It’s no secret that being overweight increases one’s odds of developing serious medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, stroke, cancer, arthritis, diabetes, and gallbladder disease. In addition to these potential medical consequences, excess weight can diminish self-esteem, restrict activities, and in general, reduce quality of life.

Most dieting programs offer only quick fixes that don’t last, rather than offering long-range strategies that can help people achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

Specialists at Duke University Medical Center have spent more than two decades developing weight loss and wellness programs for people with special needs and medical conditions. The Duke Diet and Fitness Center and the Duke Health and Fitness Center have come together to offer a weight loss program designed to meet the needs of the community. We’ve merged what we do best -- weight loss and lifestyle counseling -- and have created a program that combines nutrition, exercise, health psychology, and medical research.

The Weight Loss Program provides you with a realistic plan that can result in:

• Improved health and fitness
• More energy
• Prevention/control of non-insulin resistant diabetes
• Lower cholesterol
• Reduced blood pressure
• Increased stamina
• Reasonable, sustained weight loss
• Greater sense of well being and enhanced self-esteem
• Stress relief

Getting on Track -- Starts March 15, 2012

Our program, called Getting on Track, is the first step toward weight management and lifestyle change. This eight-week program combines the professional support and advice you need to be successful, and there are no special foods or shakes to buy.

You participate in seven interactive classes focused on nutritional, exercise, medical, and behavioral change. Classes include a meal, weight check, self-monitoring reviews, group check-in, and lectures on nutrition, exercise, medical, and health psychology topics.

The last session is a group meeting where the skills and knowledge you’ve acquired are applied and discussed. In addition to the classes and group program, you are given a workbook, a fitness evaluation, and a weekly walking program.

Registration is required for this program.

After completing the program, you may continue to participate in the group support sessions with a program called Staying on Track to further understand your personal journey.

Program Fees

$470 for non-members. Duke employees and DHFC members get a 10 percent discount.

* Would you like full membership to our gym while attending Getting on Track? Add an eight-week gym membership for only $136. If you join the fitness center for any length of time while enrolled in Getting on Track, your initiation fee is waived.

Staying on Track

The Staying on Track program offers support for people wishing to maintain the healthy practices they began with the Getting on Track program.

This ongoing group meets once per week for weight checks, self-monitoring reviews, problem solving, and motivation. Groups are facilitated by a rotation of Getting on Track staff members.

Topic schedules are distributed to participants while in Getting on Track.

Weight Loss Consult Package -- Available All Year

At the Duke Health & Fitness Center, we realize that people live busy lives and may not be able to take advantage of our full eight-week weight loss program called Getting on Track.

Our Weight Loss Consult Package was created specifically for these individuals and is available all year for your convenience. 

This consultation package brings professional expertise and guidance to you in a private setting. The package includes:

• One hour consultation with a registered dietitian
• One hour consultation with an exercise physiologist
• 50-minute consultation with a licensed counselor (Session can be swapped for an additional nutrition or exercise consultation.)
• Eight-week weight loss monitoring book
• Pedometer

Program Fees

$235 for non-members. Duke employees and DHFC members get a 10 percent discount

Registration

Appointments for these programs are scheduled at your convenience. For more information, please contact:

Kara Mitchell, MS, RD/LD, ACSM-RCEP
919-660-6818
kara.mitchell@duke.edu

Locations

This service is available at:

• PepsiCo Fitness Center
  3475 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27705