Obesity clinic at Mayo Clinic

I absolutely agree with that sentiment—as long as your hormones are out of whack, you aren't going to see any meaningful weight loss. It is virtually impossible to make progress when your hormone levels are that unstable.☕

electricangler16 said:That sounds awesome!👍 Could you please let me know how it went? Like, what am I supposed to bring besides the referral? Any specific lab results or anything?😲 Really hoping to hear back from you soon. Thanks a million!🙂

Hey. Of course I'm gonna check back in! When I gave them a call, they mentioned I'd need my blood work results...

Thanks Hannah Bishop 🙂. I realized you're actually going now since you wrote November 18th 🤔, though I assume you meant next month—that’s why I was asking about the report.
Anyway, I guess I'll be heading in before you do 🙂, so I'll let you know how it goes.
My thyroid levels are always fine, but I hear there are other hormones I should probably have checked too. I'm not sure which ones, so I suppose I was expecting them to tell me up there. Regardless, I'll bring my thyroid results along, but my hormones are all over the place because I've hit menopause. 🙂

It is highly probable they were referring to specific hormone panels, such as thyroid levels or reproductive hormones.
In essence, the list would look something like this:
LH, FSH, Prolactin, Estradiol, Progesterone, Testosterone, DHEA-S, B-HCG, and Cortisol.

These comprise the primary sex hormones. You can request a referral for these from your primary care physician. If you happen to be in Chicago, I suggest heading over to Holy Spirit to have your blood drawn before you make your appointment at the Mayo Clinic. There is no need to wait around; you simply arrive in the morning and wait your turn, but you can get everything completed in one go. The results should be ready within a week. It would also be wise to ensure you have recent thyroid hormone tests on hand as well. 😉
There you have it. If you truly intend to bring those lab results with you, that covers all the bases. I hope this proves helpful to you.
When are you scheduled to head up to the Mayo Clinic, electricangler16? I am genuinely curious to hear what your impression of the whole experience will be... ☕

Thanks, Olivia Rivera. I suppose it’s too late to bother with these hormone tests now 😢 since my appointment at the Mayo Clinic is set for Thursday, November 26th. I still have thyroid labs from back in the spring—they even biopsied some small cysts on my thyroid, though everything turned out fine in the end. 😁
I’ll definitely share my experience once it's over, as I think it might help people preparing for their visit there. As for the lab requirements, they really should have told me what was needed when I first booked the appointment; instead, they just mentioned the referral. I mean, how am I supposed to know that? 😕
Honestly, if I hadn't been digging through online forums, I wouldn't have even known about this. 🤷
Now, I guess I’m actually more interested 😉 in seeing firsthand how they plan to tackle obesity treatment at the Mayo Clinic than I am in whether it will actually help me.

Bringing this old thread back to life. I'm curious if anyone has had any actual experience with this Weight Watchers location between 2009 and now.
Has anyone actually been there? What's the process, and how do they handle things?

Has anything actually happened since this thread was first started all those years ago? Anyone got any updates, some kind of intel, or even just a crumb of info?

The Mayo Clinic offers this too; my old man actually went there.

www.mayoclinic.org

This reply from the 'metabolic syndrome' thread actually packs way more punch than anything you'd find on a clinic's official website... just so you guys have a better idea of what they’re actually diagnosing and what kind of meds they throw at you:

vividsailor7 said:To get a diagnosis, you need central obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance/hyperinsulinemia, impaired glucose tolerance/Type II diabetes, hypertension—any level really—or hyperuricemia.
Basically, they treat all those specific conditions.

For extreme obesity—it's pharmacological, like Orlistat, or surgical options...
Dyslipidemia—hypolipidemics like statins, and if the hypertriglyceridemia is hitting hard, then fibrates...

Insulin resistance—antidiabetics like biguanides (Metformin), Type II diabetes—if it's insulin-dependent, Metformin or alpha-glucosidase inhibitors like acarbose...

Reduced insulin via derivatives like sulfonylureas... or repaglinide. There are other types of antidiabetics out there, but they haven't been studied enough or they come with side effects that people are still looking into, like rosiglitazone, pioglitazone, sitagliptin, or vildagliptin.

Hypertension—it’s usually recommended to steer clear of beta-blockers and diuretics. You've got ACE inhibitors like ramipril or lisinopril... calcium channel blockers like amlodipine or lacidipine... or angiotensin II antagonists like losartan or valsartan... If someone can't handle ACE inhibitors, then alpha-blockers like doxazosin are an option, and they actually have a nice hypolipidemic effect too. Hyperuricemia—treated with allopurinol.

...

Well, this is wonderful news. I’ve been dreaming about that rib resection center for a while now, trying to find the courage to seek professional help for this weight issue I've battled since I can remember. I’ve heard that the hospital didn't really get things right with the Weight Watchers program, so what’s happening at Vuk Vrhovac sounds like a much-needed solution. Thanks, Sophia Hughes6. If you're up for it, would you mind sharing what they did for your father and if it actually helped him?
I spent my entire childhood bouncing between hospitals because of this. They kept searching for answers as to why I was the way I was, only to eventually conclude that my body produces an immeasurable amount of insulin—leaving them essentially helpless. Their advice? "Just call us back once you've survived puberty," and if nothing changes by then, we'll figure it out. It's been eight years since my teenage years ended, and I still haven't gone in because, believe it or not, I'm terrified. But perhaps I should just bite the bullet, given how quickly this could turn into something much worse. :-/

Hi everyone

Does anyone have any updates regarding those centers?
Is there actually a Weight Watchers location over at the Mayo Clinic?
And if so—is the waitlist incredibly long?
My fertility specialist referred me to the rib resection center instead, but I think I’d much rather go to the Mayo Clinic if they really do have that facility available😁

I'm curious about the clinic over on Vuk Vrhovac. Does anyone have experience there? Also, how do you go about booking an appointment—do you need a referral from your doctor or what?

Sophia Brooks4 said:Hey everyone

Anyone heard anything new about those weight loss centers?
Is there actually a Weight Watchers setup over at the Mayo Clinic?
Are the wait times brutal?
My fertility specialist sent me over to the rib resection center instead, but honestly, I’d much rather deal with the Mayo Clinic if they've got what I need.😁

Not sure if everyone knows this, but you can occasionally find weight loss programs outside of the hospital system too—like at the nutrition center in San Diego or Santa Barbara—and they offer remote coaching continuously.

Look, since you all seem unsure, I'll lay it out for you.
The rib resection center is real. That specific wing is tucked away at the very far end of the clinic, behind the main old building. I know because I’ve been there.
Anyway, I was overweight too. It all started with PCOS. I used to be a pretty normal girl—5'9" and around 145-155 lbs.
Then one day, right after I turned 19, my ovulation just stopped. That triggered a whole mess with my hormones, but whatever, I’m just sharing my experience here.
The lead endocrinologist at that facility is Dr. Mirko Koršić; he’s actually the director of the Mayo Clinic. Getting an appointment with him was a nightmare. When I finally saw him, the exam was thorough; he treated me with actual respect during the consultation.
He ordered a battery of tests. I waited two months for a hospital opening. Once I was in, they put me through four days of non-stop testing—daily urine cortisol, blood work, fasting glucose tests, more stuff I can't even name, and obviously the hormone panels. Everyone was professional enough, I guess. After the tests wrapped up, they sent me back home to San Diego. A month later, I get my discharge papers with the diagnosis.
Low-calorie diet and some weight loss pills. Sure, sounds great on paper, but... there's always a "but," isn't there?
Here's what I'm thinking: what does the word "center" even mean to these people?
A rehab center, a detox center, a mental health center.
All those people I just mentioned—they don't stay in a facility just so a doctor can tell them to stop drinking or using drugs and then kick them out the door. They keep them there. They provide care. They help them overcome the hurdle. In a crisis, there's a plan. There are psychologists and psychiatrists on hand to talk them through it. I think it should be the exact same thing for us overweight people. We need someone to actually help us, to hold us accountable. A piece of paper isn't going to fix our lives. If it’s truly called a "center," then it should act like one. It should provide temporary housing for a set period so we realize we aren't alone in this—so we see there are people who actually want to help. Obviously, they aren't going to keep us locked up until we hit our goal weight, but at least give us that initial window to find our rhythm and build habits. We should be learning about nutrition together, talking to psychologists, endocrinologists, and nutritionists. And naturally, a center should offer physical activity. Teach us how to start exercising properly, maybe group workouts or daily walks. That’s what a center is for—not just handing out a diagnosis. Because let's be honest, we already know our diagnosis: OBESITY = DEATH.
All of this costs money, we get it. But I think this needs serious consideration. They keep shouting about how America is one of the most obese nations on earth, so why not actually do something about it? That's the point of a center: to ACT. I believe anyone serious about losing weight would do whatever it takes to get help. You always find the money when it comes to health. I'm asking for help, but I'm getting nothing back. So, the center exists... on paper, at least.🤷

Hey, briskfox152 👋
I haven't gained weight myself, but I’ve been following this thread for other reasons. You're spot on—food addiction is just as real as any other addiction. It would be incredible if there were a dedicated clinic for "detoxing" from food, complete with everything you mentioned: psychiatrists, psychologists, nutritionists, trainers, and all the experts needed to systematically help someone break the cycle and lose weight the right way.

Honestly, how has no one opened a private practice for this yet? 🤷

Sure, it exists here, but only on paper. Like I said before, I know exactly how that Weight Watchers actually operates.
Basically, that place is just a department, nothing more. It should be functioning like an actual clinic—you know, a dedicated center focused on breaking old habits and building new nutritional ones.🙂