Established in 1969, the Duke Diet & Fitness Center (DFC) takes an “immersion” approach to lifestyle change.

Sensible Weight Management

The DFC’s sensible approach to weight management promotes positive lifestyle changes. The changes that our clients adopt reduce unhealthy body weight, increase physical fitness, and improve overall quality of life.

Our multicomponent approach helps you to:

• Reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other weight and fitness-related health conditions
• Reduce disability from arthritis and chronic pain
• Build endurance, mobility, strength, and conditioning
• Achieve a healthy, balanced, and sustainable eating and activity plan
• Manage stress and emotions, improve mood and overall quality of life
• Change the way you think about diet and exercise and adopt time-tested strategies to maintain your progress after you leave the DFC

People often begin to see results quickly. On average, patients lose 5 percent of initial body weight (often more), and see improvement in physical fitness and other measures of health and wellness during the core four-week program. Those with abnormalities on admission usually note improvements within days to weeks in such things as blood sugar control, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels .

Our patients boost their motivation, gain confidence, and learn skills to make changes that will endure. A study of DFC participants showed that after one year, 80 percent of participants had maintained and/or continued to lose weight and 85 percent reported significant health and quality of life improvements.

Getting Serious About Your Health

Our residential program is not for everyone. It requires a significant investment in time, money, energy, and personal commitment.

While we provide a comfortable facility with a warm and supportive ambience, excellent food, and amenities such as massage therapy, the Diet & Fitness Center is not a spa. This is a place for folks who are serious about charting a new path to better health.

Our clients take comfort in knowing that our program is part of the world-renowned Duke University Health System.

We are uniquely equipped to assist those with medical issues that are commonly linked with overweight and inactivity, such as heart disease, diabetes, disturbed sleep, pain and arthritis. Our physicians, psychologists, registered dietitians, exercise physiologists, and other staff are expert in the assessment and management of such problems.

Our facility is accessible for those living with handicaps. When needed, Duke’s vast health care resources can be readily accessed for the benefit of our patients.

For those who do not feel the intensive residential approach is right for them, we encourage you to consider our other program options such as our online weight loss program DukeDiet.com or our recent book The Duke Diet.

A Word from DFC Executive Director Howard J. Eisenson, MD

Howard Eisenson, MD “After 20 years as a practicing family physician, I was looking for something different. I was trained to address the “whole person” in my work -- to see patients not as “cases” but as unique individuals.

“As our health care system has evolved, connecting with patients while addressing their most challenging medical problems has become increasingly difficult. Thus I sought a place where collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of skilled professionals was encouraged; where clinicians had the time and resources to do their best work. I wanted support to empower patients and address their needs as individuals while providing them with the knowledge and the skills to enhance their health -- in short, to make a lasting difference in their lives.

“In 1999, I was recruited to join the staff at the Duke Diet & Fitness Center, and I’m pleased to report that I found everything I was looking for. This is a place where meaningful change happens. Where people experience realistic hope. I would be delighted to welcome you to our program where I am confident that you will learn a great deal and soon will share my enthusiasm for our approach.”