Texas Cosmetic Dermatology Blog

Over two thirds of US adults (age over 20) are overweight BMI >25
Over one third of US adults (age over 20) are obese BMI > 30
Each year Americans spend billions of dollars on weight loss products and programs and yet only less than 5% are able to lose and maintain a healthy weight over one year into the program.
Quite disappointing! But definitely a solvable problem
IDuring the last 20 years of Medical practice, I have found that a healthy body is possible in most people with:
1.The Right Attitude
2. The Right Lifestyle
Of course people with endocrine or metabolic disorders such as low thyroid or diabetes need to be treated appropriately before starting any weight loss program
The three biggest reasons for failure to achieve healthy weight are:

1.Improper Motivation

Effective and lasting weight loss requires persistence in following a healthy lifestyle not for a few weeks or months but for life! Lack of proper Motivation is at the top of reasons for weight loss failure. Most overweight people know they have a health problem and need to do something about it, but somehow true motivation to permanently change lifestyle is rather rare. Here a re a few steps to make sure you have your head in the game before starting a weight loss program:

• Make sure YOU are ready for weight loss. If you do not have the proper mindset, you will not stay the course.


• The Motivation has to come from from within you and not from your spouse or children or friends.


• You need to have a Very CLEAR set of reasons why you need to lose weight. make it personal and vital to your existence. The reasons are different for different people. Some of my patients want to lose weight for a family or high school reunion, some for medical reasons, to lower their blood pressure or cholesterol. Some patients do it to look better in clothes, some to feel better about themselves. Jot down YOUR reasons on a piece of paper or your blackberry and have them visible for you as a frequent reminder


2. Improper Plan

Following fad diets does not lead to long term weight loss.Surprisingly I have seen this more than I expected in a pretty smart patient population. I guess, people like to believe there should be an easy way, a shortcut to their weight loss goal and are easily tricked into some pretty ridiculous diets, like the 7 day fluids only "Hollywood diet" or an X number of days 'detoxification" diet.
Personally I am not a fan of such diets.
The only way to lose excess weight is to PERMANENTLY change eating, stress management and physical activity, period!!
Weight gain or difficulty losing weight is far more complex than calories in minus calories out. Anyone who has ever tried losing weight knows this!
To achieve and maintain healthy weight, we need to focus on diet, physical activity AND emotional balance.
Our metabolism is affected by many hormones and neurotransmitters and achieving a fine balance is the key to healthy body!
For diet, I like to recommend a program which includes foods from all major groups, lean protein, carbohydrates, fats.
For Physical activity, I like to recommend aerobic activity, stretching, balance and strength training
For emotional balance or stress management, I like activities like yoga, meditation, relaxation techniques, deep breathing etc.


3. Improper Goal Setting

Too frequently I see patients getting disappointed with their weight loss program because of wrong expectations.
Realistically, for my obese patients who follow our diet, exercise, stress management program we see weight loss of 7-9 pounds for the first week then steady weight loss at 2-4 pounds a week.
Plateaus are part and parcel of any weight loss program, expect them and do not let yourself be disappointed!
Very frequently, I see plateaus because of fat loss and muscle gain which leads to dropping inches and not total weight.
Your ideal weight may be more than you think. I like to look at body fat percentage rather than total weight.


Bottom line, try to stay focused on healthy lifestyle, eating, physical activity and stress management rather than a "Number" for best results
Know that you can DEFINITELY achieve your healthy body goal, it may take a little longer than you anticipated, but you WILL get there!

If you would like more information on Naila MD Fit HCG Medical weight loss in or around South lake, Colleyeville, Keller, Grapevine, Flower Mound, Lewisville, Arlington, Fort Worth, North Richland Hills, Denton and other areas around Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex, Please call our office at 888-210-9693 or visit our website at www.nailamalikmdskin.com

Since the introduction of Naila MD FIT HCG weight Loss system over a year ago, we have helped many patients achieve their weight loss goals. During the length of our program we have made the following observations:

• A considerable number of overweight patients have concomitant Medical disorders like High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Metabolic Syndrome, Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) etc.


• We have observed a moderate improvement in these conditions with weight loss and lifestyle change.


• HCG with Diet and exercise over a few months gets excellent results for our patients who need to lose more than or equal to 15% of their body weight.


• Medical Insurance reimburses for Medically necessary weight loss in many cases.


Call Our office 888-210-9693 today to find out if you qualify for medically necessary weight Loss treatment and if your Insurance will reimburse for this treatment

If you would like more information on Naila MD Fit HCG Medical weight loss in or around South lake, Colleyeville, Keller, Grapevine, Flower Mound, Lewisville, Arlington, Fort Worth, North Richland Hills, Denton and other areas around Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex, Please call our office at 888-210-9693 or visit our website at
www.nailamalikmdskin.com

You might want to consider Naila MD Fit HCG weight loss system if :

1. You have more than 10% excess weight to lose
2. You have been a Yo-Yo dieter
3. You carry most of your weight around mid section
4. You are concerned about loss of muscle tone
5. You have no energy to work out
6. You have lost weight in the past but gained it back
7. You are stuck at your last 10 pounds

Since introduction of our weight loss program in May 2009, we have helped many patients achieve their healthy weight with Naila MD Fit system
Visit our website or call our office 888-210-9693 for more information to see how we can help you get started.

HCG DISCLAIMER;
The use of hCG for weight loss is Off Label. the FDA allows Physicians to prescribe hCG Off label. We are required by law to post the following: The FDA has not approved hCG and there is no substantial evidence that hCG is effective in the treatment of Obesity.

If You have ever tried to lose weight, you may be familiar with one or more of these pitfalls!

1. A diet too low in calories.
Very Low Calorie Diets, may initially work to get a few pounds off in a hurry. BUT For long term weight management, very low calorie diets are not only ineffective but may even be detrimental.

2. Not enough protein intake
Protein is the building material to build essential structures like muscle, skin, hair, nails etc. Too little protein leads to muscle wasting, weak, brittle hair, poor skin tone and elasticity, brittle nails.

3. Artificial sweeteners
Studies demonstrate artificial sweeteners cause weight gain and pose an increased risk of Diabetes similar to or in some studies even more than sugar. Some scientists postulate that artificially sweetened food provides a "salient oro-sensory stimulus" which tricks the brain into anticipating high calorie intake. Our body gets prepared to handle the extra calories. Most people who consume high amount of artificial sweeteners either eat more calories or burn fewer calories than they would otherwise . It is best to use moderation.

4. Inadequate stress management
Stress induced hormones like cortisol and adrenal hormones favor fat deposition over fat burning, slowing down weight loss in spite of calorie restriction.

5. Poor Sleep
Chronic sleep deprivation or chronic poor quality sleep raises cortisol levels which have a detrimental effect on metabolism leading to excess fat accumulation especially in the midsection.

If you would like more information on Naila MD Fit HCG Medical weight loss in or around South lake, Colleyeville, Keller, Grapevine, Flower Mound, Lewisville, Arlington, Fort Worth, North Richland Hills, Denton and other areas around Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex, Please call our office at 888-210-9693 or visit our website at
www.nailamalikmdskin.com

As I see more and more patients for weight loss, Its interesting to notice the wide display of knowledge mostly accumulated via internet. Some of the common misconceptions are:

1. Hcg will "melt" away fat.
Wrong! Hcg alone has little or no effect on weight loss. Hcg used as part of a Physician supervised weight loss program seems to have a beneficial effect on body recomposition with an improvement in muscle to fat ratio.

2. Hcg increases metabolism
Not true! I am not aware of any medication at this time which increases metabolism. Hcg when combined with appropriate diet and exercise program is postulated to promote fat breakdown over muscle breakdown. My observation in our program is that patients loose more inches at the same level of weight loss when compared to their own previous weight loss history. For example a patient at 140 pounds with hcg is able to get into a size 6 dress whereas she wore size 8 at the same weight two years ago.

3. Hcg has to be combined with 500 calorie/day diet
Wrong! I am against radical reduction of calories. There is plenty of clinical data regarding detrimental effects of very low calorie diets. Some of these include possibility of cardiac arrythmias, low potassium leading to cardiac arrest, muscle wasting and resetting of metabolism which in turn leads to rapid weight gain upon resuming a "normal" diet.

4. Hcg weight loss cannot be combined with your daily skin care or lotions
Dr. Simmeons restricted use of skin products containing fat in his protocol for his patients. Personally, I do not restrict use of "fat" containing skin products. I do not believe it makes any difference. I like to make the program pleasant and easy so you can live with it with little sacrifice while training yourself to adopt a new lifestyle

5. You cannot exercise during Hcg for weight loss
Wrong again! Look at all the weight loss data; the ONLY way to lose and Maintain healthy weight is by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Not exercising does not qualify as healthy lifestyle!
BUT, when your intake is 500 cal/day, its almost impossible to exercise! you just do not have the energy or drive to work out.

If you would like more information on Naila MD Fit HCG Medical weight loss in or around South lake, Colleyeville, Keller, Grapevine, Flower Mound, Lewisville, Arlington, Fort Worth, North Richland Hills, Denton and other areas around Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex, Please call our office at 888-210-9693 or visit our website at www.nailamalikmdskin.com

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.

HCG DISCLAIMER;
The use of hCG for weight loss is Off Label. the FDA allows Physicians to prescribe hCG Off label. We are required by law to post the following: The FDA has not approved hCG and there is no substantial evidence that hCG is effective in the treatment of Obesity.

Read the entire article here
Just today The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has revised the label for orlistat (prescription Xenical and over the counter Alli) to include warning of rare cases of severe liver damage reported with the use of This medication for weight loss.

This warning was issued after reviewing data for 10 years, from April 1999, till August 2009. The review included preclinical and clinical trials and post-marketing studies along with any effects form use in general population

Interestingly, significant liver damage was not apparent in preclinical or clinical trials. So far 12 cases of severe liver injury from use of Xenical have been identified all outside US and One case of severe liver damage has been reported from use of Alli in US. Liver damage was severe leading to death or liver transplant in some patients.

It is difficult to determine causal relationship between Orlistat and liver damage because of the total number of people who have used this medication (about 40 million) and because liver injury can occur from so many drugs, toxins and sometimes without an apparent cause!

I personally believe lifestyle modification (with or without short term medication or Hcg if indicated) is the most effective way to treat obesity. Physician supervision for patients with co-morbid conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol or who need to lose a considerable amount of weight is the safest and leads to long term maintenance.

If you would like more information on our HCG Medical weight loss program in or around South lake, Colleyeville, Keller, Grapevine, Flower Mound, Lewisville, Arlington, Fort Worth, North Richland Hills, Denton and other areas around Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex, Please call our office at 888-210-9693 or visit our website at
www.nailamalikmdskin.com

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.

HCG DISCLAIMER;
The use of hCG for weight loss is Off Label. the FDA allows Physicians to prescribe hCG Off label. We are required by law to post the following: The FDA has not approved hCG and there is no substantial evidence that hCG is effective in the treatment of Obesity.

Although obesity itself carries an increased morbidity and mortality, poorly monitored weight loss or yo-yo dieting with massive weight fluctuations can be equally detrimental. Some of the serious potential complications of rapid weight loss are cardiac arrhythmias; electrolyte imbalance especially Low Potassium levels leading to cardiac arrest. Massive weight fluctuation can also lead to psychologic problems such as depression and possibly binge eating disorders.

I have a multiphase approach to weight loss for my patients. The duration of each phase depends on weight loss goal of individual patient. I have treated over a hundred patients in a little over a year and so far the results have been very encouraging.
Naila MD Fit weight loss includes the following phases:

• Initial screening with medical evaluation and setting of realistic goals and expectations


• A "Metabolic correction" phase which is rather strict but lasts only a few weeks


• A steady weight loss phase


• A maintenance phase, for life .

Goal setting for Medical Weight loss
A reasonable goal for medically supervised weight-loss is approximately1-3 pounds/wk. Ideal body weight for each subject is individualized and cannot be based on standard weight-for-height charts.
Some of the variables to consider are each patients genetic makeup, family physique, cultural, and racial background.
I believe, like all chronic medical conditions, effective long term management of obesity requires a highly motivated patient and a committed Medical team of weight loss professionals. Regular follow up visits, ongoing education, lifestyle counseling and permanent adaptation of lifestyle modification are keys to success.
I encourage my patients to stop by for regular weigh-ins, fat percentage measurement even after they finish the program to help them stay at the desired weight.

Results of weight-loss program
In our practice, most patients are highly motivated which perhaps is a major reason for better than average results. Our program is designed as 6 week intervals. I set goals for each 6 week period. We have frequent discussions about setbacks, plateaus, planning family gatherings etc. Overall more than 90% of my patients reach their goal weight and more than 80% have maintained the weight for 1 year after the weight loss.
This is exciting news, considering that results of most weight loss programs are disappointing.
Most subjects in well done weight-loss programs lose approximately 10% of their body weight, Majority regain over 60% of the weight lost within a year, and almost all of it within 5 years.
Most available data indicates that 90-95% of the weight lost is regained in 5 years, no matter what the weight loss method.
I would like to see a change in these statistics for my weight loss patients!
So far it seems promising!

Adolescent obesity is alarmingly prevalent in US. Among all the weight loss options , none works as well as permanent lifestyle change. And as I always say, Slow and steady wins the race!!
I have had teen patients in my medical practice with Obesity and concomitant disorders like hypertension, metabolic syndrome, who underwent bariatric surgery for weight loss.
Bariatric surgery in teens is not my first choice for many reasons. I recently came across this article which gives some insight into this method of weight loss for teens.
Read the full article here:
Bariatric surgery in severely obese teens debated.

Making a difference in a teen's life always gets me excited, perhaps because I am a mom of two teens myself. Recently I had one of the most rewarding experience in my medical practice.
I will call my patient "Bob" for his privacy. Bob is a 17 year old teenager who came in with his mom for weight loss. He suffered from obesity since an accident a few years ago and has had difficulty losing weight in spite of cutting down calories and increasing his activity.

Bob wanted to lose 40-50 pounds for a family reunion 4 months from his initial consultation. He was very shy, quiet and skeptical. After thorough evaluation and blood work, we set a weight loss goal of 20-24 pounds for the initial 6 week weight

I placed Bob on Phase 1 of my Hcg diet with weekly HCG injections. We decided to hold off any appetite suppressants. The first week was tough, Bob felt hungry, irritable and weak partly because he quit his 3-4 48 oz Dr. Pepper drinks a day which gave him caffeine withdrawal. We decided to increase protein and fluid intake. From the second week onward he did great!

Bob finished the first 6 weeks of HCG program 2 weeks ago and here are the results:

Age : 17
Sex: male
Height : 6.0
Before: 6 weeks

Total Weight in pounds: 277.2 256.2
Fat percentage: 37.6 28.4
Fat weight in pounds: 95.0 72.0
fat free mass in pounds: 180.6 183.6

Summary:
After the first week, Bob had absolutely no problems staying with the diet, did not experience hunger, headaches, dizziness, weakness. He has increased his activity, gained 3 pounds of muscle mass, lost 23 pounds of fat. Most importantly, his confidence level is much improved, he has a brand new personality with a winning attitude.! He is able to wear clothes that he has not worn in years, his waist is down several inches. His chronic back pain is much better.
He met his goal for the first 6 weeks!

One of the important things he learned is to not focus on total weight, instead he learned to look at the fat weight, body fat percentage and inches lost. He also appreciated better exercise tolerance and increased muscle strength.

After the first 6 weeks of Hcg we have decided to have him follow the "transitional " phase of my diet program on his own with which he can loose 2-4 pounds a month until he reaches his goal weight.
I have advised him to keep in touch, stop by for weight/body fat measurements every few weeks. We will consider another 6 weeks of Hcg if needed but for right now, he is doing GREAT!!
And I am so proud of him!
I will keep you posted on his progress!

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.

We offer Cosmetic Dermatology, HCG Medical Weight Loss, Anti aging Hormone Replacement in and around Southlake, Colleyville, Keller, Grapevine, Fort Worth, Dallas, North Richland Hills Texas
For consultation or questions, please call our office at 888-210-9693
Visit our website for Naila MD Fit weight loss

All of us have seen the ads: "Loose 40 pounds in 40 days!"
"Is it possible?" This is a question asked quite frequently by new patients in my practice.
The answer is "yes it is possible"....... If you get on a VERY LOW CALORIE DIET and stay on this diet for 6 weeks.
Do I recommend it?
The answer is "NO".
There are several reasons why I am not a fan of Rapid weight loss and Very low calorie diets:

• Significant electrolyte imbalance has been documented with very low calorie diets. Sodium, chloride or potassium abnormalities can lead to serious medical problems like cardiac arrhythmia, very low blood pressure and in rare cases even death


• Rapid weight loss can lead to fat sequestration in gall bladder and gall stones.


• Rapid weight loss with very low calorie diets inevitably leads to muscle and bone loss in addition to fat loss which slows down metabolism. The result is return of all the weight lost plus more upon resuming "normal" diet. I currently have about a dozen patients in my weight loss practice who have been through this scenario


• Rapid weight loss leads to poor skin tone and elasticity frequently manifested as "turkey neck" and "jiggly underarms"


• Very low calorie diets result in loss of subcutaneous fat which exacerbates wrinkles.

Every day we see new patients for medical weight loss and one of the most frequently asked questions is "how much weight will I loose?"
Of course amount of total weight lost and the speed depends on several factors such as:

• The amount of extra fat weight at initial visit.


• Coexistence or absence of other medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol etc.


• Ability of each individual to follow the program closely


• The amount of stress


• Ability to incorporate exercise in daily routine


• Genetics

I like slow and steady weight loss and my goal is 2-4 pounds a week for most patients.
I believe weight loss achieved through permanent change in lifestyle, eating habits, physical activity, stress management is likely to last longer.
Weight loss achieved through extreme caloric reduction, with aid of high dose appetite suppressants, packaged "unnatural" meals is not likely to last.
People do not change years of habits with few days of low calorie diets and "diet pills". the moment they stop the plan and the diet pills, they are likely to bounce back to old eating habits, this time with slower metabolism for rapid weight gain rebound!

If you would like more information on our HCG Medical weight loss program in or around South lake, Colleyeville, Keller, Grapevine, Flower Mound, Lewisville, Arlington, Fort Worth, North Richland Hills, Denton and other areas around Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex, Please call our office at 888-210-9693 or visit our website at
www.nailamalikmdskin.com

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.

HCG DISCLAIMER;
The use of hCG for weight loss is Off Label. the FDA allows Physicians to prescribe hCG Off label. We are required by law to post the following: The FDA has not approved hCG and there is no substantial evidence that hCG is effective in the treatment of Obesity.

Weight Loss is an ongoing battle for most people. Here are a few things to consider to get a victory:
1. Set Realistic Weight Loss Goals

For mild to moderate excess weight, it may be as simple as cutting down portion size and adding a bit of daily physical activity. I see a lot of patients in my Office with weight loss goals of 10-20 pounds who have tried cutting down calories and increasing activity with only minimal success. We have had good results with our Hcg program for these patients. Almost all are able to reach their goal weight within 6 weeks.

For moderate to severely overweight , Consulting with a Medical weight loss Physician is a better option right from the start. Patients with concurrent medical conditions such as hypertension and hypercholestrolemia especially do very well on the program. I just finished seeing my 40 some year old caucasian female Southlake patient with hypertension, hypercholestrolemia and 75 pound weight loss goal. Today was the end of week 2 on the program. So far she has lost 17 pounds, she feels great, has lot of energy, her Blood pressure has been very well controlled (better than before starting the program). We plan to have her on the program for 3 months to get close to our goal weight. At that time we plan to have her on the maintenance diet plan.

2. Know why you overeat?

People over eat for different reasons:

Impulsive eating: I have one patient from Colleyevile on the plan who does very well during the work week but cannot resist snacking on the weekends. She has lost 2-4 pounds/ week (for 3 weeks). We have her on an appetite suppressant twice a day which does not help her with impulsive eating. She admits she eats on the weekends not because she is hungry, but because she "just cannot help herself" During her last visit we discussed that her best solution is to remove all temptations from her pantry and refrigerator

Mindless eating:
Focus and enjoy food when you are eating. Snacking while you watch TV is the worse! You wont be able to keep track of the number of calories consumed!

Nervous eating:
Anxiety, nervousness, depression leads to craving "comfort foods" generally high sugar, high fat, processed foods.

People who are motivated, disciplined tend to have better self control and do better monitoring their food intake. I have an Azle Tx weight loss patient who baked and cooked all sorts of party food for the superball at her home and did not cheat!!.
I do give my patients the option for an appetite suppressant if they do not have any medical contra indications to such drugs. This group of patients generally does not require appetite suppressant and have no difficulty avoiding temptations.

3.Add Physical activity to your DAILY Routine:

Unfortunately long term weight loss needs lifelong commitment to better lifestyle, both eating and regular physical activity. Interestingly I do occasionally get a patient who does not quite grasp this concept. I remember consulting with one particular 60 something male who asked if he could go back to eating whatever he wants after loosing the weight in 6 weeks? the answer is "NO". you will have to make a few lifelong changes

4. Be committed:

In order to achieve success, make sure you are ready for real commitment and clearly outline the reasons why you need to lose weight.

• Outline your motivation, looking good, controlling your blood pressure,cholesterol, diabetes, better quality of life etc.
• Do not be discouraged with setbacks or plateaus
• Make sure your timing is right and you are not dealing with a major life event at the time, moving to a new house, dealing with a sick parent, changing jobs etc.
• Do it for YOURSELF and not for someone else or to be accepted

For any questions about our Medical HCG weight loss, please contact our Southlake office at 888-210-9693 or check our website

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.

Offer Cosmetic Dermatology, HCG Medical Weight Loss, Anti aging Hormone Replacement in and around Southlake, Colleyville, Keller, Grapevine, Fort Worth, Dallas, North Richland Hills Texas

Doctors comparing weight-loss results with HCG injections versus a placebo failed to produce evidence that the hormone was anything special. Read the entire article here

Disclaimer: The use of hCG for weight loss is Off Label. the FDA allows Physicians to prescribe hCG Off label. We are required by law to post the following: The FDA has not approved hCG and there is no substantial evidence that hCG is effective in the treatment of Obesity.

There is a lot of hype about HCG diet and my opinion is based on literature search, conversations with other Physicians who have HCG weight loss practice and my own experience with treating patients for the last few months.

"Other currently popular diets call for cutting back on fat and sugar, consuming whole grains and lean meats, and even indulging in red wine. The HCG diet, in contrast, calls for eating just 500 calories a day while taking daily injections of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). "

After reviewing the literature, HCG seems safe in the small doses given for this diet program so I decided to try it .
I tried the 500 calories/day diet for 2 days with HCG and hated it!!
I felt weak, tired, unable to work out, unable to focus and just not well overall. I subsequently wrote my own diet program which includes adequate amount of lean protein, small amount of "good fats" and lots of greens. The diet ends being around 700-800 calories/day. I have a list of supplements with the diet that help improve glucose metabolism. I have prescribed low dose appetite suppressants to a few patients after careful screening for the first few days, which helps them follow the program.
Here are my findings on my patient population on HDG diet:

PATIENT DEMOGRAPHICS

• My weight loss patients are men and women between the ages of 36 and 60.
• All patients have tried and successfully lost weight in the past, some have been on commercial programs, some have lost weight under medical supervison with the aid of appetite suppressants. All patients have regained the weight.
• The weight loss goals have ranged from 10 pounds to 60 pounds.
• So far, I have used HCG for 40 days only. For patients with bigger weight loss goals, they have been following the diet on their own after the initial 6 weeks without HCG. I have been asked by patients to keep then on HCG for 3-4 months so they can achieve their goal weight. I am considering it.
• More than half of the patients did not use any appetite suppressants
• Out of the patients who did use appetite suppressants, about half stopped the medication after the first week (did not think they needed it)

• The weight loss has been rather rapid between 3-11 pounds in week 1 (depending on the total excess weight and how closely they followed the diet) After the first week weight loss has been steady between 2-5 pounds/week.
• Most patients said they "felt great", "full of energy" . Only two patients had a hard time keeping with the program because they had irresistible urge to eat, not because they were hungry or weak. These two patients later did fine with addition of low dose appetite suppressant.
• On average, patients have lost more weight in the lower abdomen, love handles, thigh area while retaining their muscle tone of face and arms. I am not sure if this is due to the type of foods or if HCG has an effect on inches like the proponents of the diet claim.
• Some patients especially the ones close to their ideal body weight, who were having a hard time losing weight on their own did remarkably well. One of them is a 37 year old female who was only 8 pounds away from her goal weight and has already lost 5.5 pounds in the first two weeks, which she could not achieve with diet and exercise alone.
• One of my earlier patients lost a total of 35 pounds and has kept it off for almost 6 months, which is different from her previous weight loss experiences.

CONCLUSIONS (SO FAR):

• I need a much larger patient base to make accurate comparison
• Ideally it would be great to compare two identical demographic groups of patients on the same diet with or without HCG for better comparison. (i am not sure if I will be able to do this!)
• I believe weight loss in pounds might be the same with or without HCG injections.
• So far, it seems HCG might help lose preferentially fat weight in the midsection while preserving muscle mass. (I do body fat measurement with Tanita in my office and see improvement.)
• It seems patients who have lost weight in my practice have managed to keep it off so far, part of this may be due to an improved lifestyle , which I emphasize at every visit and the types of food choices in the program. I will keep you posted on my patient progress in one year!! At this moment, there is no MIRACLE CURE for Obesity! In the end it boils down to better lifestyle and a permanent change in relationship to food. HCG may help jump start this food relationship. Whether HCG "resets' the hypothalamus to change your metabolism for a short while, nobody knows. If there is a small chance that HCG can correct some of the metabolic problems leading to weight gain, considering that low dose HCG has no side effects, I am willing to try it out, because like most of you, I am tired of going through this weight gain /weight loss cycle!!

  My fear is, like most other hypes too many "weight loss clinics" are offering HCG diet without close Physician supervision and even more scary is that people are able to purchase "HCG" without prescription online. These type of practices could lead to undesirable side effects which will discredit the potential use of HCG even more!!

  I think role of HCG in weight loss needs more research and is worth looking into.
  
  If you would like more information on our HCG Medical weight loss program in or around South lake, Colleyeville, Keller, Grapevine, Flower Mound, Lewisville, Arlington, Fort Worth, North Richland Hills, Denton and other areas around Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex, Please call our office at 888-210-9693 or visit our website at
  www.nailamalikmdskin.com

  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.

  
  

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.

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.

15% of American adults use diet supplements to boost weight loss!
Choosing supplements can be tricky, certain diet supplements like ephedra, may cause heart attack and stroke. (Ephedra, also known as ma huang, was banned by the FDA in 2004 for sale in the U.S.)

Which weight loss supplements may be safe and helpful during a diet? Here is a list to look into

• Calcium


• Fiber


• Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)


• Green tea extract


• Meal replacements


Always check with your doctor before starting an daggressive weight loss program or taking any type of supplement. Even supplements can have side effects possible interaction with your prescription medications .
A healthy eating plan and regular physical exercise should be the foundation of any weight loss program.

Calcium

Bone health may be the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word calcium, but this mineral may also help you lose fat while preserving muscle.

Research is mixed. Some studies have not found a relationship between calcium intake and weight loss. In one analysis, researchers found that dieting women who received 1,000 mg of calcium supplements each day lost, on average, more weight and more body fat than women taking a placebo. Although the differences in the amount of weight and fat lost by the two groups were not significant, the trend suggests there could be a relationship between calcium supplements and weight loss.

Conjugated Linoleic Ccid (CLA)

Using a type of fat as a weight loss supplement might sound counterintuitive, but it might work, too. Conjugated linoleic acid, a fatty acid that occurs naturally in dairy products and red meat, is a diet supplement that may hold promise for dieters.

Some studies have found that CLA diet supplements can help you lose body fat and increase lean body mass. When a group of overweight people took 3.2 grams of CLA each day for six months, they lost more body fat than people taking a placebo and gained less holiday weight during the winter months.
it can cause stomach upset with diarrhea and nausea. Be sure to talk with your doctor before taking CLA as a diet supplement.

Fiber

A recent study found that overweight people who took a fiber diet supplement each day reported less hunger after meals than people taking a placebo.

The National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine recommends that men under age 50 consume 38 grams of fiber a day, and 30 grams a day after age 50. Women under age 50 should consume 25 grams of fiber per day, and 21 grams per day after age 50. Most people only get about half of this amount.

Green Tea Extract

One recent report found that daily green tea extract supplements helped obese men and women lose weight and lower their body mass index (BMI). Green tea extract also helped reduce amounts of dangerous belly fat, lowered blood pressure and LDL, or "bad," cholesterol.

If your woulke more information about our medical weight loss program please visit our website or call our Southlake TX office at 888-210-9693.

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.