Dr. Kathryn White Discusses Qsymia

Today we have a guest post from a local weight loss professional: Dr. Kathryn White, Medical Director of Azure Med Spa in Stonebriar. Here she shares some of her insight on Qsymia, the newest weight loss supplement available:

The increasing trend in obesity shows no sign of slowing, and with recent figures suggesting that roughly 66% of adults and 33% of adolescents are overweight, it seems unlikely that we will reverse this epidemic. And while obesity is putting stress on the health of our country, it’s also putting stress on our national healthcare costs.

Fortunately, doctors have developed a new way to combat rising obesity. The FDA-approved weight loss medication, Qsymia, has just been released for the treatment of obesity, making it the first medicine of its kind in 13 years. Qsymia combines two drugs – phentermine and topiramate – to make one enormously effective weight loss product. However, Qsymia is much more than just combining these two medications into one treatment.

Physicians have found the optimal balance between phentermine and topiramate that maximizes control over the patient’s appetite while reducing the occurrence of adverse side effects of each individual medication. Since neither of the medications overpowers the other, they are combined to give a comprehensive treatment for appetite suppression that lasts throughout the day: the phentermine initiates the hunger suppression and is followed by the topiramate which is released later in the day to suppress additional cravings. With four total doses of the drug, the medication is slowly released continuously throughout the day to reach optimal results. In fact, studies with Qsymia have seen patients who demonstrate sustained weight loss for over 24 months; unlike other weight loss medications, Qsymia is FDA-approved for long-term use.

As with every medication, Qsymia has side effects, so you should receive a full medical consultation before you begin your weight-loss plan: dry mouth, constipation, dizziness, insomnia and an altered sense of taste have been experienced in some patients, and topiramate has been linked to increased pregnancy complications. Doctors will likely require you to adopt adequate birth control or contraceptive habits along with monthly pregnancy tests to monitor pregnancy.

Qsymia offers an exciting new way that patients can take control of their weight issues. The medication, along with the guidance and expertise of your trusted physician can make for a powerful weight loss program that will generate lasting results. Programs are personalized according to each patient’s needs, with physicians taking into consideration your unique metabolism and body composition. Make a decision to seek effective weight-loss treatment today that will keep the weight off long into tomorrow!

-Kathryn White, M.D.

Dr. White continues to discuss Qsymia on the Azure Med Spa blog. Her conversation as well as information about Azure Med Spa can be found on their website, www.azuremedspastonebriar.com.

Chipotle Deemed Healthiest Fast Food

Fast food is undoubtedly one of America’s guiltiest pleasures. In fact, it can hardly be called a ‘guilty pleasure’ because people so openly love their it. The food caters to our lifestyle, and provides a consistent product that is easy to access and, frankly, usually pretty delicious.

Because we’re constantly surrounded by every fast food option available, it’s easy to compromise a bit when it comes to our healthy habits. Although you may be determined to stick to a diet plan and prepare your own food, one day you might decide to sleep in late rather than make your lunch in the morning; you tell yourself, “this will be the one day that I grab a burger for lunch”. That one day turns into two days, and then into three, until you’ve returned to a diet that essentially unravels all of the discipline and hard work that you had invested in a healthier lifestyle.

But fast food doesn’t have to be the enemy of your diet. Although few, there are still healthy options available when looking for something to eat on-the-go. This article recently acknowledged the restaurant chain Chipotle as being the healthiest way to satisfy your fast food cravings.

Chipotle has always prided itself on its use of locally-acquired ingredients, rather than ingredients from a single production facility that ships processed goods to every location around the country; Chipotle ingredients are of much higher quality than those of other, more notoriously unhealthy burger restaurants. Part of the reason that Chipotle has emerged as the health-conscious solution to the fast-food dilemma is because of its readily available vegetarian and vegan offerings. The produce is fresh, and eliminating animal protein means that there will be even less fat in a single serving of Chipotle’s food than in that of another chain’s.

But people should be careful – just because Chipotle offers the customer a selection of healthy entrees doesn’t mean that it is the cure-all for your diet woes. There are still plenty of unhealthy items on the menu: a fully-loaded Chipotle burrito can hold more fat, calories and carbohydrates than even a Big Mac. So don’t be fooled, Chipotle isn’t a perfect answer to fast food obsession, but it’s still a pretty darn good one.

Photo attribution: avlxyz

A Little Help With Weight Loss

Maintaining any weight loss resolution is always difficult, which is why we find ourselves making the same self-improvement promises every single year. We start off the strong for the first few weeks, but maybe we sneak in an extra dessert on date night, or maybe we skip the gym because the new season of The Bachelor is starting. These little lapses in motivation become more and more numerous until, before you know it, it's already December 31st and we're telling ourselves that "this, for sure, is going to be the year that I stick with it".

It's certainly not easy maintaining a healthy lifestyle - if it were, then everyone would do it. But it takes determination, time, and sometimes just a little bit of help. If your schedule seems to be getting in the way of getting your new physique, then medical weight loss might be a great option for you. With medical weight loss, you have the added benefits of a uniquely-prepared diet plan, pharmaceutical supplements, and especially a professional who can hold you accountable for your actions.

Don't let the word "medical" make you uneasy about the idea - I know not everyone loves a visit to the doctor's office, but this is much different. Not only will your physician be totally knowledgeable about all that you can do to lose weight, he or she will also serve as your weight-loss counselor, and be able to educate and motivate you throughout your program.

Here's an article that another blog posted recently describing the basic things that you can expect from a medical weight loss program. Check it out, and see if this is a decision that can help you (finally) fulfill this year's resolution!

Photo attribution: vividBreeze