Hinsdale Sheds One Ton Of Unwanted Weight at New, Local Clinic

Medi-Weightloss in Hinsdale recently announced that clients have lost a combined one ton in weight since opening in January of 2011 as the first Medi clinic in the Chicago area, but losing the weight is only milestone one.

Katherine Pearse, a Hinsdale resident and V.P. Of Business Development at the Hinsdale clinic said what sets Medi apart is physician supervised staff who not only help patients safely lose weight, but also keep it off.

“Our clients are people who have tried everything else and were never able lose weight, or unable to keep it off,” said Pearse, adding that the clinic performs a blood panel and EKG for all patients and tailors the approach around other medical conditions or personal obstacles.

“We treat the whole person in the context of real life – how and why did the weight get there and why won't it come off?” she said.

Pearse expalined that weight loss and management is 75 percent nutritional and about 25 percent related to exercise. She said most patients who do not have some other physical, medical condition have probably gained weight by using food to feel better about something else – and all the exercise in the world won't make up for a bad diet.

“If you put sand in your gas tank, your car is going to struggle and be sluggish. If you put premium gas in it's going to run properly and for a long time – the same is true of the body,” she said.

Pearse said it's no surprise that nutrition is a problem because of the many fast, easy and cheap options available and the fact that more busy stressful lives point people in the direction of fast food chains.

However, she said many people are surprised by what they can eat and how good it is and are releiaved to hear the diet at Medi is not about deprivation or starvation.

“We are not telling you can never eat a Big Mac again, you just have to make it an occasional treat and be willing to comprise for it at the next meal,” Pearse said.

The other good news Pearse has is that Medi takes full body compositions that show weight coming from fat, muscle and water – painting a far different picture than scale weight alone.

“Some people see they have gained a few pounds in one week and go into panic mode,” she said. “We can so, 'yeah, you gained three pounds over all, but it's because you lost three pounds of fat and gained two pounds of muscle.'”

So, the client comes in, they learn about nutrition, shed 25 pounds in one month and they are ready to go it alone, right?

No, said Pearson, explaining that monitoring patients and having them return to the clinic at least one a month after the target weight is reached is part of what makes the program successful. And she said even after patients are finally let go, they can always return if they find themselves gaining weight or losing control.

“For some people struggling with weight will be a life-long problem that will need continual monitoring and professional help,” she said. “Some need the clinic forever but they are satisfied and confident that they can meet the challenge.”

Pearse herself said she has had family members who have dealt with weight issues and so she is aware of the personal struggles that come with it and it allowed her to “hit the ground running,” when she started working at Medi.

Pearse said that the clinic is for everyone, regardless of how much or little weight they want to lose, if it is something they have been unable to accomplish on their own.

Managing partner of of Medi-Weightloss Clinics Bill Pienias said in a press release he was very pleased to the success that patients have had with Medi since the clinic came to the Chicago area.

“We are very proud of our patients,” said Bill Pienias, managing partner of Medi-Weightloss Clinics. “This milestone is a testament to the commitment our patients have to the program. It truly is ‘the one that works.’”

For more information on Medi visit their Web site or call (630) 468 – 2434.