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Friday January 25, 2008

Release Date: 01.25.08 | Location: All Metro Atlanta | Organization: Buford Complete Health and Wellness Center

Daybook Expert Spotlight: Dr. Hoyt Gazaway Informs Us About Metabolic Assessments

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Two out of three American adults are overweight, and of that number 31% are obese. Unfortunately, this is not a medical condition limited to adults. Almost 1 out of 5 children and adolescents age 6 to 17 are overweight. There are 400,000 deaths each year attributable to obesity. The economic costs are staggering at almost $123 billion.

Overweight and obese people are at increased risk for: diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, stroke, gallbladder disease, arthritis, breathing problems, fertility problems, complications in pregnancy, psychological disorders and many forms of cancer.

Obesity is defined as a BMI (body mass index) > 30. BMI = (weight (lbs) X 703) divided by height^2. Simply put, obesity occurs when: CALORIES IN > CALORIES OUT.

Metabolism is the key to sustaining weight and to weight loss. Doctors, especially surgeons, have known this for decades. In fact, in hospital trauma centers, patients suffering from burns, auto accidents or other traumas have their metabolisms tested to determine their nutritional requirements. These patients typically have significantly elevated metabolic rates with enormous calorie needs. Providing the appropriate calories is essential to the patient's recuperation and recovery.

Because the equipment has been extremely costly, metabolic testing and its caloric calculation were limited to only the sickest patients and to patients in a hospital setting. The average person lacked the opportunity to have their metabolisms actually tested or to know how many calories they need every day. That was until now.

Determining your metabolism and being able to train your metabolism is the proven way to lose weight, increase energy, and improve fitness. Metabolism is the essential process of combining food with oxygen to release the energy your body needs…to support vital life functions, for daily activities and work, and for exercise. Your metabolism is affected by many factors such as: age, gender, genetics, nutrition, and exercise. Everyone's metabolism is unique. Metabolism is typically measured in calories. When the calories you eat match the calories your body burns, your body maintains a constant weight. However, if you eat more calories than you burn, you gain weight, and if you burn more calories than you eat, you will lose weight. Therefore, achieving your weight goals requires that you know precisely how many calories you should eat and how many calories you should burn. Until now this has been very difficult, typically limited to a hospital setting and reserved for only the sickest patients. The good news is that using the latest science and technology, we can measure your metabolism so you can have an exact plan to help you achieve your goals.

Since 1919, doctors, dieticians, and other professionals have relied upon the Harris-Benedict equation to estimate caloric needs. In 1988, Foster showed that when you compare estimates of caloric requirements with measured, there is a variation of 1000 calories, either underestimating by 500 calories/day, or overestimating by 500 calories/day. Dr. Gazaway uses the New Leaf Metabolic Assessment System ^TM to determine an individual's metabolic profile, specifically measuring an individual's calorie needs and calorie burn.

The Resting Metabolic Assessment measures how many calories your body needs every day, and takes about 8-12 minutes to complete. Using this very specific data, we can develop a nutritional plan centered on the patient's food preferences, and designed for success. A significant element of a patient's success is dependent upon their logging their food, realizing the areas they struggle in, and developing a strategy for success. Patients are instructed in the importance of a balanced diet, portion control, meal and snack planning, and learning to make healthy food choices in everyday life.

The Exercise Metabolic Assessment measures how your body responds to exercise and determines how hard or how easy you should exercise. This 8-12 minute test will provide the data to develop an exercise plan for patients that will allow them to train their metabolism to burn more fat and calories…even at rest! Patients come to understand that it's not about exercising harder, it's about exercising smarter! They maximize the effectiveness of every workout, burning more fat and calories in the time they have available. We recommend at least 3-4 days of cardio training each week, for at least 30 minutes, along with two 1-hour sessions of strength training per week. Our goal is to help patients develop a plan for life, to begin slowly, and build upon their successes, week by week.

Metabolic testing is the foundation for any successful weight management program. Using this metabolism information, Dr. Gazaway develops a personal nutrition plan for each patient, along with a specific exercise and strength training program.

The Medical Director of the Buford Center, Dr. Hoyt Gazaway, is a former general surgeon who knows firsthand that metabolism is the key…the key not just to helping a patient in a trauma center but also is the key to helping people lose weight and KEEP IT OFF!.

Whether a patient wants to lose or maintain weight, increase lean muscle, or simply jumpstart a stalled program, Dr. Gazaway's Active Metabolic Training is guaranteed to improve success.

At the Buford Complete Health and Wellness Center, metabolic testing and training are essential parts of the center's overall focus on wellness.