Presidential Candidate Health Care Reform Proposals

The New England Journal of Medicine in its October 16th issue provides a review of Senator McCain and Senator Obama's proposals for improving health care in our country.

This journal is one of the most widely read, well-researched and respected professional medical journals in the world and these reviews are presented for an audience of physicians and other medical professionals.

They are well worth reading as they are understandable to a broader audience which would include anyone with an interest in the opinion of one of the most prestigious medical journals in the country.

To summarize,

Early in his campaign, Obama recognized that the success of health care reform rests on the plan's ability to slow spending growth and make health care affordable for everyone. His plan would reorganize the health-insurance market — but not change the basic financial incentives in the system that drive up spending. Although the plan would significantly increase the number of Americans with health insurance, it remains to be seen whether that would come at a price Americans would be willing to pay.

The choice facing health care professionals, like all Americans, is basic: Who deserves to be trusted with the stewardship of America's health care system? The McCain proposal violates the bedrock principle that major health policy reforms should first do no harm. It would risk the viability of employer-sponsored insurance and the welfare of chronically ill Americans in pell-mell pursuit of a radical vision of consumer-driven health care. Senator McCain's plan does not demonstrate the kind of judgment needed in a potential commander in chief of our health care system.

Alli- over the counter weight loss medication

Alli (R) is the over-the-counter equivalent of prescription Xenical (R), and is approved as safe and effective in weight reduction by the Food and Drug Administration.

It is safe to take with other medicines except for Coumadin (R) or warfarin the prescription blood-thinner, and organ transplant medicines.

When taken with meals, it keeps about 20% of the fat in the meal from being absorbed into your bloodstream and then being deposited into fat cells. This 20% then is excreted in your bowel movements, which may make them oily looking.

Yes, that's right. No meal is absolutely zero fat. A fifth of the fat in your meals isn't going to your belly or thighs, but is excreted out of your body. That's the point!

Alli is capable of working as well as any other medication, assuming that you change how you eat in order to minimize this side-effect rather than not taking the pills when you plan to eat pizza or ice cream.

The oily bowel movements are not intended to be punishment; it's probably better than all the fat in meals being fully absorbed and deposited in your fat cells. However it can lead to improved eating habits, too.

This mechanism of action of this medicine is particularly of interest to folks at risk for diabetes, since the growth of abdominal fat cells is what ultimately causes diabetes in the first place!

Disclaimer: I have no financial or other interest in Alli, Xenical or its manufacturers. I am only interested in helping my patients to lose weight safely and effectively.