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Medically Supervised Weight
Loss Program
Offered by Randy A. Birken, MD
The medical and
psychological dangers of being overweight are well
known to most Americans. Diet and exercise, the
cornerstone of a weight loss regimen, sometimes
results in a “plateau” effect on one’s weight.
Today, there are several “natural” and
prescription medications that can facilitate weight
loss in conjunction to proper diet and exercise.
While Phen-fen created medical concerns, drugs that
are FDA approved and safe permit an individual to see
continuous results in their weight loss program and
provide a motivation to maintain their new and healthy
habits.
Sometimes, these medications can “jump
start” a person into the proper frame of mind,
enabling them to loose weight effectively and safely.
In addition, seeing a physician on a one on one
monthly basis promotes discipline and provides a
strong structure for accountability.
We provide comprehensive, individualized
weight loss management program, taking in
consideration your genetic, psychological, physical,
medical, social and environmental history, in order to
develop the best weight loss plan. We also provide
follow-up and maintenance.
If you are interested in participating in this
program, please call our office for further details at
281-893-1246.
Check
out the “alternative” weight loss items through
Unicity Network by double-clicking the Vitamins and
Herbals link on our home page. Even a weight
reduction of 10% can significantly reduce an
individual's health risk.
Almost
any of the commercial weight-loss programs can work,
but only if they motivate you sufficiently to decrease
the amount of calories you eat or increase the amount
of calories you burn each day (or both). What elements
of a weight-loss program should an intelligent
consumer look for in judging its potential for safe
and successful weight loss?
A
responsible and safe weight-loss program should be
able to document for you the following features:
The
diet should be safe. It should include all of the
Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs) for vitamins,
minerals, and protein. The weight-loss diet should be
low in calories (energy) only, not in essential
foodstuffs.
The
weight-loss program should be directed towards a slow,
steady weight loss unless your doctor feels your
health condition would benefit from more rapid weight
loss. Expect to lose only about a pound a week after
the first week or two. With many calorie-restricted
diets there is an initial rapid weight loss during the
first 1 to 2 weeks, but this loss is largely fluid.
The initial rapid loss of fluid also is regained
rapidly when you return to a normal-calorie diet.
Thus, a reasonable goal of weight loss must be
expected.
If you
plan to lose more than 15 to 20 pounds, have any
health problems, or take medication on a regular
basis, your doctor should evaluate you before
beginning your weight-loss program. A doctor can
assess your general health and medical conditions that
might be affected by dieting and weight loss. Also, a
physician should be able to advise you on the need for
weight loss, the appropriateness of the weight-loss
program, and a sensible goal of weight loss for you.
If you plan to use a very-low-calorie diet (a special
liquid formula diet that replaces all food intake for
1 to 4 months), you definitely should be examined and
monitored by a doctor.
Your
program should include plans for weight maintenance
after the weight loss phase is over. It is of little
benefit to lose a large amount of weight only to
regain it. Weight maintenance is the most difficult
part of controlling weight and is not consistently
implemented in weight-loss programs.
The program you select should include help in
permanently changing your dietary habits and level of
physical activity, to alter a lifestyle that may have
contributed to weight gain in the past. Your program
should provide behavior modification help, including
education in healthy eating habits and long-term plans
to deal with weight problems. One of the most
important factors in maintaining weight loss appears
to be increasing daily physical activity, often by
sensible increases in daily activity, as well as
incorporating an individually tailored exercise
program.
Information
on Obesity
Obesity is a chronic condition. Too often it is viewed
as a temporary problem that can be treated for a few
months with a strenuous diet. However, as most
overweight people know, weight control must be
considered a life-long effort. To be safe and
effective, any weight-loss program must address the
long-term approach or else the program is largely a
waste of money and effort.
Obesity affects about one in four adult Americans, and
during any one year, over half of Americans go on a
weight-loss diet or are trying to maintain their
weight. For many people who try to lose weight, it is
difficult to lose more than a few pounds! and few
succeed in remaining at the reduced weight. The
difficulty in losing weight and keeping it off leads
many people to turn to a professional or commercial
weight-loss program for help.
Seeing a physician on a one on one monthly
basis promotes discipline and provides a strong
structure for accountability. Check out the
“alternative” weight loss items through Unicity
Network by double-clicking the Vitamins and Herbals
link on our home page. If you are interested in
participating in this program, please call our office
for further details at
281-893-1246.
Set goals. Move at your own pace. Reward your
successes. Allow for setbacks. Let your family and
friends help you. And keep trying—you can do it!
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