Naturopathic Weight Loss Strategies

Weight Loss Drug is Unsafe

More about Meridia (sibutramine!) Two new Health Canada advisories have been issued this week concerning products marketed for weight loss that contain the unsafe pharmaceutical drug, sibutramine. Health Canada is warning Canadians not to take "Celerite Slimmine Capsules" or "Herbal Flos Lonicerae (Herbal Xenicol)" as these products were found to contain undeclared sibutramine. Sibutramine was withdrawn from the Canadian market in October 2010 when its use was identified to be associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Sibutramine also causes increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, dry mouth and constipation. Although I posted about this drug back in October when it was pulled from the market, it remains a concern as sibutramine-containing products are still available online from jurisdictions outside Canada, or are illicitly added to products that are presented as being herbal or natural weight loss formulas. While some natural supplements can support modestly improved weight loss in the context of an overall health program, the much hoped-for, safe, "magic pill" for weight loss is simply nonexistent. If that's a tough pill to swallow, let me reassure you that you CAN lose weight, you CAN feel better about yourself and you CAN experience improved overall health. 

Many Factors Influence Your Weight

Weight loss is a complex process influenced by multiple factors, such as your stress levels, hormonal balance, the quality of your sleep, inflammation, exercise, the foods you choose, toxicity, emotional health, and the list goes on.  YOUR program for safe, healthy and permanent weight loss program must be just that - YOURS. It must be individualized to YOU and all of the factors that influence your overall health - it's never about just the number on the scale.

Naturopathic Approach to Weight Loss

I can empathize with my patients' sense of struggle and discouragement and all of the feelings that come along with being overweight and wanting to make change.  As a naturopathic doctor I have helped people to understand and address the many factors influencing their ability to healthfully lose weight through compassionate naturopathic care - always honouring the uniquenesses of each person's situation and needs.  Weight management, like any other personal health goal, is a journey and a process that you deserve to be supported in.  If you need to lose weight, be sure your program includes personalized support and that you are being treated safely and as a whole person - body, mind and spirit.

NSAIDs Increase Risk of Heart Attack, Stroke and Cardiovascular Death

Clear Cardiovascular Risk with NSAID (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug) Use

A very large-scale meta-analysis published last week by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) confirmed that use of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) increases risk of heart attack or stroke.

Incredibly, there has been an eerie media silence on this important study, so I thought I'd highlight some of the details.

Data from 31 high-quality, randomized controlled trials involving a total of 116,429 patients with 117,218 patient years of follow-up were covered in the analysis. The following drugs were analyzed in comparison to one another and to placebo:

• ibuprofen (e.g. Advil; Motrin) 
• celecoxib (e.g. Celebrex) 
• rofecoxib
• lumiracoxib 
• etoricoxib 
• diclofenac
• naproxen (e.g. Anaprox; Aleve)

NSAIDs are among the most widely prescribed pharmaceuticals, accounting for an estimated 5% of physician visits in the U.S.  However, the following findings should be considered before prescribing or taking NSAIDs:

• Ibuprofen, celecoxib, rofecoxib, and lumiracoxib were associated with increased risk of heart attack
• All 7 NSAIDs were associated with increased risk of the triad of non-fatal heart attack, non-fatal stroke, and cardiovascular death, compared to placebo
• All 7 NSAIDs were associated with increased risk of death by any cause, compared to placebo
• All NSAIDs except naproxen showed evidence of increased risk of cardiovascular death
• All 7 NSAIDs were associated with increased risk of stroke
• The drug manufacturer Merck declined to provide unpublished safety data on its drugs, rofecoxib and etoricoxib
• Nonspecific NSAIDs are no more safe than the "new generation NSAIDs", i.e. selective COX-2 inhibitors, which have previously become known for cardiovascular risk
• All NSAIDs, even those not included in the meta-analysis, have been observed to increase risk of cardiovascular adverse effects

This meta-analysis strongly cautions us to consider whether the cardiovascular risk of NSAIDs  outweighs their clinical benefit in chronic musculoskeletal pain management.