Lindora Medical Clinics

Type of Counseling: By Licensed nurses and physicians

Typical Cost: Approximately $149-$1,700 – depending on program option and patient need

Type Program: Medical, bariatric plan—may use fasting and/or drugs

Type of Foods Used: Grocery store food

At-Home or Direct Mail Plan Available? Yes

Headquarters

Lindora Inc.

3505 Cadillac Avenue Suite N3

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

714-668-5680

www.lindora.com

Summary

Based on BestDietForMe.com’s research, this 35-year old chain of 34 medical weight loss clinics in Southern California seems to be the largest multi-site medical program in the United States. Lindora treats 4,000 patients per day—over 900,000 patient encounters per year. Lindora advertises via TV, radio and direct mail/newsletter to its patients.

In addition to their successful medical clinic program, Lindora’s Lean for Life program can also be accessed through the following resources:

• An online “cyber clinic
• At-home telephone coaching

Patients on the Lean for Life program can lose more than 10% of their bodyweight in 10 weeks. The program was developed using a multi-faceted physiological, behavioral and cognitive approach to weight loss and long-term maintenance. Lindora treats patients of any age, and offers a customized pediatric program for children and teens.

Lindora’s credentialed medical personnel (MDs, RNs, LVNs, Nurse Practitioners and trained counselors) counsel their patients. The program offers a reduced calorie (800-1000 per day), regular food program that is low in fat and moderate in protein and carbohydrates. No VLCD/fasting protocol is used, but various weight loss medications, such as Phentermine, Tenuate and Meridia may be used.

BestDietForMe analysts note that Lindora has broadened its scope beyond physical locations to the Web via its “virtual clinic”, as well as providing an at-home program, phone counseling, books and self-help products, audiotapes, protein bars, shakes, drinks, soups and puddings. In other words, in addition to being the nation’s largest medical weight loss operation with 34 physical locations, it is now reaching deters beyond its primary southern California market.

Unique features of Lindora’s Lean for Life program include daily structure, patient accountability, and therapeutic lifestyle adjustment. Features also include regular opportunities for measurable feedback, such as:

• One-on-one counseling
• Accurate electronic scales
• Body composition analysis
• Thorough, comprehensive lab testing
• Use of a pedometer
• Fat burning indicators, an objective way to measure ketosis

Lindora also teaches patients The Six Essentials for success—tools designed to help patients stay enthusiastic and motivated, help them understand their own barriers to weight loss, and help them find ways to maintain their success.

The Lean for Life program offers short-duration modules of weight loss (up to 8 weeks), followed by a two-week regime of increased calories. The two phases of their program were designed to create and sustain long-term weight loss and lifestyle change.

Phase 1 - Weight Loss

• Patients are guided through a customized program to burn stored body fat while minimizing hunger and cravings - - - Patients follow a daily workbook

Phase 2 - Lifetime Maintenance

• Patients continue to use the principles learned in Phase 1 to maintain their lean weight. During lifetime maintenance, patients regularly visit their clinic to be weighed and counseled—free of charge
• Patients follow a balanced nutritional plan based on lean protein, complex carbohydrates, and “good” fats
  
  

LINDORA’S LEAN FOR LIFE PROGRAM OPTIONS

Lean for Life Clinic Program

Patients interested in the Lean for Life Clinic program receive a free in-person consultation, along with an electronic body composition analysis, which determines one’s level of lean muscle, water, and body fat.

Once a patient enters the program, they are given a thorough medical evaluation, including medical history, comprehensive lab screenings (including the VAP cholesterol test—the most accurate way to detect your risk—even inherited or “hidden” risk—for heart disease) and blood pressure readings. After reviewing the patient’s data, Lindora’s medical staff then designs a customized weight loss program for the patient.

Clinic patients are individually counseled by nursing staff two to five times each week—depending on the type of program they need. During each visit, they are weighed on an accurate electronic scale, and counseled by a Lindora nurse (who reviews the details of the patient’s program and gives them guidance). Patients may choose to receive a vitamin injection as part of their clinic treatment at no additional charge. If medically appropriate, clinics can prescribe weight loss medications.

Recent Developments and New Services for Clinic Patients

In 2004, Lindora launched its most innovative treatment program yet—The Lindora Metabolic Fitness Treatment Plan™ (MFTP™). The MFTP uses state-of-the-art testing to evaluate a patient’s risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, abnormal cholesterol levels, metabolic syndrome, and other diseases. The program has three components:

1. The Vertical Auto Profile (VAP), a test that measures cholesterol particle size for a more thorough evaluation of risk for heart disease
2. A Blood Chemistry panel, which includes the Hemoglobin A1C test for diabetes, as well as tests for 20 other health conditions.
3. A lifestyle assessment, which examines eating habits, sleep patterns, alcohol consumption and more

From the results of these tests, the patient receives a “score”, called their Metabolic Fitness Quotient™ (MFQ™). The lower the score, the lower one’s overall health risk. The MFQ is an easy way for patients to know and understand their “numbers”—their lab results and health risks. It also allows their Lindora medical professional to customize their program accordingly.

Lean for Life Online Program

Lindora’s “Lean for Life” Online Program is the “Cyber Clinic” version of their nationally recognized program offered at Lindora’s 34 clinics in Southern California. Online participants receive the same coaching, books, tools, and nutritional products that are used by clinic patients. The Lean for Life Online program is designed for safe, but rapid, weight loss. Features include:

• Eight weeks of Weight Loss, followed by two weeks of Metabolic Adjustment
• 10 weekly one-on-one telephone consultations with medically-trained nurse educators, who help patients stay focused and motivated
• Live online access to Lindora experts
• Their 288-page Lean for Life program workbook
• A variety pack of Lean for Life nutritional bars
• Fat Burning Indicators (Ketone Sticks)
• “Getting Started” Audio Tape, which includes Lindora founder Dr. Marshall Stamper’s “Six Essentials”
• Pedometer
• Online Food Diary to track one’s food—and automatically count daily carbohydrate, calorie, and protein intake
• Charts and graphs that change daily to reflect one’s progress
• Daily audio message
• Daily E-mail message
• A fun daily quiz
• “Motivation Central” Bulletin Board
• “Ask Our Experts” Interactive Forum
• WebPals E-mail Support–connect one-on-one with others on the program
• A live weekly online chat hosted by a Lindora program expert *A library of Frequently Asked Questions and other up-to-date weight loss information
  
  

Lean for Life by Phone Program

Lindora offers their Lean for Life by Phone program as a convenient way for people to access the same clinically proven program offered in the 34 Lindora clinics, but from the convenience of their telephone.

A certified Lindora by Phone nurse educator guides patients through the program, using the same programs, books, tools and nutritional products developed and used at the Lindora Medical Clinics.

Lindora by Phone nurse educators are available for private, personalized, one-on-one consultations for support, problem solving, or just to listen. They will answer patient questions and respond to any challenges a patient might encounter. Lindora patients report that this type of support helps them stay focused and helps maximize their success.

Interested participants can simply call an 800 number to schedule a phone consultation and ask questions. During the consultation, the nurse will create an action plan to achieve the patient’s goal. All telephone and e-mail consultations are private, personalized and scheduled at the patient’s convenience.

At the end of every Lindora by Phone session, the nurse educator updates the patient’s file with detailed notes, so that the patient’s educator will be “up to speed” at the next session.

Lindora claims that their by-Phone consultations cost far less than medical professional sessions offered by less-effective programs.

Lindora Online Program and Product Fees

Lindora’s website (lindora.com) has an online store that sells various products and services. One can view descriptions of them at the website, but the following is a list of the main services’ costs (program costs depend on program option and patient need):

• Single e-mail consultation with a nurse educator: $20.00
• Single telephone consultation with a nurse educator: $30.00
• Lean for Life Getting Started Kit: $59.95
• Lindora Online 6 week program: $149.00
• Lindora Online 10 week program: $339.00
• Lindora by Phone Program: $249.00 - $329.00
• Lindora Medical Clinic Program: $900.00 – $1,700.00

Members of Blue Cross of California, Unicare and HealthNet may receive certain discounts

Comment

In BestDietForMe.com’s opinion, not only is Lindora unique in that it is the largest chain of medical weight loss clinics, but it is also involved in BOTH online (virtual) counseling and phone counseling. Its website is well designed and user friendly, and its prices are affordable for most any dieter. Refined since 1971, this organization now provides a top-notch, quality program with the degree of flexibility demanded by the public. BestDietForMe.com analysts would not be surprised to see this program licensed in many more states in the near future, growing substantially in size and recognition beyond its now regional scope.

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