What’s the difference?
Fully half the population are ‘overweight’ due to stress and genetics. Still others carry around more weight than they like due to their eating habits, lack of exercise, lifestyle, etc. What constitutes ‘healthy’ to one person might mean overweight or even obese to another. But we all desire to be healthy. To feel good about ourselves and have more energy. We are all sitting too much daily and experience more stress and could use more rest and peace of mind.

People become overweight due to slowed metabolism from pregnancy, age, menopause, hysterectomy, hormone replacement, and lack of everyday physical labor.

Others may be overweight due to low thyroid production or diabetes.

There is no one answer to the question of ‘weight loss’ and that is why different programs and diets work for different people and will have no effect on others. The best programs look at changing the attitudes, behavior and body’s functioning versus simply addressing surface concerns such as lipo or plastic surgery.

All good weight loss programs will address diet, exercise and life/work balance. Better ones will take into consideration maintainability over extreme methods of dieting or fitness bootcamps. These can be good to cut weight for a specific purpose but function more as a temporary maintenance regime than a good all-around weight loss method.

The best plan is to see a doctor who can help assess the varied reasons for the body’s weight and go over a plan that includes a variety of elements based on your physical (and life) condition. Unrealistic expectations, gimmicks and quick painless fixes will almost always fail. Accountability, clear goals, and positive mental attitude are the first steps when setting a new weight loss plan. And they are a critical component along with proper rest, balanced nutrition, exercise, ALONG WITH modern science and supplementation.

Does it work?
Our program, prescriptions and monitoring is not a ‘magic pill.’ It will work like magic if given a chance and if the patient stays committed to their own life and weight goals. We have seen over 40,000 happy patients. We witness ‘miracles’ almost daily and aren’t content unless we are seeing dramatic results. Even more important is the positive mental attitude and smiles upon our clients faces. We help your body
naturally develop into an efficient fat-burning machine. While creating happier, more energetic patients.

Is the treatment and are the medications safe?
The most common question we get asked is: “Is it safe?” The obvious answer is that any medication or herbal supplement taken on it’s own, without a doctor’s supervision, in unknown quantities and quality alongside of other unrelated medications, can always be dangerous and we would never advise a patient self-medicate or try to alter the body’s chemistry.

In addition, hormones now found in many foods, stress in our environment (proven to increase weight), our busy work/life and genetics all need to be carefully addressed when preparing a weight loss plan.

You should know that each and every supplement or medication prescribed by our office is extremely safe when used as directed. Or we would not prescribe them! All of our medications have FDA approval. You should also know that our plan from the start is to have your body ‘take over’ it’s own natural metabolism and production of hormones, etc. rather than prescribing medication indefinitely.

We use prescribed medication as a ‘reset button’ to help kickstart your metabolism where it has been slowed down by years, weight or a number of other factors, as well as create balance in your body until a newer, healthier you can maintain naturally and on your own.

How do you know the treatments are effective? How do you know that my metabolism is really up?
Simply put, we know the treatments are effective when you begin to feel more energy and start losing weight. As a doctor there are ways we know. We monitor heart rate, weight, fat percent, , etc.

The most effective method is a complete physical, then supplementation, realistic food intake and exercise, monitoring, then tailoring each aspect and supplement based on your specific condition to fine tune the program and then seeing the results we are looking for. And regardless of body type or physical condition, you should be seeing results. If the program you are currently on is producing no results, there is a problem with the program. We have seen over 40,000 happy patients and that number is growing!

Is there a limit to the amount overweight I can be to qualify?

We do not specify an amount overweight or other health conditions as we do a complete evaluation when you come in and each person is different. And so we tailor our programs to each individual.

We have found that those who benefit the most from our program are those who might have been ‘in shape’ at one time but due to life circumstances have let themselves go and now are having trouble getting back to their ‘college weight’. Or pre-baby weight. Or those 34″ jeans.

We can also work delicately with lapbands and other procedures under consultation with your primary physician. The reality is that we ALL need help sometimes in our life. Getting it is not weakness; it is smart. And if someone can help us accomplish our own life goals, then that’s all the better for us!

What can I expect from sessions?
If all we needed was an exercise and diet program, we’d all look like Greek gods. The reality is until we retrain our minds and bodies as to what ‘normal’ is for us, we will be fighting an uphill battle and often fighting our own bodies along the way! That’s we use medication and supplementation to break that ‘cycle’ where others get stuck after seeing some initial loss, and to augment the positive changes, reinforcing them so that our bodies relearn what is ‘normal/good.’ We also want to make up for anything the body is not producing on it’s own or at proper levels to maintain health and balance.

We advise patients to have realistic expectations appropriate to their condition and body type/genetics. Our goal is to help you see immediate and dramatic results, but realize that all weight loss is progressive and cumulative. If we do not see progress or see it tapering off, we will at that point discuss adapting your program to get you back on track.

Our weight loss session goals are to both baby you and to force accountability. Our goals are realistic and reasonable and rely on common sense. And as you get results, there is less need for accountability from us and that is our goal from the start. To get dramatic results fast, get you motivated and retrain your body to carry less weight and burn energy more efficiently. All too often we see patients that are discouraged from past attempts on their own or seeing weight swings when they are part of a program to when they are on their own and back again. These mental challenges only hurt your progress.

How many sessions will I need?
It varies. Everyone is different. We like to help our patients see results immediately. And we generally see patients every 28 days or so, but up to once a week for B12 injections or other specialized treatment(s).

There are no fixed series of appointments. You choose when you have reached your goal. We use prescriptions to help your body as it relearns and adapts itself to your new ideal body size and weight. Then we cut back until your body and new lifestyle are self-supporting. After that, there is no need to come back or continue on any medication unless you have a specific need.

Is your program focused on weight loss?
No. It is focused on better health. Of the body. Of the whole person.

We do not promote extreme weight loss methods that risk health or put undue strain on the heart or body.

We need to retrain our minds as to what is ‘fit.’ Or ‘healthy.’ Because the media has told us, regardless of our genetics, what THEY think we should all look like however unrealistic. So our sessions look at those areas we can control. Regarding weight loss specifically, women tend to need help with the hips, thighs, waist and for guys, the ‘gut’ or beltsize. But sometimes ‘healthy’ means correcting hormonal imbalance, gaining a much better, more positive mental outlook, or helping patients correctly respond to stress.

As a licensed DO, Dr. Knighton is sensitive to the mind and body working together and the effect of hormones on both. Drastic interventions are generally to be avoided if possible such as lapbands, plastic surgery, lipo, etc. These invasive procedures may be necessary in some cases but are over-relied on by the general public as quick fixes that quickly fade or can be faulted for not addressing the root of the problems but only the outcome.

Do you require yearly/monthly contracts?
Since 75% of people ask…we want you to know that we DO NOT ask you to sign any long-term contracts. Ever. It’s always up to you to want to be here, to determine that you are getting the results you want and the effectiveness of the treatments.

Better yet, there are no fixed series of appointments. You choose when you have reached your goal or have sufficiently changed your physical and mental behaviors to taper off the visits and treatments and maintain your new body and weight on your own. Without special meals or other typical dependencies. The goal is always independence. From those extra pounds. From restrictive diets. From never-ending bills for programming or special foods or the dependency they create.

But if you need to return at a future date to get a little help, you are always welcome and we can evaluate you again to help you maintain that new, healthy you.

What’s it cost?
A weight loss price list can be found here. Costs are usually not covered by medical insurance. Call us about any questions you have or to inquire about payment plans.

How long does it last without the medications?
It lasts as long as your body continues to produce the necessary enzymes and chemicals needed to maintain energy and burn fat. And as long as the patient continues to live a balanced, healthy lifestyle including some regard to their diet, exercise and life/work balance.

We can help if you find yourself needing it in the future to get back to your optimal weight/health. You should expect that even though your body now is operating in a new, more efficient way, bad habits can again slowly cause the body to adapt to these new realities. After all, our bodies are creatures of habit!

Can treatment be combined with a Thermage body sculpting and skin tightening treatment?
Yes! In fact dramatic weight loss combined with a Thermage treatment on select body areas can really not only drop weight but tighten and restore the elasticity of the skin contracting and ‘pulling in’ the fatty areas much like a girdle or corset would, only it’s your skin naturally doing what it is supposed to do. Thermage just gives nature a little ‘help’
to do it on it’s own!