Doctor Simonds recognizes that obesity is a rapidly growing epidemic that is a clear and present danger to the health of many Americans. It has led to an explosion in the rate of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hyper-lipidemia, and vascular disease. The growing trend of obesity will have a catastrophic effect on our health system in the future. However, the worst effect will be on the life of the individual patient. The trend of obesity, the culture that is promoting it, and the effect it is having on society and personal lives, requires a strong response from the medical community.
Doctor Simonds believes that physicians can no longer delegate the responsibility of dealing with obesity to others. The time has come for physicians to take the lead in combating obesity. This requires a long term approach that constantly emphasizes the importance of diet and physical activity. In addition, prescription medications must be made available to patients to assist them in making changes in their diet. The approach of the medical community cannot be to tell patients to “diet and exercise.” Patients already know they need to do that. The approach of the medical community needs to be:
1. Showing patients how to pick the right foods
2. How to pick the right amount of food
3. How to incorporate physical activity into their lives
4. What medication options are available to them to help them do this
5. Constantly emphasize and teach these concepts over and over again
Therefore, Doctor Simonds has a guiding philosophy for Physician Assisted Weight Loss: One Third Diet, One Third Exercise, and One Third Medicine.
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