A “Bariatrician” or "Obesity Medicine Specialist" is a licensed healthcare provider who has received specialized training in obesity medicine, which is the medical subspecialty that focuses on the medical treatment of overweight and obesity and their related conditions. As a board certified Obesity Medicine Specialist, Dr. Sicat assesses every patient with a comprehensive approach using tools such as nutrition, physical activity, lifestyle changes, lifestyle management, and when indicated, the prescription of appetite suppressants and other appropriate medications.
Dr. Sicat is a member of the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) which is a national subspecialty society that is dedicated to the teaching and training of healthcare providers in the field of weight loss and their associated conditions.
An “Endocrinologist” is an Internal Medicine physician that sub-specializes in glandular disorders, hormones, and metabolism. Endocrinologists are specialists in diabetes, thyroid disorders, pituitary, adrenal, testosterone, menstrual cycles, calcium, and bone conditions.
Dr. Sicat is a member of The Endocrine Society (TES), as well as the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE).
Board certified in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism since 2004 and recertified in 2014, Dr. Sicat found his and his patients’ greatest satisfaction in using the field of weight loss medicine to treat the many endocrine conditions that benefit from weight loss, nutrition, and exercise. Thus sprouted his passion to devote his focus on the field of obesity medicine.
While many patients find success with commercial weight loss programs, there are many patients in commercial weight loss programs who are not able to achieve their goals. Those patients who do not achieve their goals may consider a medical weight loss specialist.
A medical weight loss program has the capacity to use many more tools (adjust or stop medications that may be causing weight gain, prescribe medications that may promote weight loss, order laboratory, cardiac, and sleep testing) and monitoring modalities that are not available to commercial weight loss programs. Thus a medical weight loss specialist may be the most affective way for you to lose weight, and especially for patients who are on multiple medications, a medical weight loss specialist may be the safest way for you to lose weight.
Overweight and obesity are frequently accompanied by other medical conditions, such as diabetes, blood pressure, and cholesterol. There are many medications which may cause weight gain or prevent weight loss -- Dr. Sicat will work with your other health care providers to see if there may be alternative options.
With active weight loss, these other medical conditions must be monitored and managed aggressively considering active weight loss may require immediate reductions in blood pressure pills, diabetes pills, and insulin. A bariatric physician is trained to monitor and adjust your therapies while you are actively losing weight. Failure to adjust these medications can pose a significant danger to patients due to potential hypoglycemia, low blood pressure, and dehydration which might go undetected and untreated in a non-medical weight loss program.
Dr. Sicat is board certified in Obesity Medicine (by the American Board of Obesity Medicine), and Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism (by the American Board of Medical Subspecialties). During your weight loss journey, while your focus may be on weight loss, his focus is on monitoring your overall health, providing you with the best tools to achieve your goals, all the while ensuring your safety through the entire process.
In addition to being a member of the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA), Dr. Sicat was initially board certified in Obesity Medicine in 2009 and he then recertified in 2019 in which he scored in the top 1% amongst all those taking the national board exam for the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM).
He was also board certified by the American Board of Bariatric Medicine (ABBM) in 2009. This involved a multiyear, multistep process including 1) passing a written board examination, 2) passing an oral board examination, and 3) passing a site review in which the national board of Bariatric Medicine previously sent a national board member bariatric physician to Richmond to review on-site Dr. Sicat's medical practice. This physician reported back to the national board testifying to the high quality of the clinic, thus completing Dr. Sicat’s board certification.
Medical weight loss services are not usually covered by insurance.
Your first visit for consultation with Dr. Sicat costs $250 or with Erin Schrinel, Heather Sedwick, or Julie Goodman the cost is $200. This includes:
• A history and physical examination
• A comprehensive review of your weight history
• An analysis of your nutrition and exercise status,
• A detailed body composition measurement (InBody 230 machine)
• An EKG if indicated based on your medical history, your physical exam, and other factors
• A detailed weight loss plan customized to your needs
Blood tests are often requested based on your specific medical conditions and individual needs. These may include blood chemistries, kidney and liver functions, cholesterol levels, and thyroid levels. If you have recently had these tests drawn, please bring with you or arrange a copy of these tests to be faxed to our office.
Please note if you are interested in using any weight loss medications, we must have results of blood testing prior to prescribing. This can be arranged at your initial clinic visit and once reviewed a prescription if indicated can be transmitted to your pharmacy after our healthcare providers have reviewed the results.
• If labs are requested they can drawn at any LabCorp (or the lab of your choice)
• LabCorp will bill your insurance company directly
We recognize your busy schedule and understand how demanding it can be to come to frequent follow up visits. Thus, follow up visits are typically once every 1-2 months (patient specific) and cost $90 with Dr. Sicat, Erin Schrinel, PA-C, Heather Sedwick, PA-C, or Julie Goodman, NP. This cost does not include the cost of medications or meal replacements if you are using them. During follow up visits, we monitor your health, celebrate your success, and work through any hurdles that you have encountered during the month.
Whether you have more than 100 lbs to lose or just 10 lbs to lose, we will work with you to customize a plan to help you move towards your goals.
All individuals have different needs. While all people may benefit from nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle counseling, some people find better success with the addition of weight loss medications. At all times, we keep your best interest in mind. There are even some individuals who may even be counseled to consider bariatric surgery.
While Dr. Sicat specializes in bariatric medicine, he has a very good working relationship with local bariatric surgeons and works with patients both before and after their surgery.
Some weight loss clinics require you to follow their specific "weight loss program" ... however, some patients may not qualify or be candidates for that particular program based on their medical conditions, cardiovascular disease, or ability to make frequent clinic visits. At Virginia Weight and Wellness, we do not have a singular program or protocol, and we avoid an "all or nothing" approach. At Virginia Weight and Wellness, instead of following our program, we partner with you to design an individualized program around you and your particular needs to promote long-lasting success.
Virginia Weight and Wellness works with teens as young as age 18 who have overweight or obesity.
Patients who previously have undergone bariatric surgery often have special nutritional requirements depending on which surgery they have had. Dr. Sicat is trained in these special needs and encourages all patients to continue to follow up with their bariatric surgeon, but to also consider following up long term as well with a medical bariatrician especially if they are experiencing weight regain or nutritional problems after their surgery.
While healthy nutrition and increased activity are the key factors necessary to achieve weight loss, studies consistently show that the addition of weight loss medications to diet and exercise lead to significantly greater amounts of weight loss. As such, we have extensive experience with weight loss medications and we do prescribe medications (if indicated) as an additional tool for weight loss. Safety is our greatest priority and the decision to use medications is based on an individualized and personal basis.
If you are interested in using weight loss medications, the Virginia Board of Medicine requires that we have blood and thyroid tests to review prior to prescribing and some appetite suppressants require having an EKG within the last 90 days (we can perform in the office if indicated).
While addition of weight loss medications to a healthy nutrition and exercise plan have shown greater amounts of weight loss in patients, some patients do not need nor want to use prescription medications. Every medication has benefits but also risks and some patients should not use certain medications.
Safety is our greatest priority and the decision to use medications is based on an individualized and personal basis.
You do NOT have to use weight loss medications to achieve healthy weight loss.
Many weight loss programs require you to purchase meal replacements and food products from their clinic programs.
While certain meal replacements are displayed and available in our office, we encourage and teach you to use regular food from your grocery store, with your selections based on your food preferences, budget, and personal circumstances to incorporate into your healthy nutrition plan.
We appreciate your very busy schedule and understand how difficult it is to come for frequent office visits. We appreciate and are respectful of your time. After your 1st visit, we usually suggest that you return on a monthly basis to monitor your progress, to work through possible hurdles, to maintain your focus, and to adjust your therapy whether nutrition, lifestyle, or medication based. Some people follow up at longer intervals (i.e. every 1-2 months but patient specific). Once you have reached your goal, we traditionally space out your visits to the minimum number and frequency needed to maintain your motivation and success.
Nurse practitioners (NPs) are registered professional nurses who are prepared, through advanced graduate education and extensive clinical training, to provide a wide range of health care services, including the diagnosis and management of common, as well as complex medical conditions to individuals of all ages. Becoming a nurse practitioner requires licensure and practice as a registered nurse, followed by a Masters or PhD degree in Nursing, including extensive clinical experience and training, as well as national board certification to practice medicine.
Nurse practitioners are able to diagnose and manage medical conditions, prescribe prescription medications, order tests, and evaluate and manage conditions just a physician would.