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Resources For Living(R) and MSO Medical Announce Comprehensive Non-Interventional Weight Loss Program and Behavioral Counseling Combined With Surgical Intervention

Posted on: Tuesday, 26 July 2005, 09:00 CDT

AUSTIN, July 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Of the estimated 50 million Americans who are clinically obese, a record 190,000 patients underwent bariatric surgery in 2004 -- more than double the number that opted for the procedure two years earlier. Gastric bypass surgery may represent the best -- and perhaps only -- option to a growing segment of the population grappling with clinically severe obesity. However, there is also a significant need to change diet and exercise behavior through a non-interventional weight loss program.

Resources For Living(R) (RFL) and MSO Medical, Inc. (MSO) today announce their design of an enhanced, medically supervised weight-loss (W-L) program that combines the screening techniques, nutritional knowledge, and medical diagnosis of MSO with the behavioral counseling expertise of RFL through its licensed psychotherapists. MSO possesses outcomes data on 7,000 of its patients, which contains nutritional and weight-loss characteristics related to diet and healthy living habits. RFL possesses three years of outcomes data on its clinically supervised weight loss program. Severely obese participants have experienced an average 6.9 percent loss of total weight within 180 days with the non-interventional W-L program. By combining the strengths of both companies, the obese patient gains access to a comprehensive weight loss program that includes surgical and non-surgical options and behavior modification to maintain a healthy weight.

While gastric bypass surgery is gaining acceptance, some health insurance companies may also require individuals to participate in a weight loss program and/or receive behavioral health counseling before approving the procedure. The RFL and MSO joint program is designed to assist these surgical patients with medical supervision and behavioral coaching necessary to meet documentation requirements of their insurance company.

"This partnership recognizes obesity as a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted psychological and medical approach to achieve the desired long- term results. RFL's outcomes-based, personalized counseling model ensures each participant receives the care that will provide the best solution -- whether it is through a weight loss program, surgical intervention, or combination," says Mary Beth Chalk, Chief Operating Office of RFL. "We are pleased to partner with MSO to provide a trusted non-interventional weight-loss program to MSO patients. The combination of surgery and weight-loss treatment provides the necessary support to help individuals conquer obesity and maintain a healthy lifestyle."

Under the partnership, MSO refers its patients who do not immediately qualify for gastric bypass surgery to participate in a clinically or medically supervised weight loss program delivered by RFL. MSO screens patients for appropriateness for surgery or the non-interventional weight loss program. Once the patient is medically cleared, MSO transfers the patient to RFL for direct counseling and entry into the W-L program created by both companies. The patient transfer to RFL is seamless and electronic. Masters'-level RFL health coaches conduct additional health and nutrition assessments, as well as screening to identify the individual's readiness for change, locus of control, and emotional well being. In addition, RFL tracks and reports individual progress with its proprietary SIGNAL(SM) technology (Statistical Indicators of Growth, Navigation, Alignment and Learning), an online "treatment relationship management" system that facilitates ongoing assessments of the appropriateness and effectiveness of the services delivered. Outcomes analysis is already conducted by MSO for its surgery patients, and now the same outcomes analysis is available for MSO W-L program participants.

The weight loss program -- under the direct day-to-day supervision of RFL's health coaches and the overall patient management of MSO -- includes individualized telephone and online coaching sessions, self-directed online weight loss support, Web-based educational resources, online self-directed components, a personalized journal, and interactive goal-setting software.

MSO's bariatric programs are nationally recognized for their unparalleled clinical outcomes. The company, which contracts with acute care hospitals to establish Bariatric Surgery Centers of Excellence under the brand name CORI (Centers for Obesity Related Illness), is the only management services organization offering the patented Sapala-Wood Micropouch(R) procedure, an operation in which the stomach is reduced to the size of a grape. Since 1994, over 5,000 patients have undergone the Sapala-Wood Micropouch(R) procedure with outstanding results. To date, no Micropouch patient has required a second procedure due to pouch stretching. Most important, more than 90 percent of CORI patients lose 75 percent of their excess weight within two years of surgery. This result equals or surpasses the weight reduction achieved in other gastric bypass procedures.

"The MSO and RFL partnership enables MSO to offer the obese population a non-interventional weight loss program," says Al Henry, CEO of MSO Medical. "This program will also be available to our weight loss surgery patients. We believe this high level of aftercare support will ensure long-term compliance and success. MSO now offers total Obesity Disease Management services to all its patients. Those patients are employees of corporations, members of unions and health insurance plans, and public patient populations."

About Resources For Living(R)

Resources For Living(R) is a behavioral wellness organization dedicated to helping individuals measurably transform their lives and, as a result, transform the environments in which they work and live. This occurs through innovative live telephonic and online coaching and interactive Web-based content solutions. Programs include tobacco, weight, stress, and substance abuse behavior modification; depression and obesity disease management; and integrated EAP and work/life. For further information, contact Mary Beth Chalk, Chief Operating Officer at chalkm@rfl.com or visit http://www.rfl.com/ .

About MSO Medical, Inc. & CORI

MSO Medical is an Obesity Disease Management company with corporate, union, health insurance plan, and hospital clients. MSO surgery functions are conducted through its seven CORI (Centers for Obesity Related Illnesses) Centers in New York City, Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, Detroit, and the Chicago area. MSO Medical contracts with acute care hospitals to establish Bariatric Surgery Centers of Excellence under the brand name CORI, while contracting with corporations, unions, and health insurance plans for Obesity Disease Management for employees, members, and the general public. MSO Medical has been awarded the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) Disease-Specific Care Certification for Bariatric Surgery. MSO corporate offices are in Bannockburn, IL (Chicago suburb). MSO is a public company trading on the over the counter market with the symbol MSOD.OB. For more information, call Tom Mason, Chief Financial Officer, at 847-267-0801 or visit http://www.weightlosssurgery.com/ .

Resources For Living

CONTACT: Michele Rubin, Public Relations, BackBone, Inc.,+1-860-887-5589, or micheler@backboneinc.com; Mary Beth Chalk, Chief OperatingOfficer, Resources For Living, +1-800-561-2259, or chalkm@rfl.com; WellentinaGreer, Vice President of Marketing, +1-866-897-7782, or wgreer@msomedical.com,or Tom Mason, Chief Financial Officer, +1-866-897-7782, ortmason@msomedical.com, both of MSO Medical, Inc.

Web site: http://www.backboneinc.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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