Amino Acid Diet 

This diet is the high-protein, low calorie supplemented diet also known as the amino acid diet. This diet is a variation of a very low calorie diet. It includes a very strict meal plan with Medifast supplement taken at each meal. It is designed for relatively rapid weight loss in patients who have underlying medical conditions or who are at a significantly increased risk of developing significant medical conditions because of their obesity.This diet is also a diet which patients are on for a period of about 16 to 20 weeks. At the end of that time, a progressive food approach is taken. This diet offers a little more leeway than Medifast Plus but still is associated with rather significant weight loss averaging between 2 to 3 pounds per week.Prior to starting this diet, a thorough history and physical examination, laboratory test, body fat percentage and EKG are required. Laboratory work is done monthly while on this diet. Patients are seen while on this program every two weeks.

Maintenance

Our goal is for patients to lose weight and to maintain it. Our maintenance programs involve regular follow-up at the office level, including dietary instruction, exercise instruction and behavior modification. Most patients are continued on a balanced calorie deficit program designed to maximize the changes of weight maintenance.The use of medications to assist with weight maintenance is certainly a viable option at Sussex Family Practice.