Obesity Behavioral Medicine Program

Director:  Janelle W. Coughlin, Ph.D.

The Obesity Behavioral Medicine Program offers psychiatric and behavioral services to overweight and obese individuals, 18 years and older.  Weight management services offered through this program include comprehensive evaluation and consultation, individual and group treatment, and maintenance intervention (e.g., relapse prevention).  

Obesity Behavioral Medicine Program

Clinic: 4th Floor, 5300 Alpha Commons Drive, Baltimore MD 21224

DIRECTIONS to the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center

Phone: 410-550-6337; Fax: 410-550-5992

SERVICES PROVIDED

Evaluation and Treatment

The Obesity Behavioral Medicine Program provides evaluation and behaviorally-based treatment of overweight and obese patients. Overweight is typically defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 29.9, and obesity as a BMI of 30 or over. (To calculate your BMI)

Our behavioral self-management approach to weight management includes assessment of disordered eating behaviors (e.g., binge eating, emotional/compulsive eating), individual and group-based cognitive-behavioral treatment of disordered eating behaviors, and psychosocial intervention. Behavioral weight management also includes an emphasis on maintenance of healthy behaviors once weight loss is achieved.

One of the specialty areas of this program is the pre- and postsurgical psychiatric management of bariatric surgery patients. Our staff works closely with the Johns Hopkins Center for Bariatric Surgery , a Center of Excellence in Bariatric Surgery. Patients planning to undergo bariatric surgery are required to undergo psychiatric evaluation, and the Obesity Behavioral Medicine Program has developed a specialized program to meet the needs of surgical patients.

After initial evaluation, patients in need of further psychiatric services can be referred to one of our program’s psychiatrists, Dr. H. Benjamin Lee, who works with a number of highly qualified and specialized obesity behavioral therapists in our community psychiatry program, including Maura Murphy and Jill Varelli. 

Group Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention

The Obesity Behavioral Medicine Program offers group-based treatment for binge eating and other eating behaviors (e.g., emotional and compulsive eating) related to overweight and obesity. These groups typically occur over 6 to 8 weeks and are closed (i.e., have a start and stop date and are for screened patients only).

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CLINIC STAFF

The Obesity Behavioral Medicine Program is staffed by an interdisciplinary team composed of a psychologist, two psychiatrists, two social workers, and graduate trainees.  The team works closely with the Community Psychiatry Program at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical.  

Director:  Janelle W. Coughlin, Ph.D., Psychologist

Staff Psychiatrists:    Hochang Benjamin Lee, M.D.

Shauna Reinblatt, M.D.

Staff Behavioral Therapists:  Maura Murphy and Jill Varelli

COST OF VISITS

Information about insurance coverage, referrals, and co-payments can be obtained by contacting 410-550-6337.