Calculate your Body Mass Index or BMI
Your weight in pounds X 703 divided by height in inches X height in inches
equals your BMI. For example, if you are 5 foot 8 inches and weigh 200
pounds then your BMI would be 30.
| (Weight in pounds) X (703) |
Example: |
200 pounds X 703 |
= 30.4 or 30 |
|
|
|
|
| (Height in inches) X (Height in inches) |
|
68 X 68 |
|
|
|
|
Attitudes are changing
The NIH guidelines re-emphasize the importance that obesity plays in other
diseases. It was not long ago that the obesity "specialist" or "Bariatrician"
was considered a black sheep of the main stream medical establishment.
The doctors dedicated to the disease of obesity were frequently ridiculed
and accused of "just handing out speed" to their patients. With the tenacity
of group of physicians dedicated to treat a disease responsible for nearly
1000 deaths daily, the Bariatrician is now becoming a highly sought after
commodity. As patients, medical providers, and insurers begin to set aside
egos and look at the scientific data, obesity is now getting the attention
it deserves. Patients who suffer from this disease have been discriminated
against far too long. Organizations like the American Association of Bariatric
Physicians - ASBP, have been involved in physician education about obesity
and the diseases associated with it for over 50 years. The ASBP recently
held regional conferences in San Francisco and Miami for physicians specializing
in treating patients with the disease of obesity. Steven Kaye, MD, President
and CEO of Lifeline Medical Centers in Southern California and member of the
HealthMax Medical Advisory Board agrees that an integrated effort is
the best value for people seeking medical weight management treatment. "Our
patients are given resources and treatments which fit into their individual
lifestyles and habits that improves their success both short term and long
term." "The 'diet clinics' which only emphasize weight loss are not what
our patients are looking for, they want a full service bariatric specialist
who understands and can treat the other medical problems associated with
obesity," according to Dr. Kaye.
Contemporary medical weight management
It is no longer appropriate for a physician to rip off a 1200-calorie diet
and tell his or her patient to go exercise. There needs to be a comprehensive
approach to help overweight individuals by integrating nutrition education,
exercise physiology, behavioral education and medical intervention. The
HealthMax program does just this by giving patients an extensive
evaluation upon entrance into the program and identifying the risk factors
and medical problems associated with their obesity. The patient attends a
series of 12 Transitions classes designed and taught by experts in the field
of psychology, nutrition, exercise and medical obesity. The patients are also
followed by medical clinicians with advanced training in medical weight
management. Joan Robnett, a HealthMax Medical Advisory Board Member
and co-author of the Transitions course, says, "the Transitions course is
being adapted for online educational instruction for those who have Internet
access." "Links will be provided for recommended services, products and
medical wellness healthcare providers." "This is not a 'one size fits all'
approach, according to David C. MacDonald, DO, "the HealthMax program
combines cost effective training seminars with individual evaluations all
under the direction of a panel of physician and associated health and wellness
experts." "We are currently working on alternative payment structures for
those whose insurance companies are declining payment for obesity services."
"Combining high deductible medical insurance (like we do with our cars) and
paying for obesity services with the cash saved on the insurance premiums,
provides an alternative for patients who choose to control their health care
purchases." stated Dr. MacDonald during a lecture to physicians at a recent
national bariatric conference in Miami.
Several reasons linked to obesity
In addition to the programs offered by HealthMax, programs and
educational resources are also referred to that are recommended by the
HealthMax Medical Advisory Board. There are many possibilities
available for diagnosing and treating weight problems. Patients need a
reference point to direct them to valuable and credible resources. Metabolic
problems are frequently to blame for the excess pounds. Nutritional problems
can also cause difficulty in treating overweight individuals. For example,
food allergies can play an integral role in managing weight and without the
knowledge of which foods are causing the problem people try in vain to lose
unwanted pounds. We use services such as
Immuno Laboratories to test our
patients if we suspect delayed food allergies as a component cause for
their obesity. This is a simple blood test, which identifies IgG antibodies
against nearly 100 common foods. Dr. Braly, MD, medical director for
Immuno Labs gave an informative
seminar to physicians recently in Miami, regarding the effects of food
allergy in diabetes and obesity. "IgG ELISA testing is a very cost-efficient
method of determining if food allergies are playing a role in illness
symptoms" according to Dr. Braly.
Other, problems such as low serotonin levels and low nor-epinephrine levels
have effective treatments according to Dr. Chris Renna of the Renna Clinics
in Houston and Los Angeles. Dr. Renna spoke to over 250 physicians in San
Francisco to describe the food cravings and behavior changes associated with
low levels of these brain messengers which can be modified with daily supplements
of common building blocks of specific proteins. Jeffrey Bland, PhD of
HealthComm, Inc. frequently teaches medical practitioners in the latest
developments regarding the biochemical effects of obesity, diabetes and
aging with recommendations to improve health function in a developing area
of medicine termed 'Functional Medicine'. Several behavioral changes
complimented by specific nutritional supplements can help manage weight
and obesity effectively. It is the integration of the reputable resources
available, which allow each patient the Maximum opportunity for success,
and ongoing control, which is the focus of HealthMax, Inc. Several
medical problems can co-exist with each other and treating one can have a
positive (or a negative) impact on the others. Looking at the problem from
all sides provides the maximum ability to correct the interrelated aspects
of the disease.
Children are affected too
Adults are not the only people affected by obesity. Our nation's children are
alarmingly becoming "fatter and fatter" causing the start of several medical
and behavioral problems. Recently an 11-year-old patient was seen in my office
for "abdominal pain" and "failing grades". On further questioning, she had
been a 4.0 student until the other kids in class began calling her "Fatso" and
"Fatty". Sobbing in tears, she identified the source of her abdominal pain
and declining grades. The disease of obesity caused her classmates to unfairly
tease and ridicule her. A 16-year-old black boy who is teased constantly about
his 320 pounds tells the same stories of persecution by his classmates. Dr.
Kevin Connolly, PhD, President of River Valley Psychological Services and Director
of the Behavioral Sciences Division of HealthMax taught a course to
physicians at the Western Regional Obesity Symposium in San Francisco, educating
them about the psychological opportunities for helping obese adolescents and
children. Dr. Connolly gives several seminars to HealthMax patients
relating to the psychological impact obesity has on the child and adult as
well as the behavioral approaches available to help in comprehensive treatment.
Education is a critical element
HealthMax programs are currently offered in affiliation with several
physicians' offices in the Seattle area and in California and Texas. Dr. Pieter
de Wet, MD and Medical Director of the Athens Wellness Centers believes that
"an integrated program is essential for maximizing resources to help people
with weight problems". It is critical that patients have access to informed
and empathetic medical weight management programs, which have several tools
available to benefit individuals with the disease of obesity. Obesity is an
epidemic in America and people heed help, in many different ways. The new NIH
guidelines are not intended to scare people or make them feel overwhelmed.
They are intended to give a wake up call to our population that excess weight
is a major cause of illness and getting control of your weight may be the single
most important health care issue for most of us. The Medical Advisory Board of
HealthMax evaluates and helps educate both physicians and patients about
health related resources, which can be of benefit. Education is a critical
element according to Howard Lyman, a devout Vegan, who teaches listeners about
the health benefits of vegetarianism over 4000 times per year via the radio
waves. "People want to know their options when they are choosing lifestyle
changes and we intend to bring them this information in any way we can through
various media sources" according to Lyman.
Internet resources available
The HealthMax Weight Management Program is available in conjunction
with medical providers associated with Primary Care Providers, Inc. in
Renton, WA. HealthMax also provides medical information and educational
programs and links to other wellness organizations via their Internet site at
www.healthmax.net. The website is designed
to allow people access to obtain medical information, education; services and
health related products via the Internet at a time convenient for them. Other
wellness programs are also offered relating to topics such as diabetes, smoking,
stress, nutrition, exercise, vitamin supplements, food allergy, aging and others.
Bariatric specialists are also available by linking to the ASBP website from
within the healthmax.net site under the
"providers" heading.
In summary, medical weight management can help overweight and obese people
manage their disease. It is difficult to manage this by yourself. Obesity
is a complicated disease. There are medical reasons why this happens; it is
not solely do to a lack of will power or poor exercise habits. Many parameters
are involved, from the brain's chemical messengers to what we place in our
shopping carts at the grocery store. Comprehensive help is available for those
who need it. You may call HealthMax at 206-362-1111 or visit their
website at www.healthmax.net for more information regarding this and other
medical conditions. Hotlinks are provided to other companies, programs and
services which are dedicated to wellness and preventive health. HealthMax
also has a live health and wellness radio show called the HealthMax
HealthHour on KEZX, AM-1150, from 4-5PM Mondays in Seattle.
*Dr. Cherewatenko is a board certified family physician who practices at
Primary Care Providers, Inc. Family Health and Wellness Center in Renton, WA.
He is the Founder and Chairman of HealthMax, Inc. and is on the program
committee for the American Society of Bariatric Physicians - ASBP a national
association of physicians with specialized training in obesity management.
Dr. Cherewatenko frequently gives lectures regarding the comprehensive medical
management of obesity and the co-morbidities or medical problems associated
with obesity. He is also the Chairman and co-founder of the American Association
of Patients and Providers - AAPP, a non-profit association dedicated to
principle-centered, accessible and affordable health care; preserving
patients' freedom of choice and providers' freedom to practice the art and
science in which they are trained. He can be contacted by e-mail at
drvern@healthmax.net.
