Have you ever considered how much being overweight may cost you in the long run? Since obesity is associated with a host of medical issues including diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, sleep apnea and more, the financial consequences of obesity could become extremely taxing. And, of course, there’s the toll all of these issues may take on your overall health, well-being and emotional status.
Supporters of weight loss efforts like LAP-BAND® feel that losing weight could potentially save your health and your pocketbook. A recent article from MSN Money compared the cost of major weight loss options and revealed the following results:
The Jenny Craig® program, a 12-month guided, personalized health and nutrition plan, includes sign-up costs of $359 or $399, plus the cost of food, which runs approximately $4368 - $6552 (for a minimum annual cost of $4,727).
The Nutrisystem® program, an at-home prepackaged meal plan, is priced at about $3,599 per year, including food but excluding fruits, vegetables, and dairy.
Weight Watchers, a flexible meal plan with a point system, averages in the $760 range annually (online cost plus weekly meeting fees and registration) but does not include any food.
The Zone™ Diet’s “Chef Selected” delivery program, available in many metropolitan areas and focused on limiting carbohydrate intake, can cost nearly $15,000 if followed for one year!
While these major diet plans run the gamut as far as cost is concerned, each one is only for a limited amount of time. There are no guarantees, and if you’ve tried any of these programs, you know that they have the potential to help you lose weight initially and gain it back just as quickly. The Weight Watchers program is said to have the best success rate with only 5 percent of their participants reaching goal.
The LAP-BAND® procedure at Lap Band Rockies is a comprehensive surgery, nutrition and fitness plan that includes the following:
- Pre and post-op interaction with Natalie Cardenas, our Bariatric Coordinator, who is a LAP-BAND® patient of Dr. Kirshenbaum’s.
- Pre-op & post-op consultation with Paula Peirce, a dietitian with her PhD in nutrition
- Pre-op consultation with Dr. Kirshenbaum
- LAP-BAND® surgery
- Post-op care by Dr. Kirshenbaum
Surgery itself includes the following:
- LAP-BAND® AP System (only available in the US, not in Mexico)
- LAP-BAND® placement by Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum
- Surgical assistant
- Anesthesiologist
- Outpatient surgery at a JCAHO accredited surgery center
- Participation in our LAP-BAND® support group run by Susan Silver, PhD in Counseling Psychology
- Follow-up care and adjustments at no ADDITIONAL charge for 3 months. Thereafter, the charge for adjustments is $15.00. This is an incredible value when compared with other area surgeons who charge from $100 TO $285 for post-op fills!
How much is your health and longevity worth to you? What would you pay to lose weight and keep it off? If you can find a plan that works for you, the benefits could be priceless. The problem is, self-monitoring on a day-to-day basis can be difficult with so many responsibilities to manage. Systems like LAP-BAND® not only give you the physical change as a head start to weight loss, structured follow-up programs help you stay on track over the long term. At Lap Band Rockies, our team is committed to helping you achieve long-term success after your surgery.
If you are tired of trying diet plan after diet plan, LAP-BAND® may be your solution. During your personalized consultation, we’ll go over all the cost and financing information to help you fit weight loss surgery into your budget. To discuss the physical and financial benefits of weight loss, contact Dr. Kirshenbaum at Lap Band Rockies in Denver.
