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How to plan for a healthier business meeting

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Feb 1, 2013

Stay healthy at the office

From birthday parties to business meetings, social events almost always involve food and lots of it. While we can’t get away from that fact, we can approach it in a healthier way. Here are some healthier ideas and alternatives for the next time you plan another business meeting or social gathering.

First on the agenda: Healthy meeting food

In business meetings especially, you need to be able to focus, but why do they feature sugary and fattening foods like donuts and pizza? Those who are trying to stick to a diet either give in to temptation or skip eating—neither of which benefits you. Instead, why not provide healthier foods and snacks so people can actually be nourished? Bonus: people will also be able to pay attention without suffering from a sugar crash.

The following are just a few tips and guidelines for healthier making healthier choices when planning for business meetings or any other kind of gathering:

Serve water, skim or low-fat milk, real fruit juice and unsweetened drinks
Present foods in halves and smaller portions
Offer real Fruits and Vegetables
Choose whole grain breads, pastas and cereals
Serve a max of 4 ounces of meat per serving
Always have a vegetarian option available
Instead of a heavy dessert, include something small such as fruit or a small cookie

If you still don’t know where to start, check out these healthy and delicious options below for inspiration.

Breakfast:

Oatmeal, Fresh Fruit, Veggie Omelets or High-Fiber cereals

Snacks and Refreshments:

Whole Grain muffin halves, Fresh Fruit and Veggie plate with Low-Fat dips, Whole Grain crackers and Low-Fat cheeses

Lunch or Dinner:

Mixed Green Salad with low-fat dressing, sandwich halves, broth-based soups, Veggie pastas with low-fat cheese and Tomato sauce, Steamed Vegetables

Weight Loss Plan

Get a structured weight loss plan and diet from Dr Oksana Aron of WeightLossNYC. If you’ve been struggling too long on your own, now’s the time to get real help. Call 718-491-5525 to make your first appointment with Dr. Aron, who will work with you one-on-one to help you achieve the results you seek.

Source: New York State Department of Health Center for Community Health

Image courtesy of Ambro at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Labels: appetite, blood sugar, diet, diet tips, healthy habits, hunger, manhattan, new york, ny, nyc, snacks, weight loss

4 Reasons to Get Outside This Winter

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Jan 6, 2013

Thaw out this winter, lose weight!

When it's cold out, the last thing you want to do is get out and exercise. Surprisingly enough, when the temps dip down, it's actually the perfect time to get moving.

Here are 4 great reasons why you should exercise outdoors when it's cold (and be sure to grab your hat and gloves).

Breathing in cold air is invigorating

Exercising outdoors--instead of the gym or in front of the TV--can boost your energy and mood, decreasing your chance for depression, says research published in Environmental Science & Technology.

Exercise makes you feel great

Anytime you exercise, your body releases endorphins. This makes you feel good, which is something that can often be lacking in the winter months. Kick your exercise routine into high gear this winter to stay happy and healthy.

Your body burns more calories in cold weather

You tend to move faster when it's cold, which means you can increase the calories you burn. A cold winter day is the perfect day to dust off your running shoes and push yourself to the limit.

A few minutes of exercise makes a difference

If you think it's too cold or you don't have time to exercise, guess again. A new study in the American Journal of Health Promotion says that people who exercise in spurts of 10 minutes or less a few times a day had the same health benefits as those who exercised for longer periods in structured activities.
Don't forget: those brisk walks to and from the subway count, so hop to it!

Got a new year's resolution to lose weight that you intend to stick to? WeightLossNYC can help! Call 718-491-5525 to schedule your first appointment with licensed bariatric weight loss specialist Dr. Aron.

Sources: WomensHealthMag.com; Health Behavior News Service, part of the Center for Advancing Health

Labels: calories, depression, exercise, lose weight, new york, ny, nyc, staten island, weight loss

Fast Food Getting You Down?

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Dec 4, 2012

New Fast-Food Health Risk: Depression

Don’t let fast food super-size you

Is fast food your weight loss kryptonite? Do you let yourself splurge while on the go, telling yourself, “It‘s just this once,” and that you’ll eat healthier tomorrow to make up for it?

Well that doesn’t work because you’ll just do it again. And again. Before long, you’ve packed on a few extra pounds and you don’t even know why.

Why is fast food bad for you?

Sure, fast food is convenient and cheap, but its unnatural ingredients come with health risks. When consumed regularly, fast food fills you up on fat and empty calories, causes you to gain weight and puts you at risk for obesity. Even worse, you can increase your chance of heart attack, stroke and liver disease.

But that’s not all. New evidence shows that fast food lovers have a higher risk of depression. A Spanish study published in Public Health Nutrition found that people who ate fast food were 51 percent more likely to be depressed.

What’s more, the study authors discovered what’s called a “dose-response relationship,” which means that the more fast food subjects ate the higher their risk of developing depression. And in this case fast food was not limited to just hotdogs, hamburgers, and pizza, but also what the researchers refer to as “commercial baked goods,” meaning foods like doughnuts, croissants, and snack cakes.

The healthy alternative

Think twice before you grab a bite to eat. Instead of dining out, dine at home. Follow a delicious, healthy recipe and learn how to cook for yourself. Knowing what’s in your food and how it’s made will keep you on the road to a healthy weight. People who cook at home are said to live longer too, so it can benefit you in many ways!

Healthy Weight Loss

Get answers to your weight loss and dieting questions today: If you need real guidance from a licensed bariatric physician on how to lose weight, call us at 718-491-5525 for your first consultation with Dr. Aron. You’ll receive clinically proven weight loss treatment that will make you a success story.

Sources: EverydayHealth; Huffington Post

Labels: depression, fast food, heart health, liver disease, manhattan, ny, nyc, obesity, stroke, weight gain, weight loss

HCG for Treating Obesity: The Facts | Weight Loss NYC

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Nov 26, 2012

Is HCG a miracle cure?

Safety and efficacy of HCG for weight loss vs other medical weight loss treatments available with prescription or bariatric physician supervision.

You’ve heard of doctors treating obese patients with Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) for weight loss because it's been touted as a rapid weight loss medication, but does it work the way it's supposed to? If you're looking for a quick fix in losing weight with HCG injections, you’ll want to read on for more information.

Does HCG cause weight loss?

First used in a 1954 study of patients who were injected with HCG in conjunction with a 500-calorie-a-day diet, it was believed to produce rapid weight and fat loss, reduce hunger, and result in no weakness. Once popular in the 1970s, later challenges to the study, however, found that HCG was ineffectual in weight loss and that the weight loss during the study was likely due to the restricted-calorie diet alone.

Is HCG Safe and Effective for Weight Loss?

Today, HCG is available in tablet form or by injection, and is surging in popularity again, but scientific evidence doesn't support the claim that HCG can alter fat distribution or reduce hunger. Not only that, but HCG and the lower intake of protein in the diet that accompanies HCG for weight loss are not considered safe and are not recommended, according to the American Society of Bariatric Physicians.

What is the Best Medical Weight Loss Program?

Get the facts on the best weight loss supplements as part of an effective weight loss plan that works for you. Schedule your consultation with Dr. Aron in our Brooklyn office today. Simply call WeightLossNYC^® at 718-491-5525.

Source: asbp.org; image courtesy of Victor Habbick, FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Labels: appetite, hcg, hormone, lose weight, lose weight fast, manhattan, nyc, obesity, simeons diet, weight loss, weight loss pills, weight loss supplements

Exercise for Weight Loss? Try 30 Minutes a Day

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Sep 10, 2012

30 minutes is all you need
We've all heard how important it is to exercise and eat right to lose weight. We all know we need to do cardiovascular exercise at least a few times a week to see results. But did you know that 30 minutes of exercise can get you better results than 60 minutes of exercise? Now that we've got your attention, read on to find out why and how.

Less exercise, less pounds
More exercise doesn't always mean more weight loss. According to a Danish study of sedentary young men in good health who were slightly overweight, published in the American Journal of Physiology, 30 minutes of sweating it out during physical exercise over a period of three months resulted in a similar amount of weight loss as those in the study who did 60 minutes of exercise a day. In fact, some participants even lost more weight by exercising 30 minutes daily.

On average, the men who exercised 30 minutes a day lost 3.6 kg in three months, and those who exercised 60 minutes a day lost 2.7 kg. The reduction in body fat was about 4 kg for both groups.

Researchers also noted the possibility that the 60 minute-a-day study participants may have overcompensated by eating more, losing less weight than they could have by not overeating.

Just do it!
Sticking to an exercise regimen of 30 minutes a day is much easier to commit to if you struggle with motivating yourself or finding the time. But it can also give you that extra boost and weight loss benefit you need to keep at your weight loss goal.

Don't delay doing something about your weight for another day. Learn how to lose as much as 10 to 20 pounds per month by making the right healthy choices. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Aron at WeightLossNYC today! Give us a call at 718-491-5525.

Source: MedicalNewsToday.com
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Labels: appetite, exercise, lose weight, ny, nyc, overweight, weight loss

Qsymia, Another Anti-Obesity Diet Drug Approved by FDA

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Jul 26, 2012

New weight loss pill

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration just recently approved another prescription medical weight loss drug, Qsymia (previously named Qnexa), which is said to produce significant weight loss.

Qsymia: The facts

In clinical trials, patients experienced a more dramatic weight loss with Qsymia than with Belviq, another weight loss drug that recently got FDA approval*. Patients in the trial went from an average of 227 pounds to 204 pounds while on Qsymia. Those on Belviq went from an average of 220 to 207.

Meant for obese or overweight patients with a BMI of 27 or greater who suffer from hypertension and diabetes, Qsymia’s benefits include lowered blood pressure and cholesterol levels in obese people and less chance of getting Type 2 diabetes while on the drug. It also contains phentermine, an appetite suppressant.

Possible side effects include an increased heart rate and birth defects when taken by pregnant women. Qsymia is expected to be available soon, while its manufacturer, Vivus, will conduct a study on its cardiovascular effects, as required by the FDA.

Consult with Dr Aron

Speak with Dr. Aron before trying any weight loss pills to find what’s safe and works best for you.

Visit her website WeightLossNYC™ today, or call 718-491-5525 for your first appointment with a knowledgeable medical weight loss physician, Oksana Aron MD.

Sources: cnn.com, Images: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

*Belviq withdrawn from market Feb 2020.

Labels: 718-491-5525, appetite, diabetes, fda, high blood pressure, hypertension, new york, ny, nyc, obesity, overweight, weight loss, weight loss pills

Burn 300 Calories a Day the Easy Way

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Jul 12, 2012

Stay active, lose weight
Burn an extra 300 extra calories a day to lose weight? It may sound like a daunting number, but it's easier than you think. Whether you're exercise-averse or simply don't have much time, you can burn calories by doing everyday activities. After 12 days of trying this, you may even lose an extra pound. Here's how to do it.

Everyday activities
Some examples of simple ways to burn extra calories when you're not sleeping or eating include walking, riding a bike as transportation, typing at the computer, and doing housework or yard work. Burning up extra calories via these activities can increase your metabolic rate. Do it every day and it can make a major difference at the scale.

The following are just a few examples of how many calories you can burn by doing everyday activities for 30 minutes (if you weigh 150 pounds):

Playing with kids: 136 calories

Raking leaves: 147 calories

Vacuuming: 119 calories

Mowing the lawn: 205 calories

Staying active is important for losing weight and remaining in good health. Walk instead of driving. Go swimming with the kids instead of popping in a DVD. Go on hiking or biking trips as recreation. It can involve regular cardiovascular exercise, but it can also include getting up and moving around as much as possible throughout the day. It's really as simple as that. Give it a try for a few weeks and see some results.

Star your healthier lifestyle today by calling WeightLossNYC at 718-491-5525.

Source: EverydayHealth.com

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Labels: brooklyn, caloric deficit, calories, lose weight, lose weight fast, manhattan, metabolism, motivation, new york, nyc, weight loss

Eat Smaller and Lose Weight

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC

The more the merrier

New research from Arizona State University proclaims that eating several small pieces of food is more satisfying than larger portions. It can also help you lose weight. The key here is cutting up and eating several small pieces of healthy food. If you couple this with eating smaller portions in your overall diet, you will be on your way to losing weight in no time -- all while enjoying your food just a little more.

"Cutting up energy-dense meal foods into smaller pieces may be beneficial to dieters who wish to make their meal more satiating while also maintaining portion control," says Devina Wadhera, the study's lead author and a graduate student in ASU's department of psychology, in a news release.

Here's why

Eating small pieces of food takes longer, which gives your stomach more time to register that it's filling up. By giving your hunger hormones time to catch up with your eating, you end up eating until you're satisfied and you also eat less food overall.

How to do it

Put your fork or spoon down and take a short break in between bites so you stay in tune with how full you are without eating too much. Be sure to drink water with every meal to stay full and avoid overeating. Take your time to savor every bite!

Call WeightLossNYC at 718-491-5525 to learn more about losing weight.

Source: Self Magazine

Labels: appetite, brooklyn, diet tips, healthy habits, hunger, lose weight, manhattan, new york, nyc, weight loss

5 Unusual Weight Loss Tips

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Jun 18, 2012

Slim down tips and tricks

Have you exhausted just about every diet plan or silly weight loss tip? Are you ready to learn about how to lose weight in a super-easy manner? Well, here are a few tips and mind tricks you can use that actually work. Read on and try them out.

1. Try Yoga

Women who do yoga typically weigh less than those who do not, according to the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. They’re also more likely to be mindful when they eat, which helps prevent overeating.

2. Eat Home-Cooked Meals

Those who eat at home at least 5 times a week instead of dining out are more likely to be successful at losing weight, says Consumer Reports.

3. Take Breaks when eating

Most people take a break and put down their eating utensils at a certain point while they eat, called an eating pause. When this happens, don’t take another bite for a while until you actually feel hungry. This may help you realize you’re already satisfied but not quite stuffed.

4. Time It

Set a timer for 20 minutes while you eat to promote slow eating and savor each bite. Pay close to attention to every sensation while you eat, which results in your body triggering satisfaction hormones. When you eat quickly, your body doesn’t trigger the hormones, which can ultimately lead to overeating.

5. Keep your eye on the prize

Motivating yourself to lose weight every chance you get also helps. So hang up that sexy pair of jeans or little black dress that’s a little too snug for you right now so you can see it every day — and be motivated to keep at your weight loss goal.

Slim down and keep the weight off

… with a one on one consultation with Dr Oksana Aron. Her medical weight loss plan is designed to help you lose weight fast, and is backed by medical research. Call WeightLossNYC today at 718-491-5525 and get started.

Sources: webmd, Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Labels: appetite, diet, hormone, hunger, motivation, weight loss

3 Diet Traps That Sabotage Weight Loss

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Jun 15, 2012

Weight Loss Diet Tips

What you don't understand about dieting can cost you at the scale, resulting in extra pounds. If you continually find yourself still not losing the weight you think you should, there may be some hidden diet problems. Here we shed some light on common diet misunderstandings.

1.) Hidden sugars
Sugar lurks in some of the most unsuspecting foods and the results are disastrous to your healthy diet. Common culprits include cereals, pasta sauces, soups, salad dressings and sauces in general. Not only does a diet high in sugar lead to weight gain, but it can also cause you to burn your energy stores too rapidly.

Tip: Check the ingredients listed on the nutrition label. If the first few ingredients list sugar or some variation of sugar such as high-fructose corn syrup, evaporated cane juice, fruit juice concentrate, glucose, dextrose, sucrose, honey, malt syrup, molasses or agave, then you know it has a high sugar content.

2.) Lack of fiber
Fiber-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts and whole grains are an important part of a healthy diet. They keep you fuller longer and can help prevent snacking and overeating.

Tip: Make sure your daily diet includes about 30 grams of fiber for healthy weight loss.

3.) "Healthy" junk food
Even though that snack bar is organic, all natural or sweetened with evaporated cane juice instead of refined sugar, it still can cause weight gain because of its sugar or calorie content. Not only that, but you may even give yourself permission to binge on these "healthy" snacks, so consume with caution.

Tip: Limit your snacking on healthy snack foods and fill up on fresh, natural foods for a quick energy boost without the additives or extra calories.

Tired of not knowing how to eat right and lose weight? Call 718-491-5525 and WeightLossNYC will lead the way to a healthier you.

Source: shine.yahoo.com

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Labels: appetite, calories, diet, sugar, weight gain, weight loss

The 411 on Zero-Calorie Foods

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC May 29, 2012

How do zero-calorie or negative-calorie foods add up?

Dieters may try to lose weight by eating low-calorie foods they think will burn up more energy digesting them than the foods contain themselves and call them negative-calorie. They may even give themselves "permission" to eat other unhealthy foods because of these so-called negative calories, but is there such a thing?

No, actually. There is no such thing as a negative calorie food. There are some foods that may burn up some calories while you eat them, but doctors say it's not going to make much difference in terms of losing weight.

Foods that are often called negative-calorie foods may include celery, grapefruit, lemon, asparagus, apples and lemons. Although they aren't going to put you in a negative calorie balance, they still are healthy foods you should be incorporating in your daily diet -- just don't expect the food to do the work for you.

What healthy foods are worth to you

Vegetables and fruits are an important part of a healthy balanced diet and can help you ultimately lose weight if you consume the proper amount of calories in each meal, every day. They're packed with nutrients and fiber, all of which will keep you energized, satisfied -- and best of all -- help prevent you from eating unhealthy foods.

Get a customized diet plan that guarantees healthy weight loss. Call WeightLossNYC today at 718-491-5525 for your initial consultation.

Source: EverydayHealth.com

Labels: appetite, brooklyn, calories, diet, diet plan, energy, new york, ny, nyc, weight loss

Eat More Often to Lose Weight

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC

Stop starving yourself, lose weight

Starving yourself, skipping meals and limiting calories are not how you lose weight. In fact, eating more frequently can help you lose weight healthfully and effectively. Here are some tips on how eating small meals throughout the day can help you achieve your weight loss goals.

Eat more to increase metabolism

When you skip a meal or wait too long to eat, you may wind up binging on unhealthy foods or snacks because you're acting on hunger. You are also more likely to overeat and consume too many calories. In fact, studies show that people who eat fewer meals also eat larger meals and many more calories weigh more than people who eat breakfast and four or five smaller meals a day.

Control your appetite with smaller meals

You can control your appetite and weight by eating smaller meals throughout the day rather than two or three large meals, which is common for the average American. With three meals and a couple healthy snack breaks, you keep your glucose level from dropping too low and are less likely to satiate hunger with calorie-laden options.

Because your body goes into starvation mode when your body needs to refuel, which can ultimately cause you to gain weight, you prevent your body from holding onto calories (when in starvation mode) through several "mini meals" throughout the day.

Tired of one-size-fits-all diets that don't work? Learn how to lose 10 to 20 pounds a month in an individualized plan working with a medical weight loss doctor. Call WeightLossNYC today at 718-491-5525.

Source: EverydayHealth.com

Labels: appetite, caloric deficit, diet, hunger, new york, ny, nyc, weight gain, weight loss

3 Great Reasons to Eat More Beans

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Apr 4, 2012

Eat your legumes!

Yes, beans really are a miracle food of sorts. Packed with fiber and a high water content, they can also help you stay nice and trim. Here are some great reasons why you should make beans a staple in your diet.

Beans are satisfying

Because they contain a lot of fiber and water, they help you feel full and satisfied -- in a good way. The benefit: You eat less food and snack less, which can help you lose weight as you consume less overall calories. Fill up on healthy foods like beans instead of high-calorie foods with no health benefits!

Stay or get thin

Because you stay fuller longer and eat less, that means you'll be thinner, have less weight around the waist and weigh on average 7 pounds lighter than those who do not regularly consume beans, according to a recent study.

Other health benefits

With a slimmer waistline, you'll also have a decreased chance of diabetes and heart disease. The antioxidants present in beans (1/3 of your daily intake) can also help keep the free radicals at bay and provide some protection against cancer, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

Tip: If you buy canned beans, find a low- or no-salt version.

Source: fitsugar.com

Labels: 718-491-5525, appetite, calories, cancer, diabetes, diet, dieting, heart disease, heart health, ny, nyc, sodium, weight loss

Weight Loss and Exercise Help Diabetics' Mobility

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Mar 30, 2012

Good news for Type 2 diabetics

Are you an adult suffering from Type 2 diabetes and trouble with mobility? New research says there's hope. You can improve your mobility through some positive lifestyle changes, weight loss and exercise.

The facts

In the 4-year study conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services published in The New England Journal of Medicine, more than 5,000 overweight or obese adults, who were between 45 and 75 years old with type 2 diabetes, were put into two different groups: intensive lifestyle intervention or diabetes education and support. It found that the lifestyle intervention group experienced a reduction of 48% in the risk of loss of mobility. Increased fitness and weight loss were considered to be major factors in this result.

The conclusion

Weight loss and improved fitness were found to slow the decline of mobility in overweight Type 2 diabetics. The study shows that by making healthy lifestyle changes, Type 2 diabetes sufferers can experience not only weight loss and improved health, but an overall improved lifestyle. These benefits are possible for anyone by making healthy choices.

A healthier lifestyle is easier to achieve than you think. Call us at 718-491-5525 to get on track! WeightLossNYC is here to help.

Source: nejm.org

Labels: 718-491-5525, diabetes, exercise, fast weight loss, lose weight, new york, ny, nyc, obesity, overweight, weight loss

Dine Out and Still Keep the Weight Off

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Mar 9, 2012

Frequent dining out at restaurants can pack on the pounds and lead to obesity, but there is a way to counter the weight gain: mindful eating.

A study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found in their six-week meditative study called "Mindful Restaurant Eating" that female participants actually lost weight when dining out.

Here are the facts from the study:

Overall, 35 perimenopausal women aged 40 to 59 years of age were studied. On average, the intervention group lost 1.7 kg (3.7 lbs) during six weeks while eating out one to two times a week. They also reduced their daily caloric intake by about 297 calories after completing the intervention...

Participants learned how to plan before dining out and calculate fat and protein counts in restaurant meals. They also did meditative exercises that focus on sight, smell and texture of food to enhance enjoyment and focus on hunger, satisfaction and what their triggers are.

What these meditative exercises involved were simply using sound judgment and being aware of your body in order to lose or maintain weight. No meditation is necessary, but if you pay attention to your hunger -- and eat to satisfy yourself, not out of boredom or emotion -- and be mindful of what you eat, you will be on your way to a trimmer you.

Learn how to lose weight the smart way. Make your first appointment with WeightLossNYC today. Call 718-491-5525!

Source: NYDailyNews.com

Labels: 718-491-5525, appetite, brooklyn, calories, emotional eating, hunger, manhattan, nutrition facts, ny, nyc, obesity, weight loss

Weight Loss Drug Qnexa Wins Support

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Feb 27, 2012

A new weight loss drug for obese patients may soon come available pending FDA approval.

Weight Loss Medications
The weight loss drug Qnexa was initially rejected by the FDA because of the risk for possible heart problems or birth defects, but an FDA advisory panel recently gave it a recommendation for a full decision come April -- and pushed for a post-approval trial to monitor cardiovascular side effects.

There was concern over the increased risk of an elevated heartbeat and birth defects such as an oral cleft occurring in infants born to women on the drug while pregnant. However, two ingredients in the drug phentermine (an appetite suppressant) and topiramate (which makes you feel full) are already on the market today and can be prescribed off-label.

The drug’s maker, Vivus, is seeking approval for a once-daily pill for obese men and women with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, or for those with a BMI of 27 or higher who also have weight-related comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, or central adiposity.

Vivus shared that the drug can help patients lose 6 to 10% of their body weight and it can also lower their blood pressure. The company also worked on a plan with the FDA to do the following as part of a risk mitigation strategy: include labeling that states the drug should be discontinued once a female patient becomes pregnant, distribute it only through mail-order pharmacies that have pharmacists with specific training on the drug, educating providers and patients on contraception and monthly pregnancy testing, and developing a pregnancy registry to keep track of patients.

Choose a safe, non-surgical weight loss program under the guidance of a bariatric doctor and medical weight loss doctor.

Call WeightLossNYC™ for your initial consultation at 718-491-5525

Source: MedPageToday.com

Image: graur razvan ionut / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Labels: 718-491-5525, appetite, ny, nyc, obesity, weight loss, weight loss supplements, women

Make Diet Changes to Lose Extra Weight

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Jan 7, 2012

Gallup’s annual Health and Healthcare survey shows that 52% of all U.S. adults who say they have succeeded at losing weight at some point in their lives said it was due to dietary changes more so than exercise.

How did they do it? Respondents who did lose weight said they altered their diet in the following ways:

1.) eat less
2.) count calories and watch portions
3.) eating more natural foods

The general nature of Americans’ responses -- eating less and working out -- shows that most people find weight-loss success by maintaining good overall health habits, not by relying on quick fixes -- 1% said they had gastric bypass and 4% said they used diet pills/drugs.

Other facts from the study showed that Americans in general still need to improve their diet and get more exercise to combat the high rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

The good news: Even modest weight loss (5% or 10% of total body weight) can improve a person's blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Call 718-491-5525 today to start a weight loss plan that works!

Source: Gallup

Image: Piyachok Thawornmat / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Labels: 718-491-5525, calories, diabetes, heart health, ny, nyc, obesity, portion control, success, weight loss

Emotional Eating and Weight Gain

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Dec 23, 2011

The days are getting shorter and the holidays will soon be far behind us. During the winter months, many people turn to food for comfort and wind up gaining weight. Are you an emotional eater? Find the reasons behind emotional eating and learn how to avoid the weight gain that comes with it.

What is emotional eating?
Eating impulsively when in emotional distress

Why we emotional eat
To deal with and distract yourself from negative emotions such as fear, stress, anger, sadness and loneliness

What it does
It can cause you to gain weight because you may eat too fast when emotional or you eat too much because you are distracted by the negative emotions. It can also cause you to feel even worse over the resulting weight loss, which can trigger an ugly cycle of overeating and feeling bad.

How to get help
-Learn effective ways to cope with your stress, be it everyday stress or a major stressful event in life.
-Find something to do when you get bored instead of reaching for food. Go for a walk, do a craft or clean the house.
-Eat a healthy diet and don't deprive or starve yourself into losing weight. It takes time, so don't stress yourself out about it!
-Get therapy if you find yourself unable to deal with the cause of your emotional eating.
-Make an appointment with Dr. Aron to address your emotional eating and get on a path to weight loss success.

Source: Mayo Clinic

Labels: 718-491-5525, appetite, diet, dieting, emotional eating, success, weight gain, weight loss

If You're Trying to Lose Weight, Don't Do These!

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Dec 14, 2011

It's easy to get obsessive when you're in weight-loss mode. As tempting as it is, don't! Here are a few things to definitely avoid, so you can relax and take your weight loss regime at a reasonable--and healthy--pace.

Starving yourself (or skipping meals)
You may think this is a faster way to weight loss, but it actually has the opposite effect in the long run. Not eating, skipping meals and diets far too low in calories wind up decreasing your metabolism and increasing your percentage of body fat.

Scammy weight loss pills
These products found over the counter at drug stores and online promising rapid weight loss are not only unsafe and unregulated by the FDA, they don't even work. They can also cause problems. Diet pills are often loaded with caffeine and diuretics, which can dehydrate you and throw your electrolytes off balance.

Extreme exercise
Going to the extreme when exercising to lose weight can do you more harm than good. It can also lead to injuries, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance and turning physical exercise into a punishment for your eating habits. Instead, get a moderate amount of exercise for weight loss--at least 30 minutes a day for 5 days a week. In time, moderate exercise coupled with a healthy diet will get you on track to lose weight--and keep it off--as long as you keep it up.

You don't need to go to extreme measures to lose weight. Work one-on-one with Dr. Aron to change your lifestyle for the better, and lose weight safely. Call today!

Source: WebMD

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Science Doesn't Support HCG's Weight Loss Claims

Author: Oksana Aron, MD Source: Weight Loss NYC Dec 8, 2011

Obesity specialists from the American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP) are also calling out makers of the HCG weight loss drug and support the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) decision to remove these weight loss products from the market. The FDA states that there are no FDA-approved weight loss HCG products on the market, so there is no need to waste your money on them.

Obesity is a chronic disease which is best treated by a physician who specializes in weight loss and practices medicine based on sound scientific principles. Unfortunately, HCG does not live up to those standards. There is no scientific evidence that shows that HCG can help you lose weight in the long term, or that it is more effective than a restricted-calorie diet.

— ASBP Trustee Craig Primack, MD, in a press release by the American Society of Bariatric Physicians.

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