Health Improvement Centre

The LIPOTRIM weight management programme is a medical weight loss programme previously only available through doctors in the UK. However some years ago the programme leaders decided to run the programme through suitably trained pharmacists in order to reach a wider range of the population who were overweight but otherwise healthy. There is now a network of pharmacists in the UK & Ireland who provide this service.    SO what exactly is involved?

The full Lipotrim programme consists of three phases:

1. A strict Total Food Replacement (TFR) phase where women lose at least 1 stone/month and men 1.5 stones/month followed by
2. A re-feed week , where normal foods are reintroduced in a carefully controlled manner and
3. A maintenance phase where clients are monitored with weekly weigh-ins to help ensure weight loss is banked and clients learn new eating and lifestyle habits.

The 2^nd and 3^rd phases can be used alone as a less strict program which sometimes fits better with clients lifestyles or if they only have a few pounds to lose.

Timing is everything and if clients are not ready for the TFR phase then they may not be admitted onto the TFR program. In these cases the 'Maintenance Programme' (phase 2 & 3) may be all that is offered to the client. It is at the pharmacist's discretion to decide which programme will suit the client best.

The pharmacists and staff have been specially trained to supervise the programme and have to follow strict protocols. All clients are asked to borrow and watch a 40 minute DVD BEFORE they can be accepted onto the programme. This gives all the information about the programme and will help clients make an informed decision as to whether they can commit to the strict TFR phase. They are asked to borrow (£10 deposit) the TFR DVD even if they have previously viewed the DVD either online or from another pharmacy. Please respect that this is part of the pharmacist's protocols.

Click play below to hear a track from the CD

Presuming clients are ready to proceed with some of the Lipotrim programmes then they make an initial appointment for a consultation at the Health Improvement Centre (HIC). Typically his can take up to an hour and a medical questionnaire has to be completed. Presuming the pharmacist is satisfied that they are no contraindicated medical conditions then the client can commence TFR programme any time after this consultation.

The programme continues with weekly weigh-ins and records are kept on computer of progress.  These records can be emailed or printed off and given to the client / GP upon request. The Liposoft software programme also reminds clients by text or email when their next appointment is. If necessary, we will monitor blood pressure each week at the HIC but we still recommend clients visit their regular GP surgery for a check up with every stone of weight lost.

Clients are encouraged to continue through the programme until they have reached their target or goal weight. They are then given instructions to prepare for the re-feed week (phase 2).   We issue another information CD (60mins) at this stage, backed up with a paper menu plan and instructions. Free samples of the low GI maintenance foods are given to ease food choice during this week and still maintain low calorie diet.

Finally, after the re-feed week, clients move to maintenance programme (phase 3). This is a vital part of the programme to ensure weight loss is banked and that clients adjust their eating habits and lifestyle to prevent regain. This involves weekly weigh-ins and usually some of the specially formulated low GI maintenance foods.

IF CLIENTS IGNORE THIS MAINTENANCE PHASE AND RETURN TO THEIR PREVIOUS EATING HABITS THEN THEIR CALORIE INTAKE WILL BE IN EXCESS OF WHAT THEY NEED AND THEY WILL REGAIN WEIGHT.

Clients must realise they have to make the necessary lifestyle adjustments to prevent intake of excess calories.

Hence, at the HIC, we are keen for our clients to attend for maintenance advice on a regular basis. Weigh-ins are always FREE.  We encourage everyone to get a copy of the 'Supermarket Shopping' cds to improve knowledge on calories and labelling of food. We have numerous lifestyle hints and tips to give! We have made many of these resources available online.

For further information about the Lipotrim Programme contact the HIC or visit the Lipotrim Website.