For Providers interested in having The Anchor System in their office
Being anchored is about being true to yourself and accessing your inner strength.
The Anchor Weight Management System™ is a health care provider-based program that can be easily integrated into a primary care office. The Anchor System offers support and training for physicans and staff on the newest evidence-based approaches to the treatment of obesity from a whole-person perspective. The Anchor System is a self-guided system or home-study program for their patients with the advantage of a partnership between patients and physicians in the management of this difficult problem. The Anchor System offers doctors a way of providing the kind of information and coaching through its workbook format that most health care providers are not trained to do. For patients it offers a structure they can follow in the privacy of their own home and support from their health care provider.
Obesity is a national epidemic in the US with 65% of Americans being either overweight or obese. With the health problems associated with obesity and those associated with yo-yo dieting, it is important for us to find new successful ways to help our clients lower their health risks by improving metabolic fitness, losing weight and more importantly, keep it off.
The evidence to support the efficacy of current weight loss and self-help programs is less than optimal (Tsai 2005). Drug therapies using Sibutramine and orlistat have health risks and result in only 10% weight loss, on average. Bariatric surgery may be effective for severe obesity but complication rates can be as high as 40% and costs for the over 200,000 procedures done annually are one billion dollars. While bariatric surgery reduced mortality from diseases associated with obesity, mortality from other causes was higher in those undergoing surgery compared to controls. (Encinosa 2006; Adams 2007).
Healthy People’s 2010 goal is a reduction of obesity to 15%. Research shows that individuals counseled about weight loss during their annual physician visit were more likely to attempt weight loss than those who did not receive such counseling (Galuska 1999). As well, frequent patient-doctor contact is supportive of weight loss and longer-term maintenance (Bedenheimer 2003).
Current recommendations for the treatment of obesity continue to be confusing to consumers. Primary care physicians are increasingly tasked with the responsibility for treating obesity without having received specific training on effective approaches that can easily be implemented in their busy practices.
The Anchor System is different from current commercial or self-help programs:
- The focus is on “health first, then weight.” Research has shown that much of the health risks associated with obesity are related to lack of physical and metabolic fitness (Katzmarzyk 2004). By focusing on the behaviors that affect health rather than weight, weight cycling can be reduced and health parameters can be improved (ex., decreased risks for heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure, decrease in medications used).
- This program does something few program do. It addresses the number one cause of relapse and weight regain – stress / emotional eating. In the program, patients will be taught to understand the connection between their emotions and overeating and learn skills to deal with stress.
- This program is not complicated. With varying approaches to dieting and weight loss and numerous changes in recommendations from governmental agencies over the decades, Americans are confused about what to eat and what not to eat. Reduced calorie diets can promote overeating and binging. As well, when dieting vs. lifestyle change is used, most people regain their weight and usually put on more weight. By using the SIMPLE eating plan in the THE ANCHOR SYSTEM, patients can easily and simply know what to focus on to improve their metabolic fitness and lose weight.
- The THE ANCHOR SYSTEM offers an achievable set of goals to clients. It does not promote the “thin ideal” as the only way to be healthy. Rather, it teaches sustainable lifestyle changes that modify health risks while helping individuals achieve a healthy weight.
- The Anchor System is a whole-person approach. As such, it teaches clients to improve their sleep, nutrition and stress management. The Anchor System also uses vitamins, minerals and amino acid supplements to improve sleep, reduce cravings, improve cognitive ability and reduce stress reactivity.
How does the program work?
- This program has 10 modules. At their first visit, clients will receive medical screening and obtain their starter kit containing dietary supplements, a welcome DVD and Module One. Your clients come to your office every 2 weeks. At each visit, they will receive their next module and will be screened and receive supportive instruction from a member of your staff. You or your staff can help the client decide what is most realistic for them.
- At each visit, your clients will come in to get a weigh-in for accountability and receive their next module on nutrition, exercise, health issues, stress management and so on.
- Physicians and their staff will have access to training on obesity management and on administration of the program. Patients will have access to audioprograms, online forums and teleseminars to support what their program.
Who developed this program?
The Anchor Weight Management System™ was developed by Carolyn Coker Ross, MD, MPH a specialist in eating disorders and addictions with over 25 years experience in weight management. Dr. Ross is board certified in Preventive Medicine and Addiction Medicine. She is a former Fellow in Dr. Andrew Weil’s Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. Dr. Ross serves as a consultant for the dual diagnosis (Addiction and Eating Disorder) treatment programs at The Ranch in Nunnelly, Tennessee and for the Intensive Outpatient program at The Integrative Life Center in Nashville, Tennessee. She is also in private practice in Denver, CO.
Dr. Ross is the author of several books. Her most recent book is The Binge Eating and Compulsive Overeating Workbook. She has also co-authored an audio-program with Dr. Andrew Weil entitled The Joy of Eating Well.
The Anchor System has been tested in several private practice settings as well as in a large weight management group setting involving both students and staff at a well-known university. Dr. Ross’s approach to weight management has received the following comments:
This is the best practical information I’ve seen on managing eating disorders. Dr. Carolyn Coker Ross’s sound advice can help the many people trapped in destructive relationships to food regain control of their lives and health.
Andrew Weil, MD, integrative medicine pioneer and author of Eight Weeks to Optimal Health and Healthy Aging.
Dr. Ross’s wisdom about healing the relationship with food, weight and body image is presented in a way that finally makes sense. This (approach) can make a difference that can last a lifetime.
Rebecca Cooper, MA, CCH, CEDS, author of Diets Don’t Work and founder of Rebecca’s House Eating Disorder Treatment Programs.
Tsai AG, Wadden TA. Systematic review: an evaluation of major commercial weight loss programs in the United States. Ann Intern Med. 2005;142:56-66.
Encinosa WE, Bernard DM, Chen CC, Steiner CA. Healthcare utilization and outcomes after bariatric surgery. Med Care. 2006;44:706-712
Galuska DA, Will JC, Serdula MK, Ford ES. Are health care professionals advising obese patients to lose weight. JAMA. 1999;282:1576-1578
Bodenheimer T. Primary care in the United States. Innovations in primary care in the United States. BMJ. 2003;326:796-799.
