About OPTIFAST
The OPTIFAST® Program is a medically supervised weight management program that closely monitors and assesses progress towards better health and emotional well-being. The program, which usually lasts 26 weeks, utilizes a full meal replacement plan that transitions to self-prepared ‘everyday’ meals, in conjunction with comprehensive patient education and support. Over one million people have benefited from the OPTIFAST Program including:
- Meal replacement diet
Narrowing your food choices helps you work towards weight loss and management by controlling the amount and types of food you eat. - Medical supervision
Utilizes the expertise of physicians to help you lose weight safely. - Lifestyle education
To help you achieve and sustain better health through nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes. - Ongoing personalized support
Included both during and after weight loss to help you achieve and maintain success.
Positive change can occur quickly. In addition to losing weight, you will improve your health, learn new, healthier eating habits and engage in activities so that when you return to self-prepared foods, you are better equipped to manage your weight long term.
Meal Replacement
The well-documented weight loss success of the OPTIFAST® Program is based on the use of meal replacements during the Active Weight Loss phase of the program. Simple and effective, OPTIFAST® meal replacements allow you to benefit from:
- High-quality, complete nutrition
- Pre-portioned and calorie-controlled servings
- Quick and simple preparation
- Freedom from having to make food choices
Medical Monitoring
More and more clinical studies suggest that medically monitored weight management programs are safe, effective, and help individuals to address and modify behaviors to encourage long-term weight management.
Different than many other weight loss solutions, OPTIFAST® is a medical weight loss program that closely monitors and assesses your progress towards better health and well-being as you lose weight. During your journey with OPTIFAST®, we will ensure that the doses of any medications you are taking, and/or the calorie level of your diet is adjusted accordingly, making your weight loss both safe and effective.
OPTIFAST’s medical monitoring includes:
- Thorough preliminary medical examination and any necessary lab tests to determine your health status and rule out risk factors
- Personalized weight loss plan based on your health status and weight loss goals
- Continued guidance and medical monitoring of your progress, health, and well-being throughout the course of treatment
- Communication with your primary care physician, as necessary
More Information:
Weight Loss and the Long Term Advantage
Medical costs associated with Dr. Ahmad’s weight loss programs vary from patient to patient, depending on the individual’s unique needs. Lifestyle habits, health status and weight loss goals of each patient at the onset of the program determine its length and nature. During the initial consultation, Dr. Ahmad will provide a clear outline of the costs associated with the treatment.
The Costs Associated with the Weight Loss Program
Many patients don’t realize that weight loss does not only translate into better health, but it also brings large savings. Studies have shown that on average the cost of a medically supervised weight loss program equals to the cost of being obese for a single year. In other words, patients who maintain their weight loss will continue to save the amount equal to how much they invested into their weight loss program each year.
Insurance Coverage of Weight Loss Programs
The services covered and amount of reimbursement varies between insurance companies and their plans. Please check with your provider on the details of your coverage. Although Dr. Ahmad doesn’t participate in insurance plans, he will provide you will all the necessary documentation to file claims.
(Please note that food items such as the Optifast® drinks are not tax deductible as they replace patient’s regular meals rather than supplement them.)
Weight Loss Costs and Tax Deductions
For tax filing purposes, IRS defined obesity as a disease in April 2002. This means that some costs associated with the treatment of obesity might qualify as tax-deductible medical costs and patients may use pre-tax dollars from medical flexible spending accounts and Health Care Spending Accounts to pay for them.
As defined by law, medical expenses qualify for tax deduction only after the out-of-pocket healthcare costs exceed 7.5% of the patient’s adjusted gross income. Please consult your tax preparer to learn more about these provisions.
(IRS revenue ruling, IR 2002-19, approves the fees related to services (i.e., medical services and nutrition education meetings) when they are occurring for medically valid reasons.)
