DURHAM, NC--(Marketwire -03/06/12)- Wellspring at Structure House, a residential program for weight loss and lifestyle change, has announced the hiring of Thomas Britton, DrPH (ABD), MA, LPC, LCAS, CCS, ACS, as Executive Director. Britton's first day was February 21, 2012.

"We are very pleased to welcome Thomas to the Wellspring at Structure House team," said Candance Henderson-Grice, MS, President of the Weight Management and Eating Disorder Division for Wellspring at Structure House's parent company, CRC Health Group. "Thomas' extensive work experience will be of great benefit as he leads Wellspring at Structure House into a new era."

Britton's involvement in the behavioral health field spans more than 20 years. Most recently, he was Western Regional Director for a comprehensive provider of substance abuse and dual diagnosis treatment for adults and adolescents in North Carolina. In this role, Britton managed the daily clinical and administrative operations for the multi-site facility, and was instrumental in the achievement of accreditation from the Commission of Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). Prior to this, Britton served as the director of a 42-day residential substance abuse unit providing counseling services to adults and adolescents experiencing addiction and mental health issues. Britton also spent five years as a therapist, and has held positions as program director, teaching parent and peer educator. Throughout his professional career, he has held the belief that "all people hold the innate potential to improve their life and the lives of those around them."

As Executive Director, Britton will be responsible for the overall direction and management of Wellspring at Structure House, a comprehensive weight management program that has recently undergone a merging of two like-minded, world-renowned and scientifically-based weight loss solutions, Wellspring and Structure House. This new Wellspring at Structure House program approaches the mind, body and spirit by reinforcing cognitive therapeutic solutions to weight loss issues. Updated options include culinary experiences with professional chefs, more than 50 exercise classes, spa treatments and clinical therapies to help clients master the proven steps for living a healthy lifestyle with sustainable results that do not end when they return home. The program can be booked for a week at a time -- "weight-loss vacations" -- but program clinicians do suggest a minimum of a four-week stay for optimal results.

When asked what attracted him to Wellspring at Structure House, Britton remarked, "Wellspring at Structure House has a long history of teaching participants new skills and helping to identify what perpetuates the behaviors driving obesity. True change requires a deep exploration and resolution of old patterns of thinking and behavior. Insight, however, is not enough alone to create change. One needs to learn the skills and information necessary to act on the insights learned through therapeutic activities. I am excited to apply my experience as a leader and clinician to the ongoing evolution of clinical excellence at Structure House."

Britton is near completion of his PhD (awaiting board decision) in Public Health and Executive Management from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Gillings School of Public Health, and earned his MA in Community Counseling (double masters in Addictions and Marriage and Family Therapy) from Appalachian State University, and a BA in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Connecticut. He has taught extensive interdisciplinary training on a variety of topics through continuing education classes throughout the country, and maintains several licensures and certifications, including Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist, Clinically Certified Supervisor (Addictions), and Approved Clinical Supervisor (Mental Health). Britton is a 2009 North Carolina Substance Abuse Delegate and received the 2009 Curtis Glenn Southard Award in Community Mental Health Scholarship. In 2008, he was chosen to take part in the Governor's Institute in Mental Health Leadership. Britton is a Board Member and Treasurer of the Mountain Counsel on Drug and Alcohol Dependence, and was one of its founders. He is an accomplished public speaker and author with several professional publications and presentations.

"As Executive Director of Wellspring at Structure House, I am most excited by our potential to expand our services to support more individuals struggling with weight management," said Britton. "I am excited to be a part of a new beginning at Structure House that capitalizes on the success of our past and the potential of our future. Very few individuals are provided with an opportunity to be a part of such an incredible program and I consider myself extremely fortunate."

About Wellspring at Structure HouseWellspring at Structure House, an internationally recognized residential weight loss center in Durham, N.C., offers a unique, behavioral approach to weight loss and healthy lifestyle change. The program, recognized by Health magazine as "America's Healthiest Diet," integrates principles of nutrition and exercise with psychology in a treatment approach designed to transform the eating habits and lifestyles of overweight individuals. Since 1977, Structure House has helped more than 30,000 people from all 50 states and 35 nations battling obesity. The name Structure House underscores the critical role structure plays in achieving long-term weight loss.

Gerard J. Musante, PhD, one of the nation's leading experts on obesity and weight loss, is the founder and director of Wellspring at Structure House. A renowned clinical psychologist, Dr. Musante was the first person to adapt the principles of behavior modification to the eating habits of significantly overweight people and food abusers. Dr. Musante is the author of The Structure House Weight Loss Plan. For more information, visit http://structurehouse.crchealth.com.

About CRC Health GroupWellspring at Structure House is a member of CRC Health Group, the most comprehensive network of specialized behavioral care services in the nation. CRC Health Group offers the largest array of personalized treatment options, allowing individuals, families, and professionals to choose the most appropriate treatment setting for their behavioral, addiction, weight management and therapeutic education needs. CRC is committed to making its services widely and easily available, while maintaining a passion for delivering advanced treatment. Since 1995, CRC programs have helped individuals and families reclaim and enrich their lives.

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Wellspring at Structure House Announces New Executive Director, Thomas Britton

More than 1,000 obese Manitobans are waiting to see if the provincial government will approve a weight-loss surgery program that could save their lives.

A total of 110 patients, all women, have undergone bariatric surgery as part of pilot program Manitoba Health has funded since late 2010.

But the program's future is uncertain, as the province is in the process of reviewing it.

Dr. Chris Andrew, who heads up the pilot program unit, said he believes that bariatric surgeries must become more accessible.

"In the private system, the bottom line is that a lot of people couldn't do that simply for financial reasons," he told CBC News.

"We're doing the surgery as a treatment for patients, not just to lose weight and look better, but to help with conditions associated with obesity like diabetes [and] hypertension."

Private clinics offered weight-loss procedures in the beginning, but the costs were out of reach for many people, he said.

The Manitoba Health pilot program offered two types of bariatric procedures:

Gastric bypass surgery, which reduces the size of one's stomach and changes how the stomach and small intestine handle food.

Vertical sleeve gastrectomy, in which the stomach alone is reduced in size.

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Manitoba weight-loss surgery program's future uncertain

Drops Despite Higher Revenues

The weight-loss company reported a fourth-quarter loss of $0.04 EPS, twice as bad as analysts had feared. Guidance was also weak despite revenue beating expectations. That's hitting NTRI hard, sending the stock down nearly 12 percent before the bell on my tradeMONSTER's extended-hours platform.

Monster Worldwide Hires Advisers

The online employment service announced that it has retained Stone Key Partners and Bank of America / Merrill Lynch as financial advisers in a review of strategic alternatives. It had previously announced the plan last Thursday. MWW is up about 7.5 percent in the pre-market as traders seem to approve of the initiative.

PAA Down on New Public Offering

Plains All American Pipeline is striking while the iron is hot, tapping the equity market for capital after a big run earlier this year. The oil and natural-gas distributor plans sell 5 million units and will use proceeds to fund the acquisition of BP Canada Energy and to pay down debt. PAA is down more than 3 percent this morning.

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NutriSystem plunges on loss, outlook

Something to chew on: most of the 1000-plus weight loss products on the market are scams, leading health experts warn. Source: Supplied

DODGY diet clinics are using aggressive tactics and bizarre advice to heavy customers into signing up, according to claims by consumer watchdog Choice.

Some operators in the ballooning $792 million industry seem so desperate to fatten profits they risk compromising people's health, according to medical experts.

Choice's team of three shopping sleuths each visited four Sydney sites and reported back on consultants from Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig and two other companies to test the claims.

Have you been duped by a diet scam? Tell us below

General practitioner Sam Hay blasted one clinic, which sold a rapid fat-loss program and told a woman "not to bother with exercise" and used the term "obesity syndrome", as bordering on "irresponsible".

Another clinic gave advice that alarmed Dr Hay, and in one case may have misdiagnosed thyroid and adrenal problems.

A Weight Watchers Lifestyle centre's "hard sell" allegedly failed to check medication or medical problems and lacked exercise emphasis.

However, Jenny Craig fared well in addressing health concerns and clearly outlining costs.

"While our experts didn't agree with all the advice given by Jenny Craig, they were impressed by the clarity of information, the care taken to find out the person's medical history and the absence of aggressive sales tactics," Choice spokeswoman Ingrid Just said.

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Choice condemns expanding diet industry

Wouldnt it be great to have a personal nutrition assistant? An expert who stocked the fridge regularly with appetizing plates of fruit for snacks and vegetables ready to be tossed into meals? Shed keep the kitchen tidy and have at hand the best tools for making quick work of meal preparation.

With this kind of help, it would be so much simpler to focus on healthy eating.

But lets re-enter the real world. Since the vast majority of us dont have access to kitchen staff, if were seriously committed to weight loss or maintaining a healthy weight we have to be our own kitchen assistant. For permanent success, its an absolute requirement to get the area in order. So roll up your sleeves and refresh your own kitchen.

Put particular emphasis on five areas:

1. The fridge. This is vitally important. To ensure fresh vegetables and fruit comprise half the plate in most meals and snacks, they have to be easily accessible. Clean your fridge. Get rid of items you wont eat. Then start shopping for fresh produce at least twice each week. Put it away in an organized fashion. Keep a crisper of washed and cut up carrots and celery. Stock at least three additional vegetables and three kinds of fruit for use each week. Keep a shopping list handy to add items as you start to run low.

2. Canned goods. There are several canned goods worth having on hand for use in healthy recipes. Particularly good choices are salmon, tuna and sardines, canned tomatoes, chickpeas, black beans, lentils and other legumes, and canned fruit packed in its own juice. There are also poor choices: clear out anything thats of low quality and unworthy of your improved eating habits, including salty canned pastas and soups.

3. Grain products. Take time to sort through your pasta, rice, bread, cereals and crackers. Ensure most are whole grain and supply at least two grams of fibre per serving. For cereal, check that the sugar is below eight grams per serving and fat is less than two grams. If crackers, cookies and chips are too easily relied on for snacks, stop buying them. These foods often supply excess sodium, and the more salt you eat, the more you want. Replace these snacks with more nutritious ones like novel tropical fruits, fresh vegetables with a tasty low-fat dip, toasted almonds or pecans.

4. The freezer. Whether its massive or just the one in your fridge, the freezer is a vital tool in a healthy eating plan. Keep frozen blueberries, peaches and other fruit for adding to smoothies and healthy desserts, a variety of whole grain bread products such as sliced bread, English muffins or tortillas, lean meats like chicken and fish, and a selection of frozen vegetables with no added sauces. If you havent discovered Brussels sprouts, theyre one of the best frozen veggie options.

5. The tools. Its tough to eat the requisite quantity of vegetables and fruit if your preparation equipment is lousy. Invest in a new, rustproof vegetable peeler, a clean cutting board and a sharp paring knife or two. A decent non-stick pan, a couple of saucepans and roasting pans are also required tools for healthy eating. Parchment paper is worth using for simple clean up after roasting. Storage supplies are other key tools. Items like plastic containers with lids and plastic or foil wrap make it easy to store leftovers or pack along to fuel a busy day.

- Patricia Chuey, author, speaker and nutrition consultant can be reached through patriciachuey.com. Find her on Twitter @patriciachuey

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Kitchen refresh crucial for weight loss success

With an investment of millions of dollars, MDPrevent, led by Steven Charlap, MD, MBA, custom develops and launches an innovative approach to lifestyle modification and weight loss. The LEAN (Lifestyle Education And Nutrition) Weight Loss Program, using a team of medical and educational professionals, combines private consultations with group sessions to achieve sustainable lifestyle modification and weight loss results. For eligible seniors, Medicare covers the entire cost of the program.

Delray Beach, FL (PRWEB) March 06, 2012

Working within Medicares guidelines for IBTO, in 2012, MDPrevent, a preventive medicine, primary care, and education center launched its custom-developed and innovative LEAN (Lifestyle Education And Nutrition) Weight Loss Program. The LEAN program does not include pills, injections, or surgery. It is a medically supervised lifestyle modification program that includes private consultations with primary care practitioners combined with group sessions with dietitians, psychologists, fitness and yoga instructors, and health educators. The program aims for slow, but steady and sustainable weight loss. Most importantly, it focuses on healthy living and improved well-being. Participating patients are already losing weight in a sustainable manner by changing their relationships with food, their patterns of physical activity, their handling of stress, and how they sleep. The best part of the program is that it is free to eligible seniors. MDPrevent knows of no other program, locally or nationally, offering such a comprehensive weight loss program subject to Medicares new guidelines.

MDPrevent is led by Steven Charlap, a pioneering physician with an MD from NYU Medical School, an MBA from Harvard, and surgical residency training. In 1989, he founded HealthDrive and then grew it to be the largest U.S. medical and dental practice serving the extended care industry. Over twenty years, HealthDrive cared for over 5 million seniors and Dr. Charlap witnessed first-hand what happens to people who dont take adequate care of their health, end up being institutionalized and dependent on the kindness of strangers. According to Dr. Charlap, It is really sad to see people end their lives in a nursing home. What was disappointing was coming to the realization that there may be very little one could do about improving health and longevity at that stage in a persons life. Even more frustrating was that I couldnt even try because Medicare and Medicaid basically shunned preventive services. Dr. Charlap sold HealthDrive and essentially retired in 2008.

In 2010, Dr. Charlap became euphoric when he discovered that in 2011, Medicare was ready to invest in prevention, finally recognizing that a focus on primary prevention was necessary to save the Medicare Trust Fund, which was already beginning to absorb the tens of millions of baby boomers joining Medicares rolls. In response, Dr. Charlap and Michael Rose, a close friend, invested millions of dollars into MDPrevent, an innovative preventive medicine, primary care, and education center to provide these critical preventive services and change the course of the next generations lives by focusing on longevity. Dr. Charlap states, The scientific evidence supports that the longer you live, the healthier youve been. After much research and consultations with the experts in the field of prevention, Dr. Charlap assembled a dream team of Preventioneers including doctors, nurse practitioners, psychologists, nutritionists, fitness experts, and health educators.

The Preventioneerss first goal was to develop a new lifestyle modification program to tackle chronic disease prevention. Starting in 2010, they began studying many of the existing clinical and commercial models and theories of lifestyle modification and weight loss. In 2012, the first product of those efforts, LEAN Weight Loss, was implemented. The most important aspect of LEAN is that it focuses on healthy living and improved well-being.

Since Medicare initiated coverage for IBTO, MDPrevent has enrolled about 70 patients in its LEAN program and initial weight loss results are very promising. According to Dr. Charlap, I see the smiles on peoples faces when they complete a class for the day. They feel empowered and for the first time in a long time, in control of their health and their weight. I think we are really on to something that can change the future of healthcare.

About MDPrevent

MDPrevent is a new concept in primary care that seamlessly integrates primary care, preventive medicine, and education. The healthcare practice helps Americans prevent problems before they happen, reduce healthcare costs, stay healthy, and enjoy a life well lived through free Annual Wellness Visits (paid 100% by Medicare and most major insurances) The Annual Wellness Visit includes a comprehensive health risk assessment, biometric measurements, review and analysis of prescription, supplement and vitamin use, and development of a five- to 10-year prevention plan.

MDPrevents Preventioneers, so called because they are pioneering new approaches to prevention, include MDs, nurse practitioners, health psychologists, registered dietitians and nutritionists, exercise physiologists, fitness and yoga instructors and health educators, in addition to private consultations also provide interactive group courses, medically supervised weight loss (with no pills, injections or surgery - paid 100% by most insurances if you qualify) and other classes on health, diet and nutrition, fitness and exercise, stress management, relationship and social network building, and other key elements of a healthy life. The goal: to improve life and smooth out the effects of aging by identifying, preventing, delaying or mitigating the development of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, dementia and some forms of cancer. Learn more at http://www.MDPrevent.net.

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MDPrevent Launches First Weight Loss Program for Seniors, Paid for by Medicare, to Rave Reviews