An interview with Dr. Irfan Fazil at Medical Weight Loss Center of Yuma

This month, Health Tips Magazine had the opportunity to interview Dr. Fazil about the Medical Weight Loss Center of Yuma.  The Weight Loss Center of Yuma has helped patients to lose over 30,000 pounds in the last year alone.

Health Tips Magazine (HTM): Dr. Fazil, how did you come up with the Medical Weight Loss Center of Yuma’s successful weight loss program?

Dr. Fazil: First, not all weight gain is due to overeating. One has to be careful and rule out other hidden medical conditions that can cause weight gain like low thyroid function, overproduction of cortisol, and other factors. Many medications can cause weight gain that needs to be addressed along with weight loss.

HTM: What kind of adjustments need to be made as a patient loses weight?

Dr. Fazil: In particular, when patients start to lose weight, we have to continuously adjust their medications. For example, if they are diabetic we have to lower medications they might be taking for diabetes. We also monitor their electrolytes to adjust electrolyte imbalances.

HTM: So, Dr. Fazil, what is the secret sauce to losing weight?

Dr. Fazil: There is no secret sauce! We find out basal metabolic rate of the patients and then prescribe the daily average calories to be consumed less than what they are burning. We train patients how to find calories in each food. We use proprietary software throughout the course of weight loss. We obtain graphs and we show them to patients. Obviously, the doctor has to know their medical conditions as well and treat them also to get the optimal results.

HTM: What is your success rate for weight loss with patients?

Dr. Fazil: I think it is more than 90 percent. We have hundreds of patients treated at our center and a majority of them have lost weight and graduated from our program.

HTM: What does graduating from the weight loss program mean?

Dr. Fazil: It means once a patient’s body mass index drops below 30, they no longer need to be on a medical weight loss program. Most patients continue to lose weight on their own successfully without needing to be supervised by a doctor constantly.