Wishard’s Take Charge Lite Weight Loss Program utilizes unique approach to shedding pounds
July 12, 2007
Contact: Todd Harper
Phone: 317-630-7808
Pager: 317-310-5972
Indianapolis, July 12, 2007 – For many people, starting a weight loss program often starts out promising, but, after several weeks of exercising and cutting out favorite foods, the outcome is disappointing. As a result many people decide to give up and wait until the next new fad diet hits the news.
It might seem simple; diet and exercise will result in weight loss and healthy living, but, for many, diet and exercise alone won’t do the trick. It often takes encouragement or a new approach to living to see results.
Wishard Health Services along with IU Medical Group recently started a new program aimed at assisting people with losing weight and keeping their weight off for good. The Take Charge Lite Weight Loss Program is a weight management support network that utilizes wellness coaches trained in motivational interviewing to assist people wanting to live a healthier lifestyle. The program does not prescribe to any specific diet plan, but instead uses coaching, group support and motivation to supplement a physician’s clinical care.
"Our goal is to help patients by working on areas where they are ready to change and providing them with the tools, motivation and knowledge to make a positive lifestyle change," said Shawn Crawford, director, Take Charge Lite Weight Loss Program. "We have taken a unique approach to working with patients who want to lose weight and are working within Wishard's community health centers to help patients reach their goals."
Crawford said bilingual wellness coaches work alongside physicians, nurses and dietitians at Wishard’s community health centers to provide overweight and obese patients the education, opportunity and support they need for weight management. Patients are screened to determine if they qualify for the program. The program is open to Wishard patients who have a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 29 or greater than 25 with certain risk factors.
BMI is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height. It provides a reliable indicator of body fat and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.
Once a patient is determined to meet the criteria for the program, the patient’s physician goes over certain recommended health changes that the patient needs to make and then allows the patient to schedule an appointment with a wellness coach. Patient educational material in both English and Spanish, community resource links, and classes and support groups are all part of the Take Charge Lite program.
"Our goal is to educate the patients so that they can achieve reasonable weight loss and then maintain that desired weight. Much of the program relies on and is dependent on the patients’ contact with our coaches," Crawford explained. "We have seen a great deal of success in patients losing weight in a healthy manner. The key between the weight loss and our program is the frequency of contact an individual has with our coaches and our support groups."
The Take Charge Lite program, which is funded by the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, is free of charge and open to Wishard patients 18 and older. The Fairbanks Foundation has made it possible for the program to be available in several of Wishard’s community health centers, including Blackburn Community Health Center, North Arlington Community Health Center, Pecar Health Center and Westside Community Health Center.
"It's so rewarding to see the relationships program participants have built with each other and with their coaches. They give each other so much encouragement and support," said Lisa Chrysler, supervisor, Take Charge Lite Weight Loss Program.
Wishard has established a primary care network consisting of its Primary Care Center and seven community health centers, located throughout Indianapolis. At these facilities Wishard offers an array of services including physical exams, prenatal care, social services, dental services and more.
For more information on the services Wishard provides and the Take Charge Weight Loss program, please call (317) 287-3747.