Weight loss is big business in the US, with countless Americans grappling with obesity and related health issues. Recent statistics by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that 41.9% of adults and 19.7% of children in the country struggle with obesity. Moreover, the condition accounts for a staggering 147 billion in annual healthcare costs.
Fortunately, people are more aware of the health implications of being overweight. They realize that a proactive approach requires more than fad diets and fitness programs. The popularity of weight loss clinics shows increasing awareness. As of 2023, there are nearly 1,289 weight loss services businesses in the country, generating an estimated revenue of $3.8bn.
Being in the market gives you great opportunities, but you need to stand apart to attract clients. Personalizing weight loss for them can be a game-changer. It is about taking a unique approach to each person, just like doctors treat their patients.
Here are a few ways weight loss clinics can offer personalization:
Understand Individual Needs and Goals
Custom weight loss plans start with an in-depth initial assessment and evaluation of individual needs and goals. Every person is unique when it comes to health status. An initial record of their current weight, body composition, medical history, and underlying medical conditions gives you a good start with developing a treatment plan.
At this point, you should also understand their expectations. How many pounds do they want to lose? How soon do they expect to reach the goal? Do they want to lose flab in targeted areas or get an overall reduction? What are they looking for, whether losing inches or shedding pounds? Dig deep into these details before tailoring a regimen for every client.
Set Realistic Goals
Setting achievable goals is also a part of personalized regimens. How much and how soon a person sheds weight is subjective. Ensure that they understand that there is no one-size-fits-all formula applying to everyone. According to a Mayo Clinic article, the initial goal should be to shed 5% of the current body weight.
Work closely with your clients and educate them about safe, effective, and sustainable regimens. The target should be to shed weight at an optimal pace with healthy strategies and keep it off for the long haul. You can adapt the plan with new goals and milestones over time to ensure consistent and achievable results.
Provide Supplement Recommendations
Providing personalized weight loss plans is more than tailoring dietary and fitness recommendations for your clients. You can go the extra mile by prescribing supplements. Surveys show that many users trust dietary supplements for effective results. Additionally, they ensure that weight-watchers do not fall short of essential nutrients due to dietary changes.
Prescribing private-label weight loss supplements is a good idea. It can set your clinic and program apart in a competitive market, where clinics often sell a few popular brands of supplements.
Legere Pharmaceuticals highlights the role of private-label supplements in personalizing your services. Besides ensuring repeat business, these products can build patient loyalty and promote doctor-patient confidence.
Offer Behavioral Counseling
Effective weight loss is not just about eating healthy and exercising regularly. Behavior-based counseling can make all the difference. Studies show that it teaches skills that enable people to have healthy diets and activity patterns. It also helps them identify and address emotional eating triggers and work through mental barriers that may hinder their progress.
You can personalize your programs by offering behavioral counseling to clients. Every person has different triggers and barriers, just like physical conditions and weight loss goals. Having a behavioral counselor to help them can give your clinic a competitive edge.
Include Regular Monitoring and Adjustment
A custom approach to weight loss does not end with the initial goals, roadmap, and results. Sustaining the results is a bigger deal because most people end up gaining weight again. Statistics indicate that only 10 to 20% of people successfully maintain weight loss. Personalizing their plans is about helping clients overcome weight loss plateaus and get ongoing results.
Regular monitoring of individual progress with body composition assessments, weigh-ins, and feedback sessions helps. You can also adjust the treatment plan based on these assessments and feedback. The steps ensure continuous adherence and progress.
Conclusion
Weight loss clinics are in a competitive market, where results and reputation matter more than anything else. You can achieve both by providing personalized client experiences with custom programs according to their needs and goals. You will have a long list of happy clients achieving great results and spreading the good word.