By: Robert A. Shaffer M.D., Gastroenterology
Associates N.A.P.C. & Medical Director of Shaffer Weight Loss Center
As
gastroenterologists we treat people with a multitude of GI disorders, many of
the disorders that we treat are related directly or indirectly to obesity or
improper diet. Obesity
is the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States due to consuming
high energy, low nutrient diets, living a more sedentary lifestyle watching
oversized flat screens and playing video games or many tiring work days with
longer commutes compared to the1960’s. In
Alabama over 30% of the population is obese and over 60% of the United States
is either overweight or obese. Overweight and obesity are both preventable and
reversible with proper nutrition and exercise; our goal is to consistently
educate people on how to become successful in reaching their long term health
goals.
Overweight
and obesity is described as having excess of adipose tissue causing a person to
be at a high risk for certain diseases. A measurement of these risks can be
taken by measuring an individual’s Body Mass Index or BMI. BMI consists of a
formula that uses a person’s height and weight that will give an accurate
estimate of disease risk. BMI of 25-29.9 is considered overweight, 30 and above
is obese.
What
does this mean for 60% of the population that is overweight or obese? It means
that they will at some point begin to experience some type of health issues as
a direct result of this unwanted excess adipose tissue: atherosclerosis,
hypertension, diabetes mellitus, joint pain and degeneration, kidney stones,
gallstones, cancers of the breast, uterus, and liver in women and cancer of the
colon, rectum and prostate gland in men. Excess fat in the thoracic cavity
impairs breathing leading to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the blood
causing fatigue. These aliments require medications to help maintain
homeostasis and can also cause unwanted side effects.
Reducing body fat by 8% -
10% could make an obese patient less dependent on medication. Overweight
patients may not have health issues yet but if they were to begin a good nutrition
and exercise plan they could greatly reduce the future risk for these health
concerns. We have become a society that is addicted to bad foods, and bad
habits and we help our patients to break out of the cycle of eating the wrong
foods for the wrong reasons, and changing the attitudes towards exercise and
fitness to take away the fear of starting that road to lifelong fitness by
giving them the tools they need to get there.
We are now offering the
Serotonin Plus Weight Loss Program® at our Saint Vincent’s East Location. This
is a program that focuses on reducing carbohydrate cravings by using an oral
supplement that does this very effectively in combination with a reasonable
diet low in carbohydrates and starches. The dietary plan is based on real foods
and educates patients on nutritious food selections and portion control along
with regular exercise based on the individual’s tolerance for an average weight
loss of 35 pounds in 12 weeks. With great success, 99% of or patients are able
to achieve their weight loss goals and are feeling the benefits of maintaining
a healthy lifestyle.
For more information on our weight loss
programs please contact:
Robert
A. Shaffer Medical Director of Shaffer Weight Loss Center
Denise
Biro Weight Loss Coordinator
Shaffer
Weight Loss Center
100
Pilot Medical Drive
Suite
250
Birmingham
AL 35235
(p)
205 397 1448
(w)
gastrodocs.info
(e)
weightloss@ganapc.net
facebook.com/
shafferweightlosscenter.com
References &
Resources:
http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/meetings/workshops/overweight/report.htm
www.mckinley.illinois.edu/Handouts/pdfs/body_mass_index.pdf
http://www.mckinley.illinois.edu/interactive/bmi_calculator.htm)
www.spweightlossmd.com
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