or drink anything except plain water for at least 6-8 hours before your appointment.
- Avoid gum, caffeine, artificially or naturally sweetened food, drink, or alcohol 6-8 hours prior.
- Do not exercise 24 hours prior to your appointment.
- Do not smoke, vape or use Nicotine in any form (gum/patches/smokeless) for at least 6-8 hours before.
Things to DO to prepare:
- Do drink 16 oz. of unflavored water two hours before your test.
- Do take prescription meds (if applicable), except for those with Type two Diabetes.
- Do reschedule your appointment if you have a fever the day of your visit.
- Do empty your bladder right before your appointment; use the restroom after check-in.
After you attend all three of your new patient visits and make your first program payment.
Plan for 1- hour to complete your new patient visit with the medical provider.
Depending on your program, visits may be weekly or bi-weekly in our By Design and Intensive Behavioral Therapy plans. If doing and individual program appointments are typically every 2-3 months. These visits are usually 30 mins long.
Yes, except for baseline RMR, EBQ visit and exercise consults.
Please call our access center 336-716-6099 or visit our website for access to our surgical weight loss seminar.
Yes, our medical and surgical teams work together often on referrals to our surgical program. Our medical weight loss team can help you decide whether surgical weight loss would be a beneficial part of your treatment plan.
Our medical and surgical teams work together on referrals between both programs, therefore the referral to surgery from our medical team is an easy process.
In this case, we offer a one-time hold option for up to 3 months.
You can opt out anytime, just let us know and we will advise you on the next steps.
Patients may receive a refund only for phases they have already paid for but not entered.
Email: weight_mang@wakehealth.edu (Response time is about 2 business days)
Call our schedulers at the Access Center, 336-716-6099, Monday-Friday 8-5p.
Program Costs & Insurance Questions:
Most insurance plans do not cover non-surgical obesity treatment or weight management services; they also do not cover services provided by many of the non-physician/medical providers on our team. However, we bill insurance for lab work, medical visits, and dietitian visits
Most insurance plans cover our medical visits as specialist visits, and several dietitian visits. This varies from one plan to the next. There are typically co-pays associated with these visits.
Please reference the Program Summary page of your information packet for more information. A short summary of codes for insurance-billed visits includes:
- 99205 – for new patient visit with medical provider and team
- 99214 – return patient visit with medical provider
- 97803 – visit with registered dietitian (primary diagnosis code is Z71.3, dietary surveillance and counseling)
- 94690 – visit for expired air analysis (resting metabolic rate test)
Typically, it covers exercise visits, personal training sessions, behavior visits, the cellular enabled scale, and access to our health-tracking app (Carium) for 1 year. For Medicare patients who qualify for the Intensive Behavioral Therapy program, it covers personal training sessions, the cellular enabled scale and access to our health-tracking app for 1 year.
The first payment of your program fee is required at the end of your new patient visit to start the program. The remaining balance will be setup on a payment plan with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Financial Services. AHWFB Medcost employees do not have a minimum first payment due to start.
FSA or HSA funds cannot be used for the purchase of meal replacement products in our Nutrition Shops. However, FSA or HSA can be used for the out-of-pocket program fee.
We can bill Medicare under the Intensive Behavioral Therapy (IBT) program. If you have Medicare as your primary insurance provider & have a BMI over 30, we can bill under the IBT program for you. This means your out-of-pocket costs include one co-pay on your first doctor's visit, the program fee and meal replacements (if applicable). Medicare also requires that patients lose 6.6lbs in the first 6 months (from week 1 visit to 6 month visit) to still be eligible for the IBT program fee.
Unfortunately, Medicaid does not cover obesity treatment or weight management services. Therefore, the out-of-pocket program fee would be the same, but co-pays would be lower.
We would bill your medical visits, dietitian visits and lab visits to your primary insurance provider first then if they do not cover the full amount, your secondary insurance provider is billed.
The Weight Management Centers at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist does not accept Care Credit. Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Financial services offer a no-interest financing option through Access One.
No, you must have Medicare as your primary insurance provider to do the Medicare IBT (Intensive Behavioral Therapy) program.