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

Fighting obesity is difficult but once you have lost weight, you would have to fight yet another battle –keeping your skin tight.

Most cases of having excess skin or loose skin actually involves excess subcutaneous body fat. This kind of fat is softer than regular fat making it looser therefore easily confused with skin. This isn’t really something you should worry too much about because you can always wait it out until all the fat is removed. You can do this through diet and exercise and once the excess fat are gone, your skin will be tighter.

While some are quite lucky to have very elastic skin, some aren’t and this group has to deal with loose, sagging skin due to excessive weight loss.

In order to get rid of loose skin, there might be a need to go under the knife. Getting a body lift for example is a good idea if your skin has already lost its firmness and integrity. Women who have loose skin due to excessive weight loss however usually do not feel comfortable getting a body lift procedure done by a male doctor. Christine A.Stiles, MD a plastic surgeon says, “It is important to find a qualified plastic surgeon and women may feel more comfortable with a female plastic surgeon.” Getting a plastic surgeon you are comfortable with is always a good thing according to experts because it would make you feel at ease.

Getting a body lift will help reshape your buttocks and trunk. It will also bring back the elasticity of sagging skin. This procedure is tailored fit to the needs of each patient based on the patient’s body shape.

The recovery process takes a few days but of course this would depend how quick your healing is. It is important to ensure that you follow the instructions your surgeon gives you post-surgery.

Obesity: Statistics, Causes, and Solutions

Obesity in the United States is a big problem and has been cited as a major health issue in the country in recent years. While other countries have the same experience, the obesity rate in the US is alarming. In the year 1962, the obesity rate was at 13% but by 2010, it has been reported that 35.7% of American adults are obese while the rate for obese American children is 17%. These rates have already been confirmed by both the Journal of the American Medical Association or JAMA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

USA Today reported last May that by 2030, 42% of Americans will be obese. Health economist Eric Finkelstein was quoted saying, “The obesity problem is likely to get much worse without a major public health intervention.”

What is obesity?

Referred to by the World Health Organization as a medical condition, obesity involves accumulated body fat that do not only contribute to an increase in one’s weight but also involves adverse effects on health caused by excess body fat. A person is considered obese when his or her BMI or body mass index exceeds 30 kilograms per meter squared.

According to experts, obesity increases the susceptibility of a person to various diseases specifically diabetes and heart ailments. It also increases the likelihood of getting cancer, sleep apnea and osteoarthritis. But what causes obesity? Although excessive food intake is the main culprit when it comes to obesity, one’s genes can also be blamed for having this medical condition. However, it is not very often that it is one’s genes are to blame. Bad eating habits and lack of exercise are usually the main reasons why people put on too much weight. There are many ways to lose weight but because dieting and physical exercise are not really things many people are fond of doing, alternative weight loss regimens or procedures are quite popular. Liposuction for one is one of the most popular ways of getting rid of unwanted fat but one has to keep in mind that the fat removed can come back if you do not take care of yourself.

Obesity and Your Confidence

Obesity is not just hazardous to your physical health, it also has an effect on one’s mental health. This of course is not as pronounced as clinical depression but it can go there. Losing one’s self-confidence because of weight gain is a hard nut to crack and the only way to get this confidence back is to lose that extra weight. Many people resort to using slimming pills or going under the knife but these are not really advisable for the long term because you should not only focus on how good your body should look but also on how your health is affected by such weight loss programs.

Why Help Is Needed

Trying to lose weight is a difficult task especially if you are doing it on your own. While some people have enough self-discipline to exercise on a daily basis and eat right day in and day out, some people don’t. This is where a coach or a trainer comes in. Going under a diet program in your local clinic or under a nutritionist is a good idea. This should be done with daily exercise. Fifteen minutes on the treadmill for example will do you good especially if you’re just starting out. Later on, you can increase the amount of time you spend for exercise. Walking is another way to lose weight and it is something you can do with ease.

Weight Loss Roller Coaster

Have you ever been on the weight loss roller coaster? You try so hard to lose a few pounds only to put them right back on and in some cases 1 or 2 extra pounds as well as those you worked so hard to lose in the first place.

Well you are NOT alone! It is not uncommon to lose and regain the same 10 or 15 pounds over and over again. If this sounds familiar to you there is help and you don't have to go through it alone. You shouldn't go through it alone! Often times we do more harm than good when dieting. We deprive ourselves of what we need and can mess up our metabolism in the process of trying to fit into those cute pants.

In Frisco, medically supervised weight loss is becoming more popular for those determined to take the weight off and keep it off. It is no wonder why. We are living in a time where information is readily available, at our finger tips, and the information out there all points to the same thing, seek the advice of a professional you can trust to help you take that weight off and keep it off!

Good Habits

Exercising can be a daunting task looming over your head. Once you get passed the "chore" part of it you will find that you look forward to your exercise routine. You will notice the energy it gives you and feel the lack of that energy when you have skipped a routine. But how do you get to that point? To where you are exercising and not cringing at the thought of having to get it off your plate for the day?

One theory is to make it a habit. Don't start off with the intention of hitting the elliptical trainer for an hour everyday. No, start off slow and build a habit before you increasing your routine. Make it a point to get on the elliptical (or whatever your exercise of choice is) for something nominal, like 10 minutes, every day. No matter, what just get through that small amount every day for 30 straight days and it will become a habit for you.

Then along the way add more good habits, like parking further away when shopping or at work. Force yourself to walk just a little bit more each day instead of just a little less. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, yes we have heard this before, but it really helps. You add a few more steps instead of taking them away.

If you do this, start implementing small good habits, you are taking steps in the right direction instead just standing still or worse, sliding into more and more bad habits.