Would you like to lose weight, under medical supervision, and learn to keep it off?

The Family Health Center Weight Management and Exercise Program

Dr. Paul Ehrmann, a family physician in Royal Oak with more than 20 years experience in the field, has assembled a team of professionals to help you do just that. No gum-snapping kids in lab coats pretending to take important measurements; no Atkins diet; no special foods to purchase.

The program is administered by Dr. Ehrmann every step of the way. Studies spanning prominent universities to monthly magazines have shown weight loss to be the number one health care topic on the minds of most Americans. For example, in the June 2003 issue of U.S. News and World Report, respondents to a survey said:

1. Being overweight is the most prevalent medical problem in our society today.
2. Six of 10 people are overweight (those carrying 20 pounds or more than they need).
3. Three of 10 people have come to a point where being overweight adversely affects their health.
4. Three of 10 children may develop adverse medical and mental health problems as adults if they fail to keep their weight under control.
5. Six in 10 children will have five times the health problems as they grow into adulthood.
6. Only one in 10 physicians deals successfully with this problem.
7. Four of 10 men at any given time are trying to loose weight; six of 10 women are trying to do the same thing.
8. Nine of 10 respondents said they would give up their job, retirement homes and work bonuses if they were able to guarantee they could control and maintain their weight.

As Dr. Ehrmann says, only the truly motivated need apply. Thats because research has shown a person has to want to change his or her very behavior and observe good nutrition principles, modify their behavior, participate in regular aerobic and strength training exercise.  It has to become important and it has to become a new way of life. These elements should serve as the foundation or building blocks for lifelong preventative health.

You cannot concentrate on just one or two components in a program and hope to lose weight in a sensible fashion. Nor can you hope to lose weight by drinking your lunch and dinner. Those techniques will take the weight off, but only while you stay on them. You arent learning a thing about proper nutrition youre just learning how to pop the top on a can.

It is our goal to keep you at your desired weight 12 months from the start of the program. Most experts agree that is truly how diets should be judged successful or not, Dr. Ehrmann says.

Studies aside, Dr. Ehrmann took six months out of his busy schedule to find out what his patients wanted, what had worked for them, and what didnt. Many of their experiences with prior diets were logged. The primary focus was then narrowed to patients 20-80 pounds overweight, though there is some flexibility in the program for those under or over these amounts. He feels that he has put together a weight management and exercise program based on what has worked for his patients in the past and most importantly what has not.

This convinced Dr. Ehrmann an integrated program was necessary, so he assembled a team of specialists specialists Dr. Ehrmann has successfully worked with for years, committed to helping you lose weight and keep it off. This isnt a gimmick; its not a fad diet. Its four decades of knowledge being put into action by Dr. Ehrmann, Pam Haddad, a registered dietician, and Ted Braude, a behavioral specialist. Dr. Ehrmann will be implementing the exercise component of the program as well as coordinating the specialists. An exercise program will be required for admittance into the program. Patients will not be left alone with a set of instructions and a pep talk -- they will be seen at staggered intervals throughout the program by all three specialists, those intervals being pre-determined during your

The Program
Most programs  will offer  10-, 20-, 30- and 40-week sessions, depending on predetermined goal weight estimated losses of 20-, 40-, 60- and 80-pounds respectively (please realize that this assumes a loss of 1-2 pounds a week).  This will be determined at your first visit. We will offer to those patients that have more than 80 pounds to lose as well, the length of the program to be determined.

How much will it cost?
Please remember these are estimates only.

Dr. Ehrmann  -- patients will seen by him on a monthly basis. Tests will be done on the first and some on subsequent visits. Those patients seen as new diet patients after November 1, 2003 the cost of the total program is a flat rate of $500.00, payable at the outset and payable at the first recheck in one month. Costs for lab testing will be done through our reference lab and will be billed directly to you. The content of services include the following:

1. 30-45 min overview about the program
2. ekg-heart test
3. urinalysis-to test the kidneys
4. body composition analysis at outset and once during the program-state of the art measurement of fat and lean body mass.
5. up to 7 revisit appointments monthly.
6. peak flow spirometry to measure lung capacity and repeats as needed.
7. other body measurements
8. blood work done at our reference lab is billed seperately through your insurance.

Visits to Pam and Ted will be variable and discussed at your monthly meetings with Dr. Ehrmann

Pam Haddad has a total out-of-pocket cost of $200-$300 (anticipated one initial visit with no greater than six (6) follow up visits over the 20 week program).  How often a patient sees Pam will depend on how the patient is doing with his or her nutrition plan. Ongoing visits outside the prescribed 20 week program will be $25.

Ted Braude has total out-of-pocket cost of $300-$400(anticipated one initial visit and no greater than 6 follow up visits over the 20 week program)

All patient information accumulated by the specialists will come back to Dr. Ehrmann during monthly team meetings. At your next monthly meeting with Dr. Ehrmann,  he will advise you on the ongoing need to see Pam or Ted and you will schedule your appointments for them for the month accordingly. Its less confusing and more flexible that way, Dr.  Ehrmann said. Patients will get all their information from one source, I will serve as your home base,  yet it will be comprehensive information including nutritional and behavioral studies, plus my medical assessments, Dr. Ehrmann said.

The out-of-pocket cost seems like a lot of money, but were going to teach you how to manage your weight for your lifetime, Dr. Ehrmann said. Considered in that context, its a sound investment in your own health, and nothing is more important than that. If you are interested in participating with our weight management and exercise program, just call Dr. Ehrmanns office at 248-543-2000 to schedule an initial visit.

Who will be helping you?

Paul R. Ehrmann, D.O. is the founder, owner and medical director of the Family Health Care Center since 1982. He is Board Certified in Family Practice, receiving his undergraduate training and B.S. degree in Pharmacy at Wayne State University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health in 1976 and then attending the College of Osteopathic Medicine, receiving his D.O. his degree at Michigan State University-College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1980. Dr. Ehrmann did his internship and residency training at the Detroit Osteopathic and Bicounty Community Hospital from 1980-83 during which time he served as chief resident. His professional affiliations include the American Osteopathic Association; the Michigan Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons; the Oakland County Osteopathic Society and the Michigan State Medical Society. Dr. Ehrmann has medical hospital staff affiliations with the William Beaumont Hospital Systems and the Bi-County Community Hospital in Warren.

Pamela Haddad, a registered dietitian, has 15 years experience in providing nutrition counseling to individuals and groups with food-related illnesses, and those interested in health promotion and disease prevention. She teaches Human Nutrition at the university level, is a frequent keynote speaker at educational conferences, and a regular columnist for the Michigan Chapter of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America. Pam has provided nutrition counseling services in various office and community settings. She specializes in weight management, diabetes management, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, food allergies and digestive disorders. In her work, Pam targets awareness of personal needs and fitness to develop the knowledge and skills required to affect positive behavioral changes in dietary habits. Pam has worked with the Family Health Care Center for several years.

Ted Braude is a health psychologist, speaker, and writer. His columns appear in the The Detroit Free Press "Body and Mind" section. He's been practicing Psychology since 1982, blending his diverse interests and understandings into his meetings with people of all ages in individual, couple and family therapy. Ted's training and practice offer a unique, disciplined, visionary and sometimes-humorous eye to his serving people. His offices are in Royal Oak and Milford, Michigan. 

For more information, please contact Doctor Paul by phone at 248-543-2000, ext. 230, or via this email form.