Medical Weight Loss Program

About Medical Weight Loss Program

What is the Medical Weight Loss Program?

The Medical Weight Loss Program is run through VCU Health, whose hospitals include VCU Medical Center (Downtown Richmond). Susan Wolver, M.D., is the clinic director. Natasha Clingempeel and Alyssa Waitkus are also listed as providers, a nurse practitioner and a physician assistant. The team includes a dietitian, a health coach and two psychologists.

The program offers an informational seminar, an initial weight loss visit, a weight loss class, a follow-up weight loss class, four weekly lifestyle coaching sessions and monthly individual sessions with a provider. The seminar is free and must be attended before the first weight loss visit. Education sessions are led by a mental health professional. Some visits may be done through telemedicine. Most patients follow a low carbohydrate diet. In its own words: "Weight loss medications are used on a case-by-case basis." It does not name the medications it prescribes, and it does not publish a street address or hours. Its Google listing shows a 3.4 rating from 9 reviews.

What does it cost?

It does not publish prices or a consultation fee. The seminar is listed as free. It does not say whether medication is included in any charge, whether it accepts insurance, or what its membership or cancellation terms are. Ask whether it bills insurance, and ask for the cost of each visit, class and session before you book. The phone number is (804) 828-0761.

What should you ask before you book?

Ask which provider would write any prescription, and whether that is the same provider who runs the monthly sessions. Ask whether a medication, if one is prescribed, is part of the program fee or billed separately. Ask whether it is a brand-name drug or a compounded one. It does not name its medications, so this is the first thing to learn.

Ask what the initial visit, the classes, the coaching and the monthly sessions each cost, and whether lab work or follow-up visits add to that. Ask whether telemedicine visits cost the same as in-person ones. Ask whether you can cancel or pause, and whether there is a fee. Ask which VCU Health location runs the program, since it does not say.

Who is it a good fit for?

This is a good fit if you want a program built on group classes, coaching and regular provider visits, with a physician as clinic director, and you are willing to get prices and insurance answers before you commit. It makes sense to call (804) 828-0761 first and ask for the full cost in writing.

Sources: vcuhealth.org/services/medical-weight-loss, vcuhealth.org/services/medical-weight-loss/our-team

Services Offered