Obesity is principally a lifestyle disease based on faulty nutritional information; do not blame yourself for overweight issues, however, once you know there is a "diet" that helps you lose weight reliably, then take action. Alpine physicians offers dietary weight loss recommendations based on the biochemistry of fat elimination in humans.

Lifestyle factors include diet and drinking habits, exercise type and frequency, stress levels, sleep patterns, relationships and your attitude toward your body. There are rare conditions that effect hormones and fat metabolism that can make weight loss very difficult. Hormone levels and their balance also have a major effect on your efforts to lose weight; the hormones are addressed and corrected if they are effecting you.

The biggest single contributor to obesity is diet, and the most significant factor in obesity development is sugar and refined carbohydrate intake.

Alpine Physicians offers four types of weight loss programs. The low carbohydrate (carbohydrate restricted) diet is our foundational diet. Each person is different in their ability to lose body fat; hormonal assistance and appetite suppression can be used in specific cases to aid the initiation of the weight loss process.
1. Low carbohydrate – The carbohydrate restricted diet is the basis for losing and maintaining weight. It is a diet that can be maintained long term, with or without calorie restriction that allows hunger elimination and a readjustment of the individual’s body fat set point.
2. Hormone balancing - This program is especially suited to women or men who "stall out" on the foundation program. Body conformation analysis combined with hormone testing allows us to correct hormonal imbalances that impede weight loss. Works well for fat loss from upper arms, hips, butt and thighs.
3. Hormonal assistance – HCG combined with a 500 calorie diet has consistently shown success in allowing a person to lose weight quickly. The initial program lasts 42 days; in order for the weight loss to be sustainable, a low carbohydrate diet needs to be adopted after the program is completed.
4. Appetite suppression – Appetite suppression is accomplished by using amino acids that raise levels of brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that control appetite. By decreasing appetite, some people can transition to a new diet more easily. This program effects the same neurotransmitters as the appetite suppression drugs (Phentermine, for example) but without their side effects. Appetite suppression is used short-term for those needed assistance transitioning to a carbohydrate restricted diet.

Our weight loss programs are covered in more detail at the Bozeman Weight Management web site:

Weight loss would be better termed fat loss, because it is excess body fat that causes health problems. During fat/weight loss it is important to maintain muscle mass, because loss of muscle mass is normally associated with decreased body functionality. Muscle is also the most metabolically active tissue in the body, meaning it uses more calories (much more energy) than the same mass of adipose tissue (fat) on a daily basis.

Other factors can contribute to overweight and obesity issues, such as hormone imbalance, neurotoxins, prescription drugs, concurrent diseases and lifestyle choices. All of the factors will be addressed during the program.
While exercise is important to improve the response to fat loss programs, for example by improving insulin sensitivity and muscle tone, it is not an effective weight reduction method by itself. We recommend specific exercise programs that most effectively support health and fitness.

The importance of maintaining normal body weight cannot be over emphasized. Obesity leads to much higher rates of serious disease, including:
· Metabolic syndrome
· Type 2 diabetes leading to poor circulation and possible amputation of lower extremities
· Cardiovascular disease including high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke
· Neuropathy or nerve diseases
· Macular degeneration and blindness
· Reduced kidney function
· Skin and lung infections
· Impotency in males and infertility in females
· Joint problems and increased pain complaints
· Sleep apnea
· Gallstones
· Increased rates of cancer
· Decreased quality of life
· Decreased life expectancy