VALDOSTA — Losing weight is a popular New Year’s resolution; however, many people give up before meeting their goals. A new center offers another plan to help Valdosta residents, 17 and older, to lose weight and improve health.

The Howard Diet Weightloss Center opened for business Jan. 3 at 3251 Inner Perimeter Road. Physicians assistant Lonnie Lewis offers a physician directed weight loss plan with emphasis on maintaining a healthy weight to correct or prevent medical ailments associated with being overweight.

James Andrew Howard, MD, creator of the Howard Diet, promotes the plan as easy to follow and cost effective. The initial fee covers a medical exam, health assessment, weight assessment, lab work, prescription medication, B-12 injections, vitamins, minerals and appetite suppressants. The follow-up and 90-day maintenance visits include all but the lab work.

Patients who are morbidly obese and those looking to drop 10 pounds can all see results from the plan.

The process starts as patients complete a health assessment questionnaire and then receive a limited physical exam and weight composition analysis. Then, based on health status, patients receive a safe and effective appetite suppressant, a multi-vitamin, chromium picolinate and B-12/B complex injections.

The patient can decide whether to follow the Howard Diet or an ADA 1200, 1500 and 1800 calorie diet.

Re-evaluations are scheduled monthly at which time medicines are refilled. This process continues until patients reach their goal weights and begin the 90-day maintenance plan.

“Many people who have co-morbid health ailments are told by their primary care provider that they need to lose weight, but often those physicians are too busy to manage a successful weight loss program,” Lewis said. “The Howard Diet will provide for the weight loss goals without interfering with patients’ health management.”

Lewis also reports that every one of his Valdosta patients have lost weight in their first month and hundreds more have lost weight through the other centers.

He leaves a suggestion to the people of Valdosta interested in losing weight, “Eat less and do more! Your health depends on it.”



Q: Where are your other centers?



A: The Howard Center for Women, Tifton, opened Fall 2004. The Howard Diet, Douglas, opened Feb. 2. The Augusta office opened on Feb. 14. Several other offices are planned for other areas of Georgia in the next year.



Q: What makes the center unique?



A: It is a physician-directed weight loss plan that offers state-of-the-art weight assessment, a health screening to include a comprehensive laboratory analysis and provides all weight loss medication for one monthly fee.



Q: Do you give discounts?



A: Patients receive 10 percent discount on food products and 50 percent discount on Dr. Howard’s book, “The Howard Diet, The Road to a Healthier, Happier Life.”



Q: How long does the program last?



A: It varies with each patient. It depends on the amount of weight loss desired and motivation to follow the regimen. However, healthy weight maintenance is a life long process.



Q: What should people know?



A: The Howard Diet is a successful weight loss plan as several hundred people can attest. The plan is simple to follow and on weekends you eat what you like. We have a 24/7 phone line and Web site. You can reach us at 1-866-612-DIET or www.howarddiet.com. In Valdosta Marie and Lonnie will be happy to assist you at 276-0006.



The Howard Diet Weightloss Center

Owner: James Andrew Howard, MD

CEO: James Lyle

Local provider: Lonnie Lewis, PA

Assistant: Marie Murphy

Phone: (229) 259-0006

Location 3251B Inner Perimeter Road

Web site: www.howarddiet.com

Hours: 9:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday through Friday; 9:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday