Contact Information

Mass General Weight Center

Email: weightcenter@partners.org

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Explore This Program

    Lifestyle programs at the Massachusetts General Hospital Weight Center are designed to address the knowledge, skills, attitudes and thoughts that drive behaviors related to eating and activity.

    About Healthy Habits for Life

    The Healthy Habits for Life (HHL) program is an education and support program. The format utilizes lectures, slide presentations and interactive group activities. The goal of the HHL program is to influence the life style-related factors most closely associated with chronic-disease risk. Weight loss is only one of the few important goals for this program. Healthier eating and activity are also main goals.  Participants are helped to make a personal commitment to behavior change.

    This program is designed for adults who have overweight or medically significant obesity who would benefit from nutrition and healthy eatingeducation, food preparation, and physical activity tips.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How is this program structured?

    There are two steps you will complete prior to the start of Healthy Habits for Life sessions.

    1. First, you will have a breathing test done to determine the amount of calories that your body burns at rest.
    2. Next, you will meet with the dietitian leading the weekly sessions to review your results and develop an eating plan.
    You will then be scheduled for 12 consecutive, weekly 90-minute group sessions. Topics will include:
    • Food records
    • Grocery shopping and labels
    • ABCs of behavior change
    • Healthy nutrition
    • Dining out
    • Portion distortion
    • Volumetrics
    • Etiology of obesity
    • Physical activity
    • Mindfulness
    • Evaluating popular diets
    • Long-term weight management
    You will also be contacted by a personal exercise trainer at the Mass General Clubs at Charles River Park to schedule two individual sessions (optional).

    At the end of your 12 weeks, you wil be scheduled individually to meet with your Weight Center physician and dietitian to review your progress and plan for next steps.

     
    What is the cost of the medical management program?
     The out-of-pocket cost of the program is $550.00. This is not billable to your insurance. This program fee includes all group nutrition sessions and two exercise sessions at the MGH Clubs at Charles River Park. 
    • The program fee without the two exercise sessions at the Clubs at Charles River Park is $410.00
    Your individual nutrition visits will be billed to your insurance, or require payment for non-contracted insurance plans.

    Your medical visits will be billed to your health insurance and may require referrals or co-payments depending on the terms of your plan.

    How would the optional exercise component of the program work?
     Your program fee includes two visits with a physical trainer at The Clubs at Charles River Park. You should schedule these at a time that is mutually convenient for you and the trainer. The trainer will contact you directly.

    Address and contact information:

    10 Whittier Place
    Boston, MA 02114
    (617) 726-2900

    When are the group meetings?
    • Mondays: 5:30–7:00 pm in Boston
    • Wednesdays: 7:30–9:00 am in Boston (on hold)
    • Wednesdays 7:30–9:00 am in Danvers
    What is the schedule for enrollment?
     We welcome members to the Healthy Habits for Life program on a rolling basis. There is no "start" or "end" to the program, so you can enter as soon as there is an opening available.