CMC Weight Loss Program Designed for a Healthy Lifestyle

First published by Waccamaw Publishers in the January 2024 Health & Wellness Section

Losing weight is one of the hardest things in life to do. But it can be one of the most beneficial efforts you will ever make. At Conway Medical Center Weight Loss Center, weight loss is about more than just appearance, it’s a life-saving way of life.

Extra weight can be a major factor in other health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, joint and back pain, sleep apnea and even cancer. CMC offers a variety of avenues to help you lose weight, keep it off and maintain a healthy lifestyle. These include an extensive weight-loss surgery program as well as a number of other non-surgical weight loss programs to help get rid of those unwanted pounds and maintain a healthier life.

Effie Akerlund, dietitian specialist at CMC, says the center has a multi-disciplined approach to weight loss.  “Some of our patients are on diet and exercise programs alone,” she said. “Some are diet, exercise and medicine and some are candidates for bariatric surgery options.”

Akerlund said the patient’s journey to weight loss and better health is truly a team effort. The first step is to make an appointment with the center. No referrals are necessary. “The patient will meet with Dr. Zaher Nuwayhid for the initial counseling,” she said. “They will discuss which course is the best choice for the patient. They will then meet with the office navigator who will set up the direction of the patient’s treatment.”

Akerlund becomes the next stop in the patient’s journey. If bariatric surgery is the goal, then certain tasks need to be met such as evaluating insurance requirements. If medicinal treatment is chosen, then the patient will meet with the doctor and the team to determine the appropriate medicines according to blood work that was performed.

“If the route is diet and exercise, then we usually meet on a monthly basis to check their progress,” Akerlund said. “The patients have access to our gym if they so choose or we can set up an exercise program for them at home.”

In addition, the center’s patients have access to a closed online group for support and tips as well as monthly emails to give nutrition and lifestyle suggestions. “We also have a walking club that meets every third Tuesday at the track near CMC’s physical therapy location behind the main hospital,” Akerlund said. “This gives patients a chance to get to know others who are going through some of the same things.”

The center will take patients from age 12 and up but surgeries are performed only on patients 18 and up. The Weight Loss Center has an office on the main Conway hospital campus and one in Florence. All bariatric surgeries are done in Conway. The Center is fully accredited which means it can take all insurances including Medicare and Medicaid providing the policy covers it.

Akerlund said the goal of the Weight Loss Center is to provide a healthier lifestyle for its patients.
“None of our patients are here to look like movie stars,” she said. “They’re here to lead a healthier life. Progress comes in all forms, not just what the scale says. Some want to lose weight while others may want to lower blood pressure, get off diabetes medicine, help with sleep apnea or maybe just to be able to walk a distance without having to sit down and catch their breath. Whatever they need, we have the program for them.”

To get started with the CMC Weight Loss program, call (843) 347-3900.