Obestiy Medicine
First Visit
- Do a general history (medical and weight).
- Check height, weight, BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, and other vital signs.
- Do a general physical exam.
- Draw blood tests (blood cell counts, cholesterol, liver function, kidney function, electrolytes, protein levels, hgb A1c, HIV, and thyroid test).
- Talk about what your possible options are for weight loss.
Ongoing Visits (every 2-4 weeks)
- General exam and vitals at each visit.
- Are the behavioral and lifestyle changes working for you or not?
- Are the medications working out OK?
- Decide to try a new behavioral change.
- Follow your progress, and change things as necessary.
- You tell me what is working for you and what is not.
Medications?
Yes, I prescribe weight loss medications. Only FDA approved ones. (orlistat, phentermine, qsymia, topiramate, bupropion, contrave, lorcaserin, liraglutide, among others...) If you are low on testosterone, or thyroid, those hormones can help loose weight too.
Many overweight people are on medicines that CAUSE weight gain! (insulin, diabetic medications, blood pressure meds, cardiac meds, antidepressants, and others) I'll help you get off those meds, and get onto something that helps you loose weight.
I don't prescribe HCG.
If you need to know something specific, just ask me.
Surgery?
We should do maximal efforts at lifestyle, behaviors, and medications first.
I don't do the surgeries myself, but I know some docs who do them. I am in favor of doing surgeries for certain patients.
If you (or someone you know) has had weight loss surgery before, and needs an obesity specialist... I'm your guy!