AS LONGTIME EMERGENCY MEDICINE DOCTORS AT JEFFERSON HOSPITAL WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, Andrew Caravello and Russell Mordecai embrace the challenge of handling life-or-death emergencies on a daily basis.
Now, with their latest venture in medicine, they have the ability to prevent those situations from ever happening in the first place.
Drs. Caravello and Mordecai recently opened the first South Jersey location of a national franchise called Medi-Weightloss, a program developed by physicians and dieticians to help patients adopt a healthy lifestyle.
“Working in the ER full time, we see many people coming in with strokes and heart attacks,” Dr. Mordecai says. “A lot of common health problems are connected to preventable diseases like hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia, which are mostly driven by obesity. So we researched weight loss medicine avenues and came across Medi-Weightloss, and we were sold right away. We have full-time jobs in the ER that we love, but if we can help someone prevent a heart attack or stroke, it’s a win-win for everybody.”
While there are many fad diets or weight loss programs on the market, what sets Medi-Weightloss apart are its holistic approach and physician supervision. Patients’ weekly visits include complete medical exams, a plan tailored to their specific needs and counseling on everything from exercise and sleeping habits to what foods to buy at the grocery store.
Drs. Caravello and Mordecai were also drawn to the opportunity to lead the practice together. They are both graduates of Rutgers University and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, are board-certified in emergency medicine and internal medicine and serve as assistant clinical professors at Rowan School of Medicine.
“We have a philosophy on life that aligns and we make a great team,” Dr. Caravello says. “We’ve gotten positive results for patients so far and we’re excited to move forward.”
5 Ways That Medi-Weightloss gets Patients on the Right Track
1. Medi-Weightloss Diet
When patients first start on the MediWeightloss plan, they are prescribed a personalized diet based on their individual metabolic needs. Patients who follow the program can expect to lose up to 20 pounds in the first month on the diet. Once down to their goal weight, patients are transitioned to a diet plan they can now understand and sustain over the long run. “Some popular diets are not particularly safe if you’re prone to elevated cholesterol, for example,” Dr. Caravello says. “Our diet is different because it’s medically supervised. We take the whole patient into consideration. We look at their medical history and coordinate with primary physicians and specialists when necessary. We perform routine medical testing at the initial consultation before starting the diet and then we actually track these metrics to make sure you’re getting healthier.”
2. Exercise
In addition to eating the right way, exercise is another vital piece of a healthier lifestyle. “As long as the person is healthy enough for exercise, we will introduce that during the second or third week of the program,” Dr. Mordecai says. “Some people like riding a bike, some people like walking and some like doing circuit training at the gym. We try to tap into their interests and customize the program around what works for them.”
3. Sleeping Habits
Another important aspect is getting enough sleep. Drs. Caravello and Mordecai share important tips such as taking a hot shower before bed, avoiding a large meal at night, sleeping in cooler temperatures and not overusing melatonin.
4. Longevity
The beauty of Medi-Weightloss is that it’s not just a quick way to shed some pounds. It’s meant to help patients change their habits and gives them the tools to live a healthy lifestyle even after they leave the program. The goal is to maximize each person’s potential to live a long, healthy life.
5. Mindfulness
Dr. Caravello has long researched the keys to maximizing the body’s full potential, which is why it was important for him to implement an approach to mindfulness in the practice. Making time for breathing exercises and meditation practice is important for healthy living. “If you practice mindfulness, you’re less likely to succumb to craving and eat foods that are harmful to you,” he says.
Medi-Weightloss of Cherry Hill
1401 Route 70 E., Suite 14 | Cherry Hill
(856) 804-1615
MediWeightloss.com/locations/cherry-hill
Photography by Alison Dunlap
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Family Magazine, Volume 10, Issue 10.
For more info on Suburban Family Magazine, click here.
For information about advertising in Suburban Family Magazine, click here.
To find out where to pick up your copy of Suburban Family Magazine, click here.
