The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Weight Management Program has been changing people’s lives for the better since 2009. The program uses a holistic approach to cover all aspects of successful weight reduction and weight management, including nutrition, physical activity, and the emotional and cognitive aspects of behavior change.
Dr. Bryan Smith, assistant professor of kinesiology and health education, and Dr. Erik Kirk, associate professor and chair of SIUE’s Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, manage the six-month clinical research program for overweight or obese adults. The duo has more than 30 years of experience running successful research-based weight management clinics at SIUE and the University of Kansas.
“We approach weight management as a lifestyle change, one that will be made over time and continued through life,” Smith said. “We have safely and successfully helped many individuals lose weight and keep it off.”
Smith noted a variety of factors motivating individuals join this program:
- A history of unsuccessful dieting
- Medical complications such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or
- Weight-induced limitations in physical activity
- A desire to implement lifelong lifestyle changes to maintain a healthy weight
- Difficulty in maintaining weight loss
“Two significant variables set the SIUE weight management program apart from other weight loss programs,” Smith said. “Start with our high level of experienced staff followed by our program using scientifically based research strategies that have been shown to improve weight loss and the maintenance of weight loss better than other fad diet programs.
“Our program takes a holistic approach and targets dietary intake, physical activity and behavioral modification that combines for successful weight loss and maintenance success. Typically, our program costs less than most commercial programs and is backed with over 30 years of scientific research.”
The total cost of the program is $400. That includes two months of pre-packaged meals and meal replacement shakes from Healthy Management Resources (HMR). It also covers exercise recommendations, pedometer, blood pressure analysis, weekly educational classes and body composition analysis with DXA technology.
According to Smith, the average participant loses approximately 10 percent of his/her baseline body weight with a typical individual losing 2-4 pounds per week initially and gradually slowing to 1-2 pounds per week.
Kirk advised that participants could continue to maintain weight loss through continued dietary restriction and physical activity. “ They learn through educational classes how to maintain weight loss through psychological based theories,” Kirk said. “After five years of finishing the program, more than 70 percent of the participants are successful at maintaining their weight loss.”
The program can also save money long-term for participants by reducing their reliance on medication. “Many of our clients have had great success in reducing or eliminating their medication,” Kirk added.
To enter the program, an individual must be 18-55 years of age with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or greater.
For more information, visit siue.edu/wme. To join the program during November, contact Smith at bryasmi@siue.edu or Kirk at ekirk@siue.edu.
Photo: Dr. Erik Kirk, associate professor and chair of SIUE’s Department of Kinesiology and Health Education.