THE SCIENCE AND ART OF WEIGHT LOSS NYONE WHO HAS ATTEMPTED TO lose weight can relate to the ups and downs that are part of the journey. At Frazine Medical Weight Loss, a team is ready to assist you through these challenges and help you meet your goals. And what really sets this program apart is their comprehensive approach. Dr. Frazine understands that weight loss is not always as easy as eating less and moving more. As a physician board certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine, Dr. Frazine looks at obesity as a long-term medical condition to be managed with a combination of dietary adjustment, behavioral change, medication use, and activity modification. Dr. Frazine states, “Our program combines the science and art of weight loss.” The science includes the large body of research on obesity and weight loss than can help to guide the best approach. It also includes technology such as metabolic rate testing, which is available at Frazine Medical Weight Loss, to help remove some of the guesswork from losing weight. The art is the individual approach applied to each patient in determining what resonates to encourage and motivate them. At Frazine Medical Weight Loss, patients are greeted with a welcoming and friendly atmosphere, which is driven by an exceptional weight loss staff. In addition to Dr. Frazine, patients may also meet with Carla Frazine or Debbie French, physician assistants dedicated to helping patients live healthier lives. Sara Christiansen, Registered Dietitian, and Sandy Stratemeyer, Program Coordinator, serve not only as excellent educators and coaches but are also the patient’s biggest cheerleaders. 20 LUXE LIFE | SPECIAL EDITION OF VUE MAGAZINE { Provided by FRAZINE MEDICAL WEIGHT LOSS } One of the first questions for patients is, “What is your goal and motivation for losing weight?” Some have a certain number in mind regarding the scale. Others have a specific goal, possibly to improve a particular medical condition or to achieve an improved level of mobility. “We address how much weight loss is likely needed to achieve these particular goals and work with each patient to determine a reasonable goal for them,” said Dr. Frazine. While Frazine Medical Weight Loss currently offers three set nutritional diets, they evaluate and treat each patient individually. To determine each patient’s particular dietary needs, a thorough initial evaluation is used including a medical history, a weight and diet history, a review of medications, a laboratory evaluation, and, when indicated, a genetic evaluation. A screening for other conditions, such as binge eating, is also included. “With this information, we determine what adverse effects the patient may be suffering from due to excess weight,” said Dr. Frazine. “We also consider if underlying medical conditions are contributing to weight gain or inability to lose weight (such as insulin resistance and thyroid disease), if any current medications may lead to weight gain or difficulty losing weight (including multiple psychiatric medications, some blood pressure medications, and others), and if any medications could help them lose weight.” All FDA-approved medications are prescribed as appropriate to assist in weight loss and weight maintenance. Dr. Frazine makes clear that these medications can be an important part of the management of obesity long term, not as something to give a ‘jump start’ or a short-term benefit.
