First Line Therapy – Weight Loss/Management
First Line Therapy
Nutritional Consultation”Why is there a need for FirstLine Therapy?”
- Because chronic illness is often related to patients’ lifestyle choices
- Because experts now recommended that treatment for many chronic disorders include Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC)
- Because it’s difficult to address patients lifestyle issues in the context of a busy life
- AND, because FirstLine Therapy makes TLC
- Easy to implement
- Cost-effective
- Measurable results
Is FirstLine Therapy a weight-loss program? Yes and No. FirstLine Therapy addresses body composition—promoting maintenance of lean body mass (muscle mass) while patients are losing fat. FirstLine Therapy Integrates body composition testing as a part of patient assessment. Most programs only measure weight or body mass index (BMI) and do not offer strategies to maintain or enhance lean body mass while the patient loses fat mass. In fact, many programs result in a loss of muscle mass. You will lose inches as the fat comes off.
Why is body composition an important measurement? Weight and BMI do not evaluate body compartments (water, fat, lean tissue), so they cannot measure if weight loss is due to a loss of fat mass or fat-free mass (muscle). Retaining muscle is important because muscle provides protein for antibody production, wound healing, and white blood cell production during illness. Research has shown that chronically ill patients have a lower fat-free mass and a higher fat mass.
How do you measure body composition? FirstLine Therapy recommends bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) as a means of accurately measuring body composition. BIA is a simple, in-office assessment that also serves as an excellent measure of TLC progress. FirstLine Therapy provides comprehensive support materials for patients to assist in understanding the body functions
What role do dietary supplements play in FirstLine Therapy? FirstLine Therapy integrates dietary supplements with diet, exercise, and stress management. It also offers patients the option of using a medical food to promote healthy body composition, and provides guidelines for science-based supplementation as therapeutic options for individual patients (such as plant sterols/stanols for lowering cholesterol, targeted nutrients to support insulin sensitivity, etc.).
What Are the Costs?
| Express Session (BIA – impedance test only) | $20 |
| Full Bio-Impedance Testing and Consult Session with nutritionist 1.5 hours long appointment | $180 |
| Each Follow Up with BIA Testing and Consult Session 15 minutes | $30 |
| One hour long follow ups are available for clients as well | $60 |
| One hour long nutritional consultations are available | $120 |
Why is there a need for FirstLine Therapy?
- Because chronic illness is often related to patients’ lifestyle choices
- Because experts now recommended that treatment for many chronic disorders include Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC)
- Because it’s difficult to address patients lifestyle issues in the context of a busy life
- AND, because FirstLine Therapy makes TLC
- Easy to implement
- Cost-effective
- Measurable results
What does a TLC program entail?
Addressing the underlying causes of chronic illnesses as a foundation of treatment and helping patients achieve better health through:
- Diet
- Walking or some sort of movement
- Dietary supplements
- Stress management
healthy groceries, oregano, melon, bread, cherry tomatoes isolated on white
Is there scientific justification for TLC?
Research supports the use of TLC for a variety of conditions, including:
- Hyperlipidemia
- Hypertension
- Insulin resistance syndrome
- Type 2 diabetes
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Overweight and obesity
- Sarcopenia
- Healthy aging
- Menopause
- Andopause
- Decreased Energy
- Poor Sleep
- Hormonal Imbalances
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronice Fatigue Syndrome
- and other chronic conditions
Is TLC an endorsed protocol?
The following leading health organizations recommend TLC as a fundamental therapy for many chronic disorders:
- National Institutes of Health
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- American Heart Association
- Arthritis Foundation
- North American Menopause Society
- American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
- National Institute on Aging
- And many others
Does FirstLine Therapy help address patient’s obstacles?
Yes. FirstLine Therapy provides a practical system for clinical implementation of TLC that makes it:
- Easy to implement in a busy lifestyle
- Clinically effective for treatment of a variety of chronic health problems
- Cost-effective for patients
- Binder of information, charts, reports and recipes
How do you measure body composition?
FirstLine Therapy recommends bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) as a means of accurately measuring body composition. BIA is a simple, in-office assessment that also serves as an excellent measure of TLC progress. FirstLine Therapy provides comprehensive support materials for patients to assist in understanding the body functions.
What tools does FirstLine Therapy make available for patients?
FirstLine Therapy provides a broad range of tools:
- Tailoring the FLT program to your lifestyle
- Prescribing a lifestyle treatment plan
- Individualizing program recommendations
- Educational materials for patients
- Records for tracking progress
FirstLine Therapy also simplifies the process of educating patients with:
- Customizable brochures
- Patient guidebooks
- DVD materials
- Posters
