WEIGHT LOSS / WEIGHT MANAGEMENT:

Dr. Halweg completed his fellowship in Obesity Medicine January 2010 acknowledged by the American Board of Obesity Medicine. 
 

We use clinically proven tools to reduce and manage weight. Obesity is ultimately a brain disorder. The brain controls what we put in our mouths to nourish our bodies. However, the brain can have hunger signals beyond its needs. The brain can also have intense euphoric reward signals from certain foods which don't provide proper nutrition. We can manage hunger and reward signals by balancing the brain chemistry. Here are some examples:

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Phentermine gives the brain a signal saying, "I am full. I don't need to eat anymore." This helps keep the brain focused on things other than food. Later in the day, Phentermine can wear off and when you return home from work. Many find themselves snacking mindlessly on the couch or in the kitchen. For some patients, we combine Phentermine with an afternoon dose of Diethylpropion to eliminate evening snacking.

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Many people find their pleasure in eating. They eat when they feel lonely, sad, or when they feel like celebrating. Eating comfort food gives them a brief boost of dopamine to feel better but the excess calories and nutritionally deficient food intake has a detrimental impact on our health. We can often help break this destructive reward cycle in the brain by boosting dopamine, norepinephrine with Wellbutrin (Buproprion) and modulating the opiate receptors with Naltrexone. The FDA recognized this combination for weight loss with Contrave (Naltrexone/Buproprion).

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For some, compulsive eating is a problem. They just cannot stop themselves from an eating binge. Topamax (Topirimate) is a tool to help the brain break the food addiction behavior of compulsive eating.

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Others only need some nutriceutical brain supplements to help with cravings like:

Hoodia (Hoodia gordonii) Do not take Hoodia without first talking to your doctor if you have diabetes or if you are taking a medicine to control your blood sugar levels, have any heart problems or take any heart medicines, have a bleeding or blood clotting disorder or are taking a medicine to increase or decrease the clotting of your blood such as aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin), or heparin, or have anorexia, bulimia or any other eating disorder. Hoodia gordonii is a cactus-like succulent plant, native to the Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa. Hoodia has received a lot of publicity in recent times for its natural appetite suppressant properties. The appetite suppressant effects of Hoodia were first observed in 1937 by a Dutch anthropologist studying the primitive San Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert. It was noticed that the nomadic Bushmen, (who call it Xhoba) ate the stem of the Hoodia plant to stave off hunger during long hunting trips in the sparsely vegetated area. The active ingredient in Hoodia is the appetite-suppressing molecule, P57, which is researched for its potential as an anti-obesity drug. Scientists report Hoodia tricks the brain into thinking you are full even when you have not eaten, reduces interest in food and delays the time before hunger sets in. Typical effective dosage for appetite suppression are in the range of 750 to 1000 mg three times per day.

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Perhaps you are a candidate for another brain supplement to break compulsive eating like:

N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine The amino acid N-acetylcysteine has previously shown promise in the treatment of repetitive or compulsive disorders and acts on the glutamate system, the largest neurotransmitter system in the human brain. Jon E. Grant, J.D., M.D., M.P.H., and colleagues at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, conducted a 12-week, double-blind controlled trial of the medication among 50 individuals with a compulsive disorder (similar to compulsive eating). Twenty-five were randomly assigned to receive 1,200 milligrams to 2,400 milligrams of N-acetylcysteine per day for 12 weeks; the other 25 received placebo. After 12 weeks, patients taking the active medication had significantly greater reductions in compulsive behavior than those taking placebo. “Fifty-six percent of patients ‘much or very much improved’ with N-acetylcysteine use compared with 16 percent taking placebo,”. “Significant improvement was initially noted after nine weeks of treatment.” None of the participants reported adverse effects.

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How many diets have you tried? How many times have you said, "I need to get into shape! This time is going to be different."

Take this quiz and see if you are ready to see Dr. Halweg for waist management.

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We accept new patients with HMSA PPO, HMO, & FEDERAL insurance. Call (808) 202-0669 to schedule.