Evaluating the Brains Role in Weight Control

Barry Miller, M.D.

The new frontier in weight control is in the brain. As time, and a great deal of research, has gone by over the past several years, Bariatric experts now have a much better understanding of the brains role in controlling our appetite, our food cravings, our moods and even our metabolism. In fact the brain ultimately has the last word in regulating every facet of our being.

The various brain functions are basically the result of chemical reactions. The chemicals in the brain that are involved in these reactions are called NeuroAdrenal transmitters. For the normal healthy functioning of the brain these transmitters are held in perfect balance in relation to each other. In this state of balance we generally experience emotional and intellectual well being as well as control over the way in which we interact, or react, to the day to day stresses and strains of our lives. If the various NeuroAdrenal transmitters are out of balance in the brain, it may create a condition that often leads us to behaviors that are destructive in an attempt to rebalance them. Certain moods and conditions, such as stress, illness, anxiety, depression etc., can cause or be caused by these imbalances in the brain chemistry. Cravings for drugs, alcohol, nicotine and yes, even certain foods are often the result of our attempting to find substances that may help attain a re-balancing of the brain's NeuroAdrenal transmitters.

There are people who, because of their genetic makeup, lack the ability to produce enough of these transmitters to achieve the proper balance of them. When this occurs, throughout their lifetime, these folks may develop certain chronic conditions and even some chronic diseases as a result. Difficulties with weight control, emotional problems, metabolic abnormalities and a tendency to develop addictive behaviors can be among the problems that can result from these inherited conditions.

In recent years science has developed accurate assessments on the sputum and urine that can evaluate the levels of the various NeuroAdrenal transmitters and inform us as to how well they are balanced within the brain. There are only a few laboratories in this country that can do these assessments accurately, as they are very sophisticated and the technology is on the leading edge of science. The ability to accurately interpret the results requires unique medical knowledge and specialized training. The Center for Weight Management can now offer these assessments and properly interpret them.

Why is this important? If we can understand better the chemical imbalances that contribute to the problems we are having with weight control, nicotine addiction, stress management and our emotional troubles, we can much more effectively treat them. Quite often, the treatment therapy may involve simply taking certain nutrients that are required by the brain to produce higher levels of the deficient NeuroAdrenal transmitter. When prescription drugs are indicated, we can select the specific one that will best treat the problem without going thru a ‘trial and error' approach.

This new approach to medical care has been found to be effective in facilitating the treatment of numerous medical conditions. It is also helpful for those suffering from chronic fatigue, depression, insomnia, menopause, PMS, migraine headaches and many more such conditions. If you are interested in an assessment of you NeuroAdrenal transmitters, please contact the IMC Center for Nutrition & Weight Management.