Weight Management Program
The UCSF Weight Management Program offers customized plans to help adult patients achieve and maintain weight loss. The plans may include weight loss techniques, dietary changes, exercise programs and behavior modifications, as well as support groups and educational lectures. Research has shown that combining a variety of weight loss and management techniques increases an individual's chance of long-term success. Our goal is to help you adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Established in 1985, our program is led by doctors who have more than 20 years of experience in managing weight loss, including for patients with complicated medical conditions. Our doctors collaborate as needed with other medical specialists at UCSF to design the most effective plan for each patient. Our team includes a registered dietitian and clinical psychologist with special training in weight management. We also have Spanish speakers available on staff.
Weight Management Plans
We offer three weight management plans: The Step-by-Step Program, the Meal Replacement Program and the Individual Consultation Program. Each plan can be customized to fit individual needs.
If your insurance does not pay for the program, you can pay out-of-pocket for each visit. You can see us frequently or every few months, as it suits your budget. Call us for more information.
Step-By-Step Program
This is a comprehensive, one-year weight loss program that emphasizes aerobic exercise, healthful food 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 a dietitian, including nutrition education, meal advice, and review and analysis of the patient's food diary
- Thursday evening support group meetings, followed by a lecture series, which includes a written curriculum
Participants
This plan is designed for people who are:
- Mildly to moderately obese
- Committed to personal lifestyle changes for better health and weight loss
- Able to attend weight management sessions for one year
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 emphasizes regular aerobic exercise, healthy food and cognitive behavioral therapy for long-term weight loss and management.
The program includes:
- Regular meetings with doctors, including an initial medical clearance to participate in the program
- Formal assessment and follow-up with a dietitian, including review and analysis of the 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 replacements
- Thursday evening support group meetings, followed by a lecture series, which includes a written curriculum
Participants
This plan is designed for people who meet the following criteria:
- Moderately to severely obese
- Have existing diseases associated with obesity, or are at risk of developing diseases due to excess weight
- Are 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 on personal lifestyle changes for one year
Individual Consultation Program
We offer individual consultations and assessments of nutritional consumption, energy balance, lifestyle and psychological factors that influence health and weight. We tailor counseling as well as diet and activity plans to meet each person's goals and everyday realities.
The program includes:
Formal consultations in our clinic with the specialist of the patient's choice
Participants
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
Our locations
Support services
Plan your visit
What to Bring
- Photo I.D.
- Health insurance card
- Insurance authorization, if required
- Doctor's referral, if required
- Recent test results related to your condition
- List of your medications, including dosages, plus any you're allergic to
- List of questions you may have
- Device or paper for taking notes
