Meal Replacement Program for Weight Management

The University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City offers a comprehensive, evidence-based, weight management meal replacement program. Many patients seek weight management programs to improve weight-related conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, arthritis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, sleep apnea, heart disease and some cancers.

We partner closely with our patients and their families to develop tailored treatment plans that meet their needs as well as health and wellness goals. We do this by working together to understand any challenges and address them. Participants in the meal replacement program lose at least 10% of their body weight in 10 weeks.

At The University of Kansas Health System, we can address your dietary needs with specific meal replacement plans. Beyond diet, you will receive appropriate exercise recommendations, behavioral counseling and weight management medication if needed.

The weight management meal replacement program, also called the 5-3-2-1 Plan, is a partnership between Weight Management at The University of Kansas Health System and the University of Kansas Center for Physical Activity and Weight Management. There are 2 phases of the 5-3-2-1 Plan. The first 6 months of the program is phase 1. During this time, patients participating in the program often lose 10% of their weight in the first 10 weeks and achieve an average of 15% weight loss by the end of the 6 months. Once weight loss is achieved, patients can choose to enter the second phase for continued support and education.

At least 75% of our program graduates maintain 5% of their weight loss several years after program completion. This is a clinically significant amount of weight loss that will improve overall health and quality of life and will diminish the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and others.

Each person’s program may look different, based on your needs and goals. However, phase 1 services may include:

• Dedicated health educator guidance, personalized to your goals, including nutrition and physical activity counseling
• Weekly remote group counseling sessions led by experienced health educators
• Specialized dietary recommendations provided by a registered dietitian, including options for vegetarian, gluten-free or medically necessary diets
• Easy meal planning with pre-proportioned meal options and flexibility to dine out
• Effective behavioral therapy for achieving a healthy lifestyle, including topics such as mindful eating, stimulus control, problem-solving, social support and goal-setting
• Structured, interactive curriculum including recipes, meal planning and tools for self-monitoring
• Medical monitoring that could include the addition of medications to assist with weight loss

Once weight loss is achieved, patients can choose to enter phase 2, the maintenance phase, for continued support and education to help sustain their health benefits.

The meal replacement program has been shown to support weight loss and weight maintenance strategies for those diagnosed with a variety of health conditions, including:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes
• Infertility
• Joint pain
• Obesity (BMI of 30 or greater)
• Overweight (BMI 25 to 29.9)
• Pulmonary (breathing) disorders

A typical 6-month meal replacement program is offered for $85 per month or $459 if paid in full.* This cost is not covered or billed to medical insurance, but you can use your Health Savings Account (HSA) for payment.

Clinical visits for medical monitoring and nutrition counseling are covered by most traditional commercial insurance and Medicare plans.

*Prices are subject to change. Participants should anticipate additional out-of-pocket food costs, like what they already spend on groceries. Additional exclusions may apply.

As an academic medical center, research drives our weight management programs. This results in consistent, longstanding success. Learn more about ongoing clinical research projects at the University of Kansas Center for Physical Activity and Weight Management (CPAWM).

Our team works out of Kirmayer Fitness Center in Kansas City, Kansas, on the University of Kansas Medical Center campus.

Virtual consultations are also available.

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