weight loss and physicians

Good morning from Orlando...supposed to be sunny and 75.....(alright, all of you STOP groaning)

re: question about laser liposuction.....seems safe...but always remember...this is NOT a weight loss procedure...it is a resculpturing procedure.

We are on the show floor of a cosmetic surgeons conference meeting physicians and explaining our weight loss program to them. There are MANY booths of laser lipo, injectable botox and other chemicals, skin lasers, etc....we are one of only 2 booths devoted to weight loss and th other is some HCG shot/500 calorie a day plan....

How can it be that the nation's largest medical issue that is killing hundreds of thousands of people per year is represented at a show like this by only two booths and there are well over 100 of the other types of fields, all cosmetic with really no "health" benefit?

ANSWER: MONEY MONEY MONEY

Insurance companies do not recognize weight loss programs and for a physician, sucking fat or injecting botox makes lots of $$$$ compared to sitting down with patients for behavior modification discussions. Also, for many people, the "outside" appearance is more important to them than the "inside". Cosmetic procedures may help psychological issues of poor self-esteem and such but it doesnt rid the person of diabetes, hypertension, heart attack risk, cancer risk etc. Weight loss does it all, but yet physicians do not feel motivated to become involved, not because they do not want their patients to be healthier, but rather because the system does not reward doctors for taking the time to become involved.

Americans are going to be buried financially and physically by the obesity epidemic, and aside from the government, we as phyicians need to play a more active role. No offense Jenny Craig, but physicians are better positioned to really help their patients lose weight and keep it off.