Get off the frustrating mental health rollercoaster of endless diets and “cleanses.” If excess weight is contributing to chronic health conditions or joint pain, our experienced and compassionate registered dietitians will guide you on how to not only lose excess weight but to live with health, strength and gratitude for your body. Or if you have been advised to lose weight but are troubled by the scale or past dieting attempts, we will use a weight-neutral approach to improve your relationship with food and your body, for which weight is not the barometer of success.
Although we do not focus on body mass index (BMI), many insurance plans cover the cost of weight management counseling with a doctor’s referral if your BMI is 25 or higher, which classifies you as overweight or obese. To calculate your BMI, use this online tool from the Centers for Disease Control.
What Should I Ask My Insurance?
Follow these steps before making an appointment with us:
- Call the toll-free member number on your insurance card. Ask if nutrition counseling with a registered dietitian is covered and, if so, how many visits are covered. If they request it, our National Provider ID (NPI) is 1578677811.
- List any medical conditions you have including being overweight or obese, which may determine coverage.
- Ask if a referral from your primary care physician (PCP) is required. If yes, and:
- Your PCP is affiliated with Mass General Brigham, you do not need to obtain a referral. We will process it for you.
- Your doctor is outside our hospital network, call your doctor to obtain the referral. Provide them with our NPI number listed above.
- If your insurance does not cover nutrition visits, call the Nutrition Clinic for our self-pay rate.
What Should I Expect?
The following may be included depending on your individualized plan:
- Taking a detailed history of your past and present eating behaviors, usual food intake, eating environment, food preferences, and cooking ability
- Evaluation of other health conditions, medications, or environmental factors (stress, sleep deprivation) that may be contributing to weight changes
- Calculation of calorie, protein, and nutrient needs
- Evaluation of vitamins and other supplements that you may be using
- Recipe and menu ideas
- Sample menu tailored to your preferences
- Assistance with creating and monitoring short and long-term goals
- Assistance with use of food apps or online tracking tools
- Assistance with creating an exercise regimen
- Body measurements such as weight, waist circumference, or waist-to-hip ratio
Contact the Nutrition Clinic at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital by phone 617-983-4455 or email BWFHNutritionClinic@bwh.harvard.edu with further questions or to make an appointment.
