Optimal Weight for Life (OWL) Program

Your initial consultation

Please plan to spend an entire morning with us on your initial visit. Upon arrival to the hospital, patients will have a fasting blood draw. Patients will then meet with a nurse practitioner and/or physician, a dietitian, and usually, a psychologist. We will:

• discuss the possible reasons why the patient is overweight/obese
• review potential complications of excessive body weight, including issues related to self-esteem
• provide an individualized dietary treatment plan and physical activity goal
• formulate a plan for long term follow-up possibility including individual behavioral modification and/or group therapy
   

Packet information

Approximately, one week prior to your visit, you will receive a packet of information in the mail.

Families should complete the patient questionnaire and food and beverage intake prior to your appointment. The questionnaire should be given to the medical provider while the food intake survey should be given to the dietitian during your visits.

Fasting directions

Your child should begin fasting (eating no food and drinking no beverages except water) at midnight on the night before the visit. Fasting is necessary in order to get accurate laboratory test results. Please bring breakfast for your child to eat following the blood draw.

If your child is under the age of 5, she does not need to fast and does not require laboratory tests before the visit. In this case, the doctor treating your child will decide if they want to conduct any laboratory tests.

Medical information

Additionally, you should bring medical information from primary care/other providers outside of Children's (such as growth charts, relevant notes, and recent lab results) to your visit.
Do not fax to us in advance.

Your arrival

Upon your arrival, please proceed directly to Outpatient Lab Registration on the first floor of the Fegan Building. Upon completion of the blood draw, please proceed to our clinic, located within the Primary Care Center on the ground floor of the Hunnewell Building. At least one parent/legal guardian must accompany patients below the age of 18. It is important that family members who are involved in meal planning, shopping and cooking attend the appointment if possible.