Treatment for Obesity

The number of overweight Americans continues to rise. Current statistics show that two-thirds of American adults who are overweight and one-third are obese. Obesity means one has excess weight and body fat. More specifically obesity is diagnosed by one’s body mass index (BMI). This is a ratio of body weight to height. The BMI is an indicator of body fatness. An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese. Anyone more than 100 pounds overweight or with a BMI greater than 40 is considered morbidly obese.

Interpretation of BMI for adults (from Centers for Disease Control Website (http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/adult_BMI/about_adult_BMI.htm)

                                   
Obesity puts one at increased risk of many serious diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, and certain cancers.

Risk Factors
There are several risk factors for overweight and obesity. This includes genetics which can affect the amount of body fat stored, location of fat, and the rate of metabolism-how your cells convert food into energy. One has increased chance of being obese if one or both parents are obese. This can be due to genetics or due to similar lifestyle habits. As people get older their risk increases too. People often become less active and their metabolism slows down. Lastly, women are more likely to be obese than men since they have less muscle mass and thus burn fewer calories.

Causes of Obesity
There are many causes of obesity. Consuming too many calories is a very common problem in America. Many calories are consumed from simple carbohydrates such as soft drinks, desserts, white breads and pastas. Too many calories combined with inactivity are a recipe for weight gain. One must burn enough calories through activity. Exercise also increases one’s metabolic rate. In addition, many people gain weight when they quit smoking which can slow one’s metabolism. Some women have difficulty losing weight after their pregnancy. Be aware that prescription medications such as corticosteroids (prednisone) or antidepressants may cause weight gain.

Lastly, hormone imbalances such as low thyroid (hypothyroidism) or insulin resistance (high glucose and insulin levels) contribute to weight gain. Since 40% of the American adult population has pre-diabetes, insulin resistance is quite common. [See Dr. Stengler's article on Hormones: Your Secret Allies in the Weight Wars.]

To deal with this problem Dr. Stengler has developed his Excuseless Weight Management™ Program. This program allows each person to be treated individually by identifying factors which are limiting weight loss. Testing that helps the patient identify barriers to weight loss include:

• Comprehensive hormone testing
• Neurotransmitter testing
• Glucose and insulin testing

Dr. Stengler Solutions
Dr. Stengler has a variety of weight loss programs, depending on the needs and health of each patient.

HCG
Dr. Stengler is also experienced in using HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) to help those resistant to weight loss. The off-label use of this prescription hormone, combined with a very low calorie diet, has helped many of his patients lose 20 to 30 pounds in thirty to forty days. This is a medically supervised program where Dr. Stengler personally oversees each patients program.

There are various supplements Dr. Stengler prescribes, depending on the patient's needs. These may include natural agents that reduce appetite, lower glucose and insulin levels, enhance metabolism, or improve cravings and mood. Examples include resveratrol, 5htp, chromium, L-carnitine, ribose, COQ10, caralluma, soluble fiber, green tea extract, and several others.

See Dr. Stengler's Medical Services for Weight Loss and read Patient Testimonials