I’ve put together a 7 part article on how our SOZA counselors and I prepare, conduct, and follow through with our patients from the moment they walk into our center to the moment they walk out.
The Weight Loss Consultation articles are guides to assist and add to your strengths as wellness professionals.
Information gathering process
Enhance the patient experience during your face-to-face consultation
How to explain the SOZA Weight loss program
Closing the sale, signing up the patient
Frequently asked questions
Taking measurements and the check-out process
The more you know about the patient, the better the consult.
Additionally, I will share some insightful experiences on why patients sign-up for professionally assisted weight loss programs in the first place.
You’re reading part 1 of 7 of The Weight Loss Consultation: Information gathering process.
SOZA intake form and SOZA Wellness Questionnaire
Common reasons why patients go on a weight loss program
SOZA Intake form and SOZA Wellness Questionnaire
Every patient fills out two forms:
Soza Weight loss intake form
SOZA Wellness Questionnaire
These two forms give you a snapshot of where your patient is TODAY in their wellness life.
I especially like the wellness questionnaire because it allows me to identify motivation specific to the patient for the face-to-face consult.
Plus, it’s a great conversation starter.
Common reasons why patients go on a weight loss program
Why do they want to lose weight?
To look better aesthetically?
An upcoming wedding?
Do they feel sick and tired?
Are they attempting to lose weight on their own and failing?
Did the patient’s primary care physician recommend weight loss?
The primary Care Physician recommended weight loss.
The two most common reasons are diabetes and high blood pressure.
Some patients immediately tell you their primary care physician recommended or asked them to lose weight.
Sadly, 60% of Americans today are pre-diabetic* (we think it’s much more). That is wild.
Most likely, your patient is pre-diabetic. So even if their physician didn’t recommend weight loss, the person sitting in front of them is most likely pre-diabetic.
The other common reason a physician recommends weight loss is because of high blood pressure.
You would see medications in their paperwork. Metformin, lipitor etc.
These referrals probably had a scare. But, funnily enough, they are usually male patients taking action because they finally got scared enough to do so.
They should be scared! Don’t be conservative on the dangers of obesity in this case. Some people need to wake up!
Check out this article on visceral vs. subcutaneous fat.
Aesthetic looks
Unsurprisingly another popular reason people want to lose weight. Here are two quick stories:
Meet Blaire: A radio host for a channel called B101 in Philadelphia was a bride-to-be, and I can tell you, she couldn’t care less what the program was about (as long as it was safe and FAST).
Meet Alex: Alex, who lost 100 pounds on the SOZA program, was a young guy who told me, ” I need to lose 100 pounds. I’m still young, nothing is wrong with me, but I’ve got to do something. I don’t want to be this big.”
They don’t feel good and are “tired” of the extra weight.
Jim G., “I cannot reach down to tie my shoes.”
Some patients don’t feel physically good. Shocking? Processed foods, the food industry, etc.
As a Health Care Professional in the wellness industry, you cannot take for granted that you are on the opposing side of evil corporate food giants making your patients sick. Corporate profits over health, eh?
Many of your weight loss patients probably feel bloated most of the time. Some people are just sick and tired. Their weight or weight gain is affecting their lives.
They’ve probably been dieting on their own and failing. Dieting alone may not address all the metabolic factors necessary for weight loss. Healthy weight loss, i.e., fat loss, is about getting healthy to lose weight, not vice versa. When your patient starts feeling better, then actual weight loss begins.
Their weight depresses them.
If I were to give you a quick answer, many patients coming in for weight loss are on anti-depressants. They may be battling stress even if they are not on prescription drugs. As a Health Care professional, I am sure you care deeply about your patients, and you would want nothing more than to help them live better lives.
As you know, if anyone is on prescription medication, they cannot just “stop.” Instead, they have to be weaned off of it slowly.
In any case, this is where your empathetic training comes in. Being mindful and aware of your patient’s situation will help ensure you provide the assistance they need.
Our supplements and food program doesn’t affect their medications.
They need support and structure.
They want or NEED structure in their diet. People are not necessarily lazy, but they have too much going on and would like to outsource their weight loss program to specialists.
Searching for rapid weight loss programs
Slow weight loss can be very demotivating. However, the people who do it rapidly see better results in the long run, according to a clinical study conducted in Glasgow, Scotland.
Contrary to the belief of dieticians, people who lose more weight quickly are more likely to keep it off in the long term. Check out this article on Three New Clinical Studies that came out in 2018 when you have time.
It’s time to lose this @#$!#% weight!
Yes, you will have a patient that just got up one morning, looked in the mirror, and said, “That’s the last straw; I cannot take it anymore. I need to get this weight off.”
You will have many of these patients for whatever reason, and this was building up. Find out what motivated them because that motivation would be crucial to their long terms success. Perhaps they are doing it for themselves and a family member who will support them.
Did they specifically choose SOZA Weightloss?
Perhaps they are interested in rapid fat loss or our philosophy of all-natural. In any case, the good news is that they are signing up!
One of the questions I ask a patient before our face-to-face consultation….”Did you see any of our online testimonials on our website or YouTube channel?”
Indeed, if a patient did get a chance to see online testimonials and show up for the consult, they were signing up.
I expanded the question by asking for details to pinpoint whose story they related to the most! It makes it more fun!
You should add our testimonials to your website, videos, before and afters, etc. Also, consider getting on a LifeStyle show to promote your weight loss practice.
I hope. Part 1 helped! Let’s get on to:
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Are you looking to promote your practice?
Consider getting on a LifeStyle show to promote your weight loss practice.
I hope. Part 1 helped! Let’s get on to: