Mayo Clinic Obesity Treatment Program

The Outpatient Nutrition practice at the Mayo Clinic encompasses a multidisciplinary approach to the care of the obese patient. Ten physicians with broad interest in the study and management of obesity and its complications are available for consultation. Three of these physicians are board certified in Clinical Nutrition (American Society of Clinical Nutrition). Over 50 patients are referred monthly for initial evaluation. Consultations include comprehensive history and physical examination with emphasis on the identification of possible underlying causes, associated complications and management options of obesity.

Therapeutic options available include dietary instruction by a Registered Dietitian, with special interest in weight management. A nutritional plan of care is implemented to meet the patient's individual needs. Group classes emphasizing various aspects of nutritional health (cooking, modifying recipes, diabetes, etc) are also offered.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is available via referral to the Behavioral Medicine Department of Mayo Clinic. Our three psychologists and seven behavioral therapists provide an intense outpatient program. A weekly one on one session is provided for the first three to four months. Group sessions are available weekly and monthly. The education program focuses on change. Learning to set realistic goals, change eating habits and maintaining an exercise program is reinforced at each session.

Exercise instruction is available either with the Cardiovascular Health Clinic or the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation depending upon the patient's medical condition. Exercise and behavior modification are considered integral parts of the weight loss programs.

Medical pharmacotherapy in suitable candidates is offered with close supervision to monitor response and identify potential side effects. Our group has developed guidelines for the use of pharmacotherapy that each consultant has provided input to and has agreed to follow.

Patients with medically complicated morbid obesity are potential candidates for bariatric surgery. Our busy surgical practice recently expanded from one to three surgeons providing at least 2 consultations per week and over 100 initial bariatric surgeries per year.

One of our primary goals at Mayo is education. Our team of obesity experts is invited to conduct numerous talks and lectures at medical grand rounds for primary care physicians all around the campus as well as around the area and nationally. Lectures are also provided for the Mayo Medical School endocrine courses.

Mayo Clinic Health Oasis newsletter website can be found at: http://www.mayohealth.org

Michael D. Jensen, M.D.

Michael D. Jensen, M.D. is a Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN and is a consultant in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism.

He received his undergraduate of medical degrees from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and received his Internal Medicine and subspecialty training at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. He has been on the clinical staff at Mayo Clinic since 1985 and was appointed a Clinician Investigator in 1997. His clinical interests are primarily focused on obesity and diabetes mellitus. His research involves the study of obesity, body fat distribution, fatty acid and energy metabolism.

Dr. Jensen is board certified in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology & Metabolism and Clinical Nutrition. He is a member of several societies including the American Society of Clinical Investigation, the North American Association for the Study of Obesity, and the American Physiological Society. He is on the editorial boards of the American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology & Metabolism and Diabetes.

He is actively involved in the North American Association for the Study of Obesity, serving as the Secretary/Treasurer from 1995-1998. He is a regular member of the Nutrition Study Section at the National Institutes of Health and has served as an ad hoc member on numerous other review boards. He is the recipient of several grant awards from the National Institutes of Health and the National Institutes of Aging. Dr. Jensen has published more than 100 research articles, reviews and book chapters.

Send comments or questions to
C.O.R.E. Program Director Dr. Holly Wyatt.