By Chelsea Vance | The Selma Times-Journal

Taylor Internal Medicine of Selma is now offering a medical weight loss program for anyone ages 8 and older.

Dr. Bruce Taylor said he has been trying to figure out an efficient way to help residents of Selma and other Black Belt towns since he first opened his practice in 2003.

“The medical weight loss program includes lifestyle edification like nutrient counseling and recommendations about how much daily intake should be,” Taylor said. “Exercise recommendations, prescription medication that helps with weight loss and natural mineral and vitamin supplements are also available.”

Those who join the weight loss program have options to check in on progress once a week, twice a week or once a month. Everyone who enrolls will be assigned a personal weight loss adviser to help throughout the journey.

The program has only existed three weeks. Some people who have enrolled in the program have been residents of Selma, but others from different cities travel and keep up with planned meetings and interviews with their advisers.

“We noticed there was a demand from our patient base. Quite a few of them were overweight, and we know medically, the biggest problem we want to try to address is the risk factors that come with it,” Taylor said.

He has seen many diseases that stem from obesity. He has a goal to start right here in Selma and work to reduce weight influenced health problems.

“Heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, arthritis, especially knee and back pain are all worsened by being overweight,” Taylor said,

He has done research on many other medical weight loss programs before implementing the Taylor Weight Loss and Nutrition Center as an addition to his medical practice.

Taylor said he understands that people of Selma are affected by living in an economically depressed area and wanted to make sure that the fee for the program would be affordable.

It is $100 to join the program, which includes an initial visit with Taylor where they learn information about, exercise and nutrition schedules.

Those interested in the program can call (334) 874-8800 to find out more information or they could visit Taylor Internal Medicine of Selma at 4258 Highway 80 West.

Office hours for the weight loss and nutrition patients are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to noon.

Taylor said those who aren’t sure if they want to join the program are welcomed to come have a free consultation to learn more information.

“We want people to be able to lose weight, decrease the chances of developing heart disease and if they already have high blood pressure, diabetes and arthritis, we want to try to infuse their disease state,” Taylor said.