Group Medical Visits for Best Weight
Group Medical Visits (GMVs) are periodic medical appointments held by health care professionals and provide group education and individual follow-up care in a welcoming, caring, and supportive environment.
Each group visit is 90 minutes and is held once a month over a four (4) month period. Groups are limited to 6 members to support a personable atmosphere. Group visits require continuous masking during the visit.
GMVs are different from group workshops and individual counseling in that they provide increased opportunities to ask personal questions and provide more time with your healthcare providers in a relaxed setting. In addition to individualized support, members will also benefit from other group members questions and shared experiences. Each GMV series will have a customized experience as the topics discussed at each visit are uniquely decided by the members in each group, not the healthcare professionals.
GMVs for Best Weight supports those with excess weight and/or health conditions associated with excess weight and are ready to make behavioural change strategies to support self-management to achieve their best health.
Education and actionable strategies will be based on the specific questions and concerns brought forward by group members.
90-Minute Group Medical Visit Flow
5 Mins: Group welcome and check-in
40 Mins: Group education with the dietitian, nurse, or guest speaker based on the topic of choice. During group education, participants will also have individual check-ins with the dietitian or nurse.
20 Mins: Group Q&A with the healthcare professionals.
5 Mins: Group members decide on educational topic for next visit.
5 Mins: Group check-out and individual monthly goal setting.
Common topics and concerns that can be addressed in Group Medical Visits for Best Weight:
- Food cravings
- Healthy eating patterns
- Healthy food and beverage choices
- Individual calorie needs
- Mindful and intuitive eating
- Obesity pharmacology options
- Physical activity
- Problematic eating behaviours
- Relapse planning and goal setting
- Self-sabotage behaviours
- Sleep concerns
- Stress management
- Weight plateaus
- Why change is difficult
SCPCN group workshops to consider:
- Best Weight workshop: Recommended to take before starting Group Medical Visits for Best Weight.
- Health Basics workshop: Recommended for those looking to establish healthy lifestyle habits.
- Craving Change: Concerns with problematic eating behaviours such as emotional eating or binge eating.
- Label Reading and Menu Planning workshop: To support healthy food choices and meal planning.
Additional workshops are also available through the Alberta Healthy Living Program with AHS.
*The Best Weight workshop is not appropriate for those with eating disorders. Unsure if you may have an eating disorder or struggle with disordered eating behaviours?
Learn more here.