Published: July 29, 2009 09:31 am      

Ask the doctor: What weight loss options work?

QUESTION: I am swimming in weight loss options. I have tried, without success, various things and gimmicks to loose weight. But most things haven’t worked or my weight returned with even more pounds on my frame. Prescription Phentermine suppressed my appetite and I lost a lot of weight. I couldn’t stay on it and the weight flew right back on as soon as I stopped it. Weight Watchers, though effective for some, was too time consuming and requires one to be comfortable talking in public about one’s weight and eating problems.

Nutrisystem is an expensive way to buy food and I ended up throwing most of this tasteless packaged food out. How do you help your patients with weight loss?

ANSWER: I advise patients not to go on a diet and that we need to educate you on a better and healthier way of preparing meals and eating. A lot of people, not all, can lose weight successfully and keep it off long term without a prescription appetite suppressant like Meridia or Phentermine. Both of these drugs should only be used short term and can be habit forming, cause agitation, and can cause withdraw symptoms such as depression and severe fatigue.

Herbal appetite suppressants, certain vitamins, frequent, and I mean frequent, dietary and activity counseling are most effective in helping a patient lose significant pounds of fat, tone up their body, increase their muscle mass to speed up their metabolic rate, and to keep their weight off long term. Avoiding a dehydrated state by drinking lots of water and avoiding caffeine will increase the metabolic rate and enhance or quicken weight loss. Topamax, normally a migraine headache prescription medication, can be safely used as an appetite suppressant and doesn’t have the same troublesome side effects and risks the other commonly used drugs I mentioned earlier.

My recommendation to many patients is a physician managed program that is specially designed for each person based on metabolic profile, the amount of weight loss needed, their existing medical problems, their physical limitations, their psychological needs, and, equally important these days, their financial constraints. This treatment program is a national program that’s been around for 15 years but requires physician monitoring. You can find out more about this option by visiting www.themetabolicmiracle.com.

Over the years I learned that people who follow a “do it yourself” plan by going on a diet, buying packaged food plans off the TV, going on a liquid diet, buying an infomercial diet plan, or buying the latest exercise machine touted by a celebrity….simply remain overweight and chronically frustrated.



Dr. Nolan Hetz is a board certified gynecologist, a women’s health specialist, and a female bladder control specialist in Clinton. To participate in a future “Ask the Doctor” column, e-mail him at nolanhetz@yahoo.com.