Are you frustrated with trying to lose weight with hunger-producing diets and sore muscles from the gym? Are you tired of jumping from one failed fad diet to another, each time with increasing confusion and disappointment? Let’s face it, if those strategies worked, our overweight problem in America would be solved!
Most of my patients have “been there, done that” and now know that when their weight increased by 20, 40, 60 lbs or more, it became a true medical problem, requiring medical solutions for true success.
When people contact us for the first time, usually referred by a successful friend, they typically have heard about patient successes. But you may still have questions about going to Dr. Tague’s Center for Nutrition to finally get in control of your weight. Let’s look at some facts, including the use of medications as one of many tools that can be help you lose weight.
For many years, the State of Kansas has placed restrictions on various weight loss medications. Since many of these prescriptions are also controlled by the Drug Enforcement Administration, there are both federal and state regulations that must also be followed.
Currently, only authorized physicians with DEA certificates may initiate treatment with these controlled medications and only in qualifying patients. Further, certain ongoing monitoring must take place, with at least monthly visits.
Further, you want a physician knowledgeable and ethical in the area of weight loss medicine (nutrition and obesity medicine). And, of course, why not have a physician who has experience in achieving actual weight loss results?
Please know that significant weight loss is VERY achievable. Consider our Center for Nutrition “Topeka Study” of 20 consecutive obese men and women coming to us for weight loss. These 20 motivated individuals lost an average of 41 lbs in 12 weeks!
Note: Trained, experienced physicians, using modern nutritional and medical weight loss strategies, often see impressive patient results. Keys include strategically managing metabolism, nutrition and appetite at every stage of the journey.
These 20 individuals were motivated to lose weight and were on a mission! They chose our most aggressive approach to weight loss. They were also thoughtfully evaluated and treated. Regular follow-up visits to our clinic allowed their plan to be modified according to their needs over time. This was not a “cookie-cutter” approach to weight loss.
How about after a year of treatment? We found an average weight loss of 39 lbs among 716 consecutive patients following our plan for 1 year! Remember, obesity is a chronic, progressive disease. For 716 individuals to actually lose an average of 39 lbs and have it off a year later is remarkable. Remember, many individuals lost significantly more than 39 lbs and many individuals did not need to lose 39 lbs to achieve their weight goal.
Like losing weight, maintaining weight loss requires the same “on a mission” mentality. A long-term, medically supervised approach is the only strategy I recommend for keeping weight off.
The following are recommendations I would suggest when choosing a physician and the standards that I maintain at the Center for Nutrition. Remember, obesity is a complex MEDICAL DISEASE, not a character flaw!!! As you choose a physician to assist you, use the following guidelines:
- Select a physician who specializes in nutrition and the complex treatment of weight problems. (Helping people lose weight on a journey toward optimum health has been my specialty and my passion since 1996.)
- Select a physician who will examine you, review your personal medical history, and determine which powerful nutritional therapies or medications are appropriate for you. (You will receive over 10 pages of specialized personal health history questions from us.)
- Select a physician who will perform an EKG and appropriate lab tests in accordance with standards of obesity medicine, to understand your metabolism and health issues. (Evaluating labs for certain minerals, vitamins, kidney and liver function, blood sugars, insulin, thyroid and other key measures give us lots of insights in to the causes for your weight gain and which approaches are safe and recommended for you.)
- Do your homework on the physician. If they are not qualified, based on training AND experience, to treat your weight problem, you may wish to select another physician. (Look for years of experience and specialization in the fields of nutrition and weight loss. I started in 1996.)
- There are reasons for prescribing or not prescribing medications, including those for weight loss. If a physician is willing to write you a prescription without a thorough history and exam, you may wish go elsewhere. Also, select a physician who is fully authorized to prescribe weight loss medications. (Avoid “pill mills” and quick visit clinics, your health is too precious! Your initial medical consultation with us will likely require 1 ½-2 hours.)
- Select a physician who is an active member of the Obesity Medical Association, attending their conferences and receiving up to date information in the field. (I have attended their conferences annually for many years.)
- Select a physician who is board certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine, the credentialing organization for physicians specializing in medical weight loss. (Being board certified since 1997 has given me a lot of education along the way!)
- Very importantly, select a physician with as much experience as possible in this field. How many patients has the physician treated over the years? And how much weight are those patients losing and keeping off over time? Experience is a great teacher! (Let my experience with over 20,000 patients losing well over 300,000 lbs benefit you.)
- Select a clinic, like the Center for Nutrition, that has a team of trained and experienced staff members to support you on your journey! (It’s not just me who will assist you. My Center for Nutrition has a team of trained physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, nutritionists, and a registered dietitian ready to assist you!)
If you are struggling with unwanted weight gain, whether it is 20, 40, 60, or 100+ pounds, take charge now! Our professional team is available to give you the tools, strategies, and personal support that is mandatory for success!
For Optimum Health,
Rick R. Tague, M.D., M.P.H. & T.M.
P.S. If you need a personalized medical treatment plan to lose unwanted weight, learn more at taguenutrition.com. At the Center for Nutrition, we have had over 25 years of experience assisting overweight individuals in their pursuit of weight loss and health. Let our experience with 30,000 patients losing well over 500,000 lbs go to work for you. Call us for a free initial consultation to learn more.
