Virtua cardiologist tests FitSmart
Armed with a pedometer, sample menus and journals, Virtua cardiologist Donald Orth, MD, began a journey that he hoped would lead to a solution for his patients' weight loss difficulties and improve his own health. That journey started with Virtua's FitSmart, The Center for Weight Management & Longevity.
Although he wasn't significantly overweight, 57-year-old Dr. Orth admits he liked the idea of losing a few pounds and becoming more active. In fact, he was among the first to register for FitSmart as part of Virtua's employee pilot group. "I knew I could be healthier, and I thought my patients might feel more comfortable discussing their weight problems knowing I struggle with health and fitness myself," he says.
Even minor weight loss can improve your health
Like most other physicians, Dr. Orth is fully aware of just how important it is to talk to patients about losing weight; currently in America, more than half of adults and 15% of children are overweight or obese. But tackling the subject can be difficult. "Weight loss is a personal issue and, for many people, it's a lifelong struggle," says Dr. Orth. "Many of my overweight patients have tried and failed to lose weight in the past."
This isn't surprising to Paula Konstantinides, RN, director of FitSmart at Virtua. "Research shows that without the right support and education, most efforts to lose weight will eventually fail," she says. This has devastating health consequences. The risks posed by excess weight include heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, joint pain and sleep apnea among others. According to National Institutes of Health estimates, more than 300,000 people die each year as a result of obesity-related conditions.
Support and encouragement
Those statistics are the driving force behind the creation of FitSmart, The Center for Weight Management & Longevity. Instead of too-good-to-be-true promises, FitSmart focuses on three key components necessary for lasting weight loss: nutrition, physical activity and lifestyle enhancement. "In addition to nutrition and exercise, we help people figure out why they over eat and give them the support and encouragement they need to change their habits," says Konstantinides.
Participants learn to make these changes during a 12-week course of group or individual meetings with Virtua's registered dietitians, and degreed exercise physiologists and health educators. For the group of employees who tested FitSmart, this comprehensive approach was a recipe for success.
Dr. Orth lost 16 pounds
In fact, after just 12 weeks in the program, Dr. Orth lost 16 pounds. And now that FitSmart is open to the public, it has helped nearly 100 participants on their way to a healthy weight. "The information is presented in a clear, practical manner, and it addresses the physical and emotional reasons behind eating," says Dr. Orth. "Plus, I feel more confident when speaking to my patients about diet and nutrition now that I can use myself as an example."
Even minor weight loss can improve your health and lower your blood pressure. For information about FitSmart or to sign up for an assessment, call 1-888-Virtua-3.