Obesity Treatment

The preoccupation of the press with Obesity Treatment is of personal interest. Having completed a half century of practice in pulmonary medicine, the current preoccupation with the pharmacologic treatment of obesity is of more than academic interest. The cost of these products exceeds the ability of most people to afford or insurance companies to cover.

Obesity is a relatively simple medical problem and its treatment is straight forward—the reduction of calories ingested. Since 3500 calories in addition to our usual diet maintenance will add one pound of weight and 3500 calory reduction in our usual diet will decrease our weight by one pound. However, almost all patients find this very difficult to implement.  

There are many diet books. I have reviewed dozens as recorded on my website: in my book review section: http://www.medicaltuesday.net/book-reviews-health/ My experience was not significantly different from those recorded.

On my birthday in  October 2023 with a weight of 230 pounds, I began missing lunch which I calculated to be about 500 calories. So every week or seven days would equal 3500 calories. With a reduction of 3500 calories per week, I predicted I would lose one pound per week.

In October 2024, after one year of this self study, I weighed 180 pounds. I had indeed lost the 50 pounds I had predicted.

I was never hungry during this past year.  I continued my physical activity during my retirement by walking around our courtyard twice a day. I continued to use my bench press twice a day, currently 300 extensors, 200 flexors, and 200 knee lift sequences daily. I had no pharmacologic expenses.

The weight loss attributed to the promoted drugs may be in excess of one pound per week. Then in addition to the exess fat, one could begin losing muscle and bone. This would then have adverse consequences to health and well being.

So a safe, sane and costless way to lose 50 pounds is to miss lunch for one year. If that’s not enough, then after a year or two of normal living, miss lunch again for another year to lose another 50 pounds. Be sure to remember your starting weight inasmuch as it will be different than the previous starting weight.

Fat would normally be the first tissue to be removed which would have minimal adverse effect on body function. After losing the excess fat, the body would begin removing muscle and bony tissue which could begin having adverse effect on body function (loss of strengh) or structure (loss of height).

The above self study would indicate that there may be little need for weight loss drugs since the results can easily be obtain without pharmacologic intervention and the significant cost, whether personal or insurance.

This may also suggest that weight loss drugs need not be an insurable item. After losing 50 pounds of fat if weight loss continues one may begin experiencing muscle weakness or loss in height.

Many perople after significant weight loss, experience a rebound to their previous weight.  I have not experienced a gain in weight in the six months after concluding this self study. My weight today is still 180 pounds

Del Meyer, MD

Pulmonologist, Retired