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Weight Management Center seeks to heal body, mind by Chris West Public Relations Though education was not Kim Foster’s major in college, teaching is a key factor in her job as a psychology fellow in the Weight Management Center. “Managing weight is not simply a diet-based treatment program,” Foster said. “We try to improve life habits and attempt to change behavior to achieve the best results.” The center, in the Institute of Psychiatry, offers weight-loss programs designed to shed a few pounds or to correct more serious obesity problems. The center offers group-format treatments and individual consultation depending on the specific case. The staff includes psychologists, nurses, dietitians, exercise specialists and physicians. “The group format seems to provide the best results because the meetings are over an extended period of time and a commitment is made to the program,” Foster said.  “And in groups, patients get support from fellow group members and they can relate in their struggles.” Groups meet weekly, to set goals, solve problems and learn lessons about diet exercise, behavior and thinking patterns. Skill changes occur in many areas. “Even assertive communication is an important component,” Foster said. Although group meetings are important, group members get individual attention as well from the initial evaluations, scheduled individual sessions with staff and weekly feedback on the food diaries they keep. One of the programs offered at the center is First Step, a gradual 20-week program that meets in groups once a week and helps to improve activity level and eating habits. It also develops a meal plan and exercise regimen tailored to the specific needs of the patient. A more extensive program is the Health Fast Program.  This is geared toward patients wanting to lose more than 50 pounds and it incorporates “a very low calorie diet made up of shakes and bars,” Foster said. “The patients transition back to regular foods as they learn a new style of eating.” The center also offers services in the areas of individual weight management consultation, body composition (body percent fat) and nutrition consultation. “Post-treatment programs are also available to help maintain and reinforce the healthy practices the patients have learned and to keep them in touch with us,” Foster said. The motto of the center is based around the ABCD’S of lifestyle change.  They include: activity, behavior, cognitions, diet and social support.  Improvement in each area in each patient is the center’s definition of success.