More Physicians Are Adding A Weight Loss Program To Their Practice – New Guide Shows How – How To Set Up A Profitable Medical Weight Loss Program.
May 16, 2022: Marketdata LLC, a leading independent market research publisher of “off-the-shelf” studies about service industries since 1979, has tracked the weight loss market for 33 years, and sees more physicians adding weight loss programs to their practice. The firm recently released a new study and Guide entitled: How To Set Up A Profitable Medical Weight Loss Program.
There are a few reasons why many MDs don’t offer weight loss. First, many doctors are reluctant to tell their patients that they need to lose weight. Second, most doctors don’t have training in nutrition. Third, most doctors don’t have the business and marketing skills to operate a profitable program. And fourth, many feel that they just don’t have the time or staff to do it. In addition, there is no AMA or clinical-sponsored course, seminar or workshop to teach them HOW to add weight loss to their practice.
“Adding weight loss to a physician’s practice is a natural. Consumers already have a long-term relationship with their doctor. Doctors have a built-in client base and don’t have to spend as much on marketing and “branding” to reach these patients.”, according to Research Director, John LaRosa.
Physicians and other medical professionals desperately need business training in how to set up and run a profitable weight loss program, either as a stand-alone center or adding it to their existing practice. No clinical associations offer this in-depth training. That’s why Marketdata created this Guide, which is believed to be the only publicly available, step-by-step guide for setting up and running a successful medical weight loss program.
Some Guide Findings:
*Medical weight loss programs in the U.S. generated an estimated $8.2 billion in 2021, when including bariatric surgery. (a lot more than the commercial chains). Programs by MDs, hospitals, clinics and regional franchises took in $1.6 billion.
*Consultants have proven that MDs can add $250,000 (part-time) to $1+ million per year (full-time) in revenues by doing so. Less than 10% of the nation’s 660,000+ physicians offer a structured medical weight loss program – about 63,000.
*Medical weight loss programs are provided by: hospitals, clinics, corporate centers and franchisee-run sites, retail healthcare mini-clinics, and independent physicians. Some are national operations, while others are regional.
*The “average” medical weight loss program generates about $543,000 per year, with a 36% profit margin. Many practices make significantly more than this.
*One result of the pandemic is that MDs transitioned to using more telemedicine (virtual, Zoom) visits for patient counseling and check-ups. This enabled them to serve more patients, safely.
*Competing retail drugstore chains, supermarkets, and big box retailers now operate about 2,400 in-store healthcare mini-clinics. Chains like CVS and Rite Aid offer a weight loss program at these clinics. They are usually staffed by Physicians Assistants or Nurses, who provide counseling right there in-store, 7 days a week, with no appointment needed. Convenience is key.
*Marketdata forecasts that more MDs will add weight loss programs to their practice, to make up for lost income and declining reimbursement. Internists, General Practitioners, Family Doctors and OB/gyns are especially well suited to add weight loss.
*The ACA’s Preventative Care Benefit mandates that insurers pay for obesity screening and counseling for people with a BMI of 30+, counseled by “qualified weight loss professionals” (MDs, RDs, PAs, Nurses). This benefit is worth $1,625/year and covers up to 14 counseling sessions in 6 months.
*Marketdata forecasts that we will see the emergence of more medical entrepreneurs that specialize in weight loss. Nurse Practitioners, Dietitians, and Physicians Assistants will group together to form new companies that deliver a higher level of weight loss counseling to consumers.
About The Report/Guide
How To Set Up A Profitable Medical Weight Loss Program. is a 230-page independent market research report and Guide, published in May 2022. The Guide covers: a 2022 weight loss market status report, a review of drugstore chain competitors, profiles of all the major medical weight loss franchises and bariatricians, start-up costs, staffing, fees, insurance reimbursement, operating metrics, counselors, marketing, using Rx diet drugs, meal replacements and supplements, branding, the weight loss surgery market, sample meal plans, case studies, necessary forms, and more.
The price of the Guide is $1,295. A Table of Contents may be found at: www.marketdataenterprises.com, or emailed upon request. The report can be ordered online at the Marketdata website (report FS56), or by calling 813-971-8080. John LaRosa, Research Director, is available for interviews.
About Marketdata
Marketdata LLC is an independent market research firm and 33-year analyst of the U.S. weight loss industry since 1989. Marketdata publishes many weight loss market studies covering all diet market segments, performs phone consults, consulting and custom research projects, and has diet market teleseminars on You Tube. It also operates a leading free weight loss news website: DietBusinessWatch.com.