I heard an intriguing quote this week, “America is not about prevention… We would much rather build a hospital at the bottom of a cliff than build a fence at the top.” What a sad commentary on our society and our health care system! While attending Tulane Medical School, I also had the privilege of attending the Tulane School of Public Health. As a student there, a similar ... Continue
How Do I Choose A Physician To Help Manage My Weight?
For many years now, the State of Kansas has placed a number of restrictions on various weight loss treatments. Since many weight loss medications are controlled by the Drug Enforcement Administration, there are both federal and state regulations that must also be followed. Currently, only authorized physicians with D.E.A. certification may prescribe these controlled ... Continue
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Are you prepared to face the “Winter Blues”? Everyone tends to feel a little “blah” when the days are short and cold, but for some people seasonal change brings with it something more serious than the blues: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is a form of depression that 20% of Americans struggle with. ... Continue
Your Routine: Your Key To Success!
Show me a successful individual and I’ll show you a person who has discovered a success-producing routine! You and I have both seen it. Look around you at those that are floundering in some area of life. Almost always, they have failed to discern and implement a daily routine that allows them to flourish. Examples are all around us. A highly experienced psychiatrist was ... Continue
Self-Control and Weight Loss: Is It The Answer?
I have tremendous respect and concern for individuals seeking to enhance their health through weight loss and positive nutrition. In fact, serving them is my passion. And I know from years of working with such clients that weight reduction and maintenance is a very difficult task if one is not empowered with all the right tools and strategies. People typically need ... Continue
Burning Fat vs. Muscle Loss
Any number of fad diets promise quick and easy weight loss. A pound of body fat has 3,500 calories. On average, women tend to burn about 1,800 calories per day, men about 2,800. If you’re dieting on your own, it’s recommended you lose no more than a pound or two a week; someone who is significantly overweight and on a medically supervised program might lose three to four pounds ... Continue
Aggressive, Non-Surgical, Medical Weight Loss Using Very Low Calorie Diets: What Does The Research Show?
At the Center for Nutrition and Preventive Medicine, we use a “multi-dimensional” approach to weight loss. In other words, we donʼt rely on just one single treatment strategy. I believe that weight loss and maintenance is too difficult to “put all your eggs in one basket”. So, for initial weight loss we use structured, aggressive diets, along with appetite and craving control ... Continue
Metabolic Syndrome
Don't let it sneak up on you, know what to look for and what to do, read on... Being overweight puts you at risk of having Metabolic Syndrome. What is Metabolic Syndrome? It's actually a cluster of conditions that increase your risk of obesity, heart disease, stroke and diabetes. The five common findings of Metabolic Syndrome are: increased blood pressure, elevated ... Continue
Glycemic Index, What’s It All About?
Glycemic Index (GI) is an effective way to measure a carbohydrate-containing food's effect on blood sugar. Some foods produce a higher blood sugar level than others. Low glycemic index foods generally have less of an impact on blood sugar levels because their carbohydrates break down more slowly, releasing glucose more gradually into the bloodstream. ... Continue
Childhood Obesity
Childhood Obesity Awareness Month: Be aware every month, not just September! September has been designated Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. Although this is a great tool to build awareness about a growing problem (pardon the pun), every month should be focused on identifying and helping children who are suffering the immediate and eventually, long-term consequences of ... Continue
Omentum Fat
Omentum Fat by any other name is still the same...Belly Fat, Beer Gut, Abdominal Fat, Spare Tire, Visceral Fat, Intra-Abdominal Adiposity (IAA)...it's the "sheet" of unhealthy fat located deep inside the abdomen, underneath the muscles in your stomach. There are three primary kinds of fat: the fat in our bloodstream known as triglycerides, subcutaneous fat which is the fat ... Continue
Why Meal Replacements Work
Research suggests that continuing to utilize meal replacements as part of a nutritious diet can help you maintain your goal weight better than using no meal replacements. A study of 100 overweight people, published in the August 2000 issue of Obesity Research, showed that participants lost more weight initially and continued to lose more weight when meal replacements were ... Continue
Keep on Track with Food Journaling
In a recent study by Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, it was shown that participants who kept food journals lost almost double the weight of those who didn't! The study included 1,500 overweight and obese adults. Participants were educated on lifestyle interventions, which included weekly group sessions, regular exercise, a heart-healthy diet, reduced alcohol ... Continue
The Power of Protein
Get the Power of Protein! Protein is especially important in our diets when attempting weight loss. Studies show that diets with higher protein and reduced carbohydrates appear to enhance weight loss due to a higher loss of body fat and reduced loss of lean body mass. The beneficial effects of protein include increased satiety (sense of fullness), increased calorie burning, ... Continue
