Texas Cosmetic Dermatology Blog

As Americans struggle to keep New Year's weight-loss resolutions, experts' alarms about obesity ring in our heads.click to read full artcle

With the new year resolution, I have seen more and more patients from Southlake, Colleyeville, Keller, Grapevine and other cities in Dallas Fort Worth area for Medical weight loss. Incidentally, a significant number of people seeking weight loss are prescribed medications for depression and anxiety. Most of these medications cause significant and rapid weight gain, yet somehow drug companies mange to underscore this serious negative effect as a potential "side effect".

According to The Obesity Society nearly two-thirds of adult Americans are overweight, the average weight of an adult is up by 25 pounds since 1960. Use of Anti depression and anti anxiety medications has increased 73 percent between 1996 and 2006.

The weight of many Americans has gone up with increase use of psychiatric drugs.

The psychiatric drugs and obesity affects children as well. The number of obese adolescents has tripled in the last 20 years, as prescriptions of psychiatric drugs for US children rise 50 percent in the last 15 years

The fifth edition of the major psychiatric diagnostic manual, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), is expected to be released in 2013. One proposal under consideration is listing obesity as a mental illness. That could create a vicious cycle : putting someone with undiagnosed medical/metabolic problems on anti psychotic drugs will lead to more weight gain.

Food and Drug Administration must have strict penalties for the drug companies that conceal the weight gain connection. Physicians should educate patients about this potential effect and explore other non-drug ways to manage emotional problems.

Weight gain is frequently a result of multiple hormonal and metabolic abnormalities and NOT necessarily of poor self control. Using appetite suppressants with very low calorie diet leads to rebound weight gain in as much as 90% of patients. Loosing excess weight and keeping it off long term needs a permanent lifestyle change with realistic goals and expectations.

If you would like more information on medical weight loss please visit our website or call our office 888-210-9693 for more information.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

The information on this Web site is provided by Naila Malik MD for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care, and medical advice and services are not being offered. If you have, or suspect you have, a health problem you should consult your physician. Only your doctor can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for you. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Site!
THE SITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE.

Heart Patients Warned Against Using Meridia, an Anti-Obesity Drug. For full article in New York Times click here

The F.D.A. urged a stronger warning label on the diet drug Meridia after a study showed increase in heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular complications in some users.
The new warning should indicate that the drug was not to be used by people who have a history of heart attacks or strokes, or who have uncontrolled high blood pressure.

On Thursday, the European Medicines Agency advised doctors and pharmacists to stop prescribing and dispensing European equivalents of Meridia.

Siutramine, the active ingredient in Meridia works by increasing neurotransmitter activity in the brain, making people feel full after smaller meals. One of the side effects is increase in blood pressure and heart rate.The company said the drug was safe and effective when used in appropriate patients.

The Scout study was the first to see if a diet drug could reduce the risks of heart attacks. Some experts said the finding that Meridia actually increased cardiac complications could raise questions about the safety of other diet drugs.

The findings might also raise the safety hurdle for new obesity drugs to win approval. However, some experts said the problems might be unique to Meridia, which clearly raises blood pressure and heart rate.

"The European Medicines Agency has acted appropriately," said Dr. Sidney M. Wolfe, the director of the health research group at Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group in Washington. His group has long asked the F.D.A. to ban Meridia, including a petition last month saying that in the drug's 12 years on the market it has been linked to more than 80 deaths, including 30 people under age 50.

But Dr. Louis J. Aronne, director of the comprehensive weight control program at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, said he did not think the drug was unsafe for people who did not already have heart disease. He said he agreed with the F.D.A.'s decision.

"The Scout trial was a six-year study involving about 10,000 overweight and obese people who had a history of heart disease or diabetes, or both. About 11.4 percent of those who took the drug had a heart attack, stroke, or died from cardiovascular causes, compared to 10 percent of those getting the placebo, according to data from the study released by the F.D.A.

F.D.A. said it planned to wait for the company's complete report on the study, due in March, before considering further action on the drug. An advisory panel of medical experts is to review the results of the study in a public meeting.

All weight loss medications have potential side effects. Careful patient selection, proper patient education for early recognition of any complications and close Physician supervision are appropriate measures for safe prescription of weight loss medications.

If you need Medical help to achieve your weight loss goals, call our office 888-210-9693 for an appointment visit our website www.nailamalikmdskin.com for more information on our weight loss program.

Recently NEW YORK TIMES published an interesting article on age management with lifestyle modification and hormone replacement Click to review article.

Consider the human body a well designed machine and like all machine it wears out commonly referred to as aging. Free radical damage and telomere shortening are proposed mechanisms at biochemical level.Telomeres are the protective tips on chromosomes responsible for repair of daily wear and tear through replication.

Anti aging treatments are aimed at correcting or lessening some of these biochemical aging mechanisms to improve quality of life and not necessarily prolong longevity.

Comprehensive age management program includes evaluation of body function and attempt to improve all aspects of aging through lifestyle modification,and optimization of declining hormones such as Testosterone, Estrogen, Progesterone, Human growth hormone when clinically indicated.

Everyone is familiar with Menopause, but few Physicians in mainstream Medicine acknowledge Andropause, the male menopause.

Testosterone is a naturally produced anabolic steroid produced by testes in males and adrenal glands in females. A growing minority of physicians regard it as motor oil that keeps human bodies running smoothly.

Andropause or male Menopause is the condition when the testicles stop responding to a testosterone stimulant like H.C.G. male menopause occurs anywhere between the ages of 45 and 75. The result is loss of muscle mass, poor exercise tolerance, mid abdominal weight gain, decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, poor concentration etc.

A well rounded approach to "anti aging" treatment is a combination of the following:

• Balanced diet with low glycemic carbohydrates, optimum amount of good quality protein, low amount of high saturated fats.
• Regular exercise, 40-60 minutes each day, 6-7 days a week including both aerobic exercise and strength training
• Use of antioxidant in a combination of fresh fruits/vegetables and supplements as indicated
• Supplementation of declining hormones, Estrogen, prgesterone, Testosterone, Human growth hormone IF clinically indicated and IF no contra indications to use of such hormones.

Let's face it, we are getting old and Do not like it!! Good news is there is something we can do about it.

Call our office 888-210-9693 for an appointment for anti aging hormone therapy consultation.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

The information on this Web site is provided by Naila Malik MD for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care, and medical advice and services are not being offered. If you have, or suspect you have, a health problem you should consult your physician. Only your doctor can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for you. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Site!
THE SITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE.

If like millions of people, weight loss is part of your new year resolution, you might find these helpful!

For effective weight loss any program should be aimed at correcting the underlying cause of excess weight. High Insulin and High Cortisol levels contribute to ecxess weight gain. Lowering the levels of these hormones makes weight loss relatively easy and steady. Here are a few ways to help you :

• Eat ONLY low glycemic carbohydrates.
• Eat within one hour of awakening. Do not skip breakfast.
• Stop eating for at least 3 hours before bedtime.
• Wait minimum 3 hours in between any food including snacks. Constant low grade grazing keeps Insulin levels high. 100 cal snacks are the worse for Insulin levels
• Schedule 10-15 minutes of "De-stress" time each day. During this time, you can meditate, stroll, daydream,nap, or do whatever it takes to relax and lower your stress.
• Make regular exercise a part of your daily routine.


If you need help loosing weight, call our office at 888-210-9693 and make an appointment for our HCG medical weight loss program consultation.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

The information on this Web site is provided by Naila Malik MD for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care, and medical advice and services are not being offered. If you have, or suspect you have, a health problem you should consult your physician. Only your doctor can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for you. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Site!
THE SITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE.

Since the introduction of Hcg weight loss program to our practice in 2009, we have helped dozens of patients achieve their weight loss goals.

The initial group of patients was treated with Hcg and diet without use of anorexic agents. Eight out of ten patients achieved their weight loss goals, were happy with the program and did not complain of being hungry nor did they have difficulty fighting food cravings. Two out of ten patients lost some weight but felt hungry and tired during the program and could not follow the diet as instructed.

I was the first "patient" in my practice and followed the program for 3 weeks without any anorexic medication. I experienced hunger with mild irritability for first 3-4 days, lost total of 10 pounds. I finished the 3 week program 8 months ago I am back to my diet and exercise routine and have NOT gained a single pound! I did indulge in my favorite deserts over the holidays which would have normally led to some weight gain.

After reviewing the initial patient feedback and clinical results, I have added a low dose of anorexic Medication to the Hcg program for patients with no known contra indications to the medication.

The results have been AMAZING!

The patients have been able to follow the diet more accurately, have not been hungry, irritable or craving food. On average, patients on the combined Hcg/anorexic agent program have experienced weight loss of 7-10 pounds during the first week and 3-5 pounds per week for the remainder of the 6 week program.

If you are interested in learning more please call our Southlake TX office at 888-210-9693 for an appointment. Visit our website for more information

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

The information on this Web site is provided by Naila Malik MD for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care, and medical advice and services are not being offered. If you have, or suspect you have, a health problem you should consult your physician. Only your doctor can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for you. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Site!
THE SITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE.