OPTIFAST^® Full-Meal Replacement Program

This program is designed for people with a BMI of 30 or greater or for those with a BMI of 27 or greater who also have two or more weight-related health conditions such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, or back or joint pain.

People with a BMI of 30 or greater generally have 50 or more pounds of excess weight to lose. Those with a BMI of between 27 and 29.9 typically need to lose 35 pounds or more to achieve a healthy body weight for their height.

Program Overview

This OPTIFAST Full-Meal Replacement Program integrates medical, nutritional, and behavior change elements to help you achieve lasting weight loss. The program features the OPTIFAST full meal replacement formula diet, a basic physical activity program and a comprehensive lifestyle change program. We work with you to help you meet your goals.

How Does the OPTIFAST Full-Meal Replacement Program Work?

When you are following the OPTIFAST Full-Meal Replacement Program, you replace all normal food with 5-6 daily servings OPTIFAST nutritional products.   These products are specially designed to provide all of the essential nutrients your body needs to keep you healthy while consuming a minimum number of calories.

Many of our patients in this program find that not having to prepare food or think about what to eat is a welcome temporary relief. It enables them to really think about their relationship with food and make lifestyle changes that will help them make better choices about conventional food after the program.  

How Long is the Full-Meal Replacement Program?

A typical full formula diet lasts for 18 weeks. This time period includes both the active weight loss and transition phases. However, the length of your program may be shorter or longer depending on your specific needs. We will customize your program to meet your lifestyle, family, and goals.

During the first 12 weeks of the active weight loss phase, you will consume 5-6 servings of OPTIFAST nutritional products. During the final 6 weeks of the program, you will gradually transition back to a conventional foods diet. Throughout the final two weeks of the transition phase, our dietitian will help you develop a calorie-controlled maintenance diet designed to sustain your weight loss success and keep your healthy habits on track.

How Much Can I Expect to Lose?

A nationwide study of 22,000 patients who participated in an 18-week OPTIFAST Full-Meal Replacement Formula Program found an average weight loss of 52 lbs at 22 weeks. Men tended to lose more weight than women since they typically need more calories to maintain their larger bodies and faster metabolic rates. However, your own weight loss results will vary somewhat depending on how much weight you have to lose, your age, gender, and the amount of exercise you can do.

How Will this Program Improve my Health?

The same nationwide study also reported significant improvements in blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood cholesterol levels. Patients studied experienced an average 15% decrease in cholesterol, a 29% decrease in blood glucose (sugar) and a 10% decrease in blood pressure. In addition, weight loss has been proven to have a host of significant health benefits from increased energy and better sleep to improvements in chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes.

Ensuring Your Success

We strongly advise you to participate in our ongoing weight maintenance support group once you attain your goal weight. Research has shown that participating in a weight maintenance support group for six months to one year after completing a full-meal replacement program increases dieters' chances of successfully maintaining their new lower body weight. At NWMC, our maintenance program will help you apply the lifestyle and weight management skills you learned while losing weight to keep the weight off forever.