RediClinic's weight-loss program builds on current convenient care offerings

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — With more than two-thirds of Americans either overweight or obese, weight management undoubtedly is a critical health issue facing the nation. And the news that RediClinic now is offering a weight-management program speaks to a larger trend with the convenient care industry: expanding service offerings beyond acute care, which includes, for some operators, tools to tackle obesity.

(THE NEWS: RediClinic introduces Weigh Forward. For the full story, click here)

RediClinic is launching as of May 16 its new Weigh Forward medically supervised program for weight management. The 10-week program was developed in partnership with weight-loss expert David Katz, and will be available at all 29 RediClinic locations inside H-E-B stores in Houston, Austin and San Antonio.

While RediClinic is the latest clinic operator to announce plans to help consumers tackle obesity, it isn't the first. In 2006, Lindora Clinic partnered with Rite Aid to open the first retail-based health clinic to offer clinically supervised treatment for weight management. The Lindora Health Clinic focuses on weight-loss and wellness services in the Southern California area, and there currently are more than a half dozen locations.

Meanwhile, The Little Clinic announced in December 2010 the appointment of Eileen Myers as director of prevention and health management to lead health-and-wellness initiatives, as well as to oversee the rollout of an expanded scope of services for the company. Myers previously worked as a private practice dietitian, counseling patients with weight and eating disorder issues. She also has been a consultant, providing motivational interviewing and behavior change strategy expertise for business and industry organizations. Prior to her appointment, Myers worked closely with The Little Clinic for three years as a consultant on scope of services and SmartPath Prevention Programs.