The Nashville Solution-FAQs

The Nashville Solution is a unique, multidisciplinary, weight loss and maintenance program created by Dr. Andrea Hayes. Dr. Hayes has been keenly interested in the fields of nutrition, exercise physiology and metabolism for all the years of her medical training and practice. Realizing that obesity in our country has reached epidemic proportions and directly relates to many of the diseases that she treats daily, she felt the need to develop an answer. In response to multiple pleas from her patients in her medical practice, Hayes Endocrine and Diabetes Center , requesting a weight loss remedy, she finally gives them The Nashville Solution.

Dr. Hayes realizes that obesity is THE MOST COMMON malady that affects her patients. It is now the leading cause of preventable death in our country. She has long seen obesity as the underlying problem in many of her patients plagued by multiple chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and many more. She believes that if this one problem can be treated and controlled, that multiple other conditions can be improved or controlled as well. Her passion is to treat this chronic and potentially debilitating medical condition.

Obesity is a serious health problem. The health risks of obesity include heart disease, diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure and arthritis. Other health problems related to obesity include: infertility, PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), gallbladder disease, high cholesterol and depression. It is the combination of our genetic background and our environment factors (poor dietary habits and a sedentary lifestyle), which leads to obesity. Obesity is reported to be the second leading killer of Americans - only cigarette smoking claims more lives each year. Sadly, in many individuals, obesity also influences quality of life through negative influences on social and emotional health. A lifestyle approach to weight management can lower your risk and improve your health and well being.

Our program focuses on sound nutrition, physical activity and behavior modification. We stress accountability, attendance, record keeping and education. We teach our patients empowerment so that, step by step, they will become the individuals that they wish to be. We teach appropriate goal setting so that realistic short and long term goals can be accomplished. We focus not only on the "number on the scale" but more importantly on a concept that Dr. Hayes defines as "metabolic wellness."

"Metabolic wellness" refers to improvements in such parameters as blood pressure, blood glucose, insulin levels, lipid levels and overall cardiovascular fitness. By decreasing total body fat mass, miraculous changes occur in the human body including lowering of insulin levels, blood pressure and overall risk of death from cardiovascular disease and any cause. Small changes in body weight and lifestyle can add up to large decreases in metabolic risk – therefore, every step in the right direction counts!

Anyone who would like to improve both the quality and quantity of his/her life through weight reduction and maintenance is a candidate. Even if you have tried "every diet in the book", its not too late. Yes, losing weight is difficult; it's true. But it is not impossible. Remember that obesity is a chronic disease that must be controlled but at this point, cannot be cured . If you understand that permanent weight control requires permanent lifestyle changes, then you have made a major step in understanding what is necessary for your success.

This is a very important question. Timing is everything. Studies show that some patients who have experienced a life changing event (such as a major health problem or death of a loved one) are sometimes more successful at weight management. For optimal success, you must be at a point in your life that you can place some focus on your health and make an emotional and physical commitment. You must be READY. We can help you decide if now is the time or if a better time might be more appropriate.

The team of The Nashville Solution shares a common philosophy and a very positive, scientific approach with regards to weight control. Common goals of all team members include: assuring the welfare, satisfaction and health of each individual patient, confirming appropriate goal setting, and attendance and completion of a particular program. Our team's success lies in the success of our patients. We highly value the honor of being allowed the opportunity to make dramatic differences in the well being of our patients.