Weight Management

Why choose UCLA Health for weight management?

We offer comprehensive weight management services to meet you where you are in your weight loss journey. As part of the UCLA Health Center for Human Nutrition, our experts understand that weight management is about much more than calorie intake and exercise. That’s why we deliver customized plans that focus on your overall physical and mental health.

Our compassionate team members are by your side every step of the way to help you reach your goals. Highlights of our program include:

Expert team: We approach weight loss from all angles. We know that many factors affect one’s weight, including genetics, metabolism, psychology and the environment. Our team includes experienced physician nutrition specialists, registered dietitians, clinical psychologists, therapists and physical therapists who specialize in weight loss. We work with you to prevent diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and other health issues based on your individual needs.

Extensive experience: Our experts have been helping people lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle for more than 45 years. The UCLA Health medical weight management program was among the first in the nation to offer very low-calorie diets (VLCDs) to successfully treat obesity.

Educational seminars: Translating our basic and clinical research to the bedside, we provide ongoing weekly seminars. Through these seminars, we bring new discoveries in nutrition to you and clarify the myths about diet and exercise.

Pharmacotherapy: We have been involved with clinical trials to study new medications that treat obesity. Our providers provide you with a wide range of medications to aid your diet and exercise programs.

Long-term support: Maintaining a healthy weight is just as critical as losing it in the first place. That’s why we offer a comprehensive maintenance program to help you keep the weight off. We also focus on cognitive behavioral therapy to change thought patterns and behaviors as you adopt a healthy lifestyle.

Program for children and adolescents: We work with specialists at UCLA Health Mattel Children’s Hospital to offer the UCLA Fit for Health Program. This program focuses on children and teens who are obese or carry extra weight. Our experts help them live healthier and make smarter choices that last a lifetime.

National recognition: As leaders in medically supervised weight loss, our medical weight management program has earned accolades from U.S. News & World Report and Health. We’ve been recognized as one of the most thorough weight management programs in the country.

Successful bariatric surgery: Our experts specialize in minimally invasive weight loss surgery techniques that involve less scarring and faster recovery time. We have some of the best outcomes in the United States, with 50% fewer reoperations to correct complications and a 24-hour shorter hospital stay compared to the national averages.

Our weight management services

Our experts are committed to delivering individualized weight management plans to help you feel your best. We offer a range of services based on your needs, including medical weight loss, pharmacotherapy, bariatric surgery and long-term weight maintenance. We focus on nutrition, physical activity, education and lifestyle changes. Our services include:

Comprehensive health assessments

To create the most effective program for you, we begin by gathering details about your overall health. This information allows us to recommend an approach that works for your specific body type, making your plan more successful. We perform:

• Blood tests that evaluate metabolism and lipids (fats)
• Body composition analyses that measure the ratio of muscle to fat and calculate your metabolic rate (the number of calories your body needs to function)
• Tests that measure vital signs and heart and lung function
• Thorough reviews of weight history, medications, nutrition patterns and eating habits

Programs for children and teens

The weight management needs of children and teens are unique. In partnership with UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, we prevent and manage obesity in children and adolescents.

Our multispecialty team includes pediatricians, surgeons, dietitians and psychologists. We partner with children and their families to deliver treatments that work. We also reach out to children in our community to provide education and increase awareness. Read more about the weight management programs we offer to children and adolescents.(Link is external)

Weight maintenance program

We know that maintaining a healthy weight can be just as challenging as losing weight in the first place. That’s why we offer a robust long-term maintenance program to provide education, support and accountability. Our successful weight maintenance programs help you keep the weight off.

During monthly one-on-one meetings with a dietitian, you’ll receive personalized guidance and advice on developing healthy eating patterns. You’ll also have access to several group classes to learn from others and share your experiences. Learn more about our long-term weight management program.

Weight loss treatments we offer

Our weight management specialists deliver customized treatments based on your overall health and goals. Whether you need medical weight loss or bariatric surgery, we offer solutions and support in a compassionate environment.

We take the time to get to know you and understand your history, past challenges and concerns. To help you succeed, we offer counseling, guidance and education. We partner with you to help you achieve your goals. Surgical and nonsurgical treatments we offer include:

Medical weight management

We specialize in medically supervised weight management plans and nutrition therapy. Your doctor oversees your weight loss, adjusts your medications and monitors your health throughout the process.

As a core component of our dietary program, we create a carefully tailored plan that’s completely customized for you. Through a comprehensive evaluation, we determine how much protein your body needs. We then create a food plan that includes that exact amount. This approach is effective at controlling hunger and allowing you to lose weight without losing muscle. Get more information about our medical weight loss plan and connect with an expert.

Each medically supervised weight loss plan is fully customized to your needs and goals. We create your personalized dietary program around your food preferences, body composition, metabolism and medical history. Our comprehensive approach maximizes weight loss and improves overall health.

In addition to meal replacements and products available for purchase, we offer several low-calorie and very low-calorie diet plans. Our experts work closely with you at every step to supervise your weight loss and ensure that you’re staying healthy. All of our medical weight management plans include:

• Regular visits with your dietitian
• Periodic visits with your doctor to monitor your health through blood tests and EKGs
• Frequent checkups to track your progress and set new goals
• Counseling, education, guidance and support to keep you motivated and informed

Pharmacotherapy for weight loss

Our team offers medications that help people with obesity lose weight. Your doctor may recommend drugs that reduce the body’s fat absorption, help you feel full longer, decrease your appetite or regulate hormones necessary for weight loss.

These weight loss medications are more successful when combined with diet and lifestyle changes. We help you find the right option, adjust your medications as necessary and adopt healthier habits.

Bariatric surgery procedures

If you and your doctor decide that surgery is the most appropriate option, you’re in expert hands. At the UCLA Center for Obesity and METabolic (COMET) Health, our specialists are nationwide leaders in bariatric surgery. We have some of the best surgical outcomes in the United States.

We specialize in a number of innovative techniques, including minimally invasive, robot-assisted procedures that involve fewer incisions and faster recovery. These techniques require smaller incisions, involve less recovery time and have a lower risk of complications than traditional (open) procedures. We specialize in all bariatric surgery techniques, including:

• Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, a technique that divides the stomach into two pouches and then rearranges the small intestines to connect to the smaller pouch
• Lap band, a procedure that places an inflatable band around the upper part of the stomach
• Gastric sleeve surgery, a procedure that removes up to 80% of the stomach

Our team also offers several endoscopic weight loss procedures that don’t require an incision. Your doctor inserts an endoscope (a flexible tube with a camera, light and tiny tools) into your mouth. The tube goes down your throat to your stomach. Then, your doctor uses the endoscope to reduce the size of the stomach.

To support you before and after surgery, we offer classes on nutrition, exercise and adopting healthier habits for life. Learn more about our bariatric surgery program and our endoscopic bariatric surgery program.

Weight loss classes, education, counseling and support

Helping you improve your relationship with food is a main focus of our weight management program. We offer a wide range of helpful classes, webinars and support groups. Cognitive behavioral therapy sessions are included with each of our dietary programs. These programs and services are critical to the success of any weight loss plan.

Our goal is to educate and empower you to lose weight and keep it off. Licensed psychologists, therapists, dietitians and doctors lead these sessions. We offer:

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Through regular group CBT sessions, you’ll learn to control how your body responds to cravings, improve your relationship with food and change your behaviors. Our weight loss experts know that behavioral changes are critical to long-term success. That’s why we address your psychological needs and offer practical advice during weight loss and maintenance.

Diabetes prevention and education: Our experts work closely with specialists across UCLA Health to treat diabetes complications and improve overall well-being. Whether you’re at risk of developing diabetes or you’ve received a diagnosis, we can help. We coordinate with the UCLA Health Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) and the UCLA Health Diabetes Education Program to help prevent and manage type 2 diabetes. Our classes teach you how to increase physical activity, reduce stress and stay motivated.

Healthier Weight Program: This interactive eight-week group program promotes lifestyle changes for long-term weight management. You’ll learn several techniques to control cravings and avoid triggers. We also focus on the latest advances in nutrition education and weight management, as well as exercise and stress reduction.

Presurgical classes: People who are having bariatric surgery benefit from a series of pre-op classes that focus on nutrition, physical activity and what to eat before and after surgery. These classes improve outcomes and greatly increase long-term success.

Program for Reducing Obesity (PRO): This insurance-based medical weight loss program is open to patients with a BMI of 30 or more. You meet with an endocrinologist for a weight loss history review and evaluation for underlying hormonal disorders. Your endocrinologist will develop a weight loss plan that may include a personalized eating plan, physical activity recommendations or FDA-approved weight loss medications. You follow up with your endocrinologist every 3 months. The program offers an optional 12-week nutrition course.

Meet our team

Our multispecialty team includes doctors, behavior therapists, clinical psychologists and registered dietitians. We work together to determine the best weight management strategies for you.

Contact us

Our experts work with you to achieve your weight loss goals. Call 310-825-8173(Link opens phone app) to connect with a specialist in our medical weight management program.