On Wednesday, the Milwaukee Bucks opened a new clinic in Schlitz Park where patients can receive free, personalized obesity management treatment, along with customized fitness and nutrition regimens.
Designed to prevent and treat obesity within underserved populations in Milwaukee, the Bucks Health and Wellness medical program kicked off one year ago under the formation of Bucks co-owner Wes Edens; Dr. Elizabeth Sharp, Edens’ wife; and the Milwaukee Bucks Foundation.
The program’s new 4,000-square-foot clinic features five private patient rooms, two labs and dedicated spaces for physician and dietitian consultations. The clinic is located on the fourth floor of the Stockhouse building at 1543 N. Second St., which also houses the Bucks’ offices.
“The Bucks organization continues to prove that our mission goes way beyond basketball,” said Peter Feigin, the Bucks and Fiserv Forum president, at the clinic’s unveiling. “This moment marks a new chapter for the Milwaukee Bucks Foundation. We’ve entered into an exciting phase of strategic philanthropy focused on long-term investment and impact.”
Patients are evaluated with a state-of-the-art body composition analyzer to have their fat mass, muscle mass and body water measured, a process that takes about 45 seconds. Participants also have access to a mobile app that offers personalized meal and exercise programs, as well as yoga and meditation videos.
“In underserved neighborhoods of Milwaukee, obesity affects about 52% of residents, which is more than double the prevalence in more affluent nearby communities,” Sharp said. “We launched this innovative and personalized program to deliver holistic, compassionate obesity care.”
A first-of-its-kind program in the NBA, Bucks Health and Wellness combines three pillars of health – personalized medical care, exercise and nutrition – and has been designed with expert advisors and the Bucks’ performance and sports nutrition departments.
“It’s been an incredible year of growth and transformation. This is about sustainable health and empowerment,” Sharp said. “We focus on obesity as the root cause of chronic disease. By addressing it head on, we aim to reduce risk of chronic disease and improve lives across Milwaukee’s underserved communities. … We’re aligned on a single mission to help people not just lose weight but to keep it off.”
To date, the program has served more than 850 patients across 43 zip codes. On average, patients have lost 22.4 pounds of weight in the first six months and 37.8 pounds in the first year, while cutting average muscle mass lost in half when taking GLP-1 medications, according to the program officials.
Patients with high blood pressure experienced an average decrease of 10.63 mmHg in systolic blood pressure in six months and a 6.18 mmHg decrease in diastolic blood pressure. Of those who entered the program with prediabetes, 96% have reduced their A1C levels after six months while 81% of patients with high cholesterol saw a reduction in their levels after six months.
“Wes and Elizabeth’s significant investment in Bucks Health and Wellness reflects their commitment to provide accessible, high-quality care to underserved communities in Milwaukee,” Feigin said. “We’re extremely proud of the program’s results and the impact it will make for years to come.”
Lifelong Milwaukee resident Susan Stoner is among those participating in the program. “My life has forever been changed in so many ways,” Stoner said, fighting back tears. “I have met all my goals. I’m off my blood pressure medication, I’ve lowered my cholesterol by more than 30 points and I’ve lost nearly 40 pounds.”
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said “there’s a lot to applaud” when it comes to the program. “Positive results are improving the lives of individuals who participate in the program, and, as a community, Milwaukee is getting healthier overall,” he said. “The Milwaukee Bucks have demonstrated the organization is far more than an accomplished professional basketball team. The Bucks are a true partner.”
To qualify for the program, patients must live in an underserved community of Milwaukee and have a BMI of 30 or higher. The program requires a 12-month commitment and dedication to program interventions. Attendance at the initial weigh-in and all follow-up sessions with providers is required. Eligible patients must be between the ages of 18-64, be non-diabetic and meet specific income thresholds.
For more information about the program, you can visit buckshealthandwellness.com.
