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Staff’s Bio’s

Executive Director

Kenneth Ellis, Ph.D.

Clinical Director

Susan Minsky, Ph.D, M.P.

Psychiatry

Jing Zhang, M.D, Ph.D.
Larry K. Grubb, M.D.
Dennis Glick, M.D.

Clinical Associates

William Dean Charmak, Ph.D, M.P.
Melanie Sholtis, Psy.D.
Theresa Smith, M.S.,LCPC
Priscilla Ballsun, MSW,LCSW-C
Gabriel Chernoff, MSW, LCSW-C
Kristin Zimmer, M.S., LCPC
Joan Pittman, LCSW-C, Ph.D.
Tanya Quille, Ph. D
Ada Rodriguez, Psy. D
Melinda Goodman, Ph.D.
Philip Schwartz, Psy.D.
Roseanne M. Middleton, Ph.D.
Sharon Cannon, Ph.D.

Jing Zhang, M.D.,Ph.D.

Dr. Zhang is a Licensed, Board Certified, Psychiatrist with 10 years of experience treating psychiatric disorders for adolescents and adults, mainly psychiatric medication management. Areas of specialty include: patients with depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, PTSD, ADD/ADHD, adjustment disorder, schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders.

Dr. Zhang obtained her MD degree from Henan Medical School and completed her residency training at the University of Chicago. Before joining the Columbia Counseling Center, Dr. Zhang worked for Kaiser Permanente in Fairfax County as a full-time psychiatrist. In addition, Dr. Zhang had 5 years psychiatric research experience at the National Institute of Mental Health, NIH (Bethesda) and obtained a Ph.D. degree in Physiology from the Uniformed Service University of Health Sciences.
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Larry K. Grubb, M.D.

Dr. Larry Grubb has a vast range of experience as a Psychiatrist with 2 Board Certifications in Adult Psychiatry and in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He has 30 years of experience providing Psychiatric Services within a military community. Dr. Grubb received his Medical Degree from the University of Kentucky in 1985. He completed a 4 year Residency in Psychiatry at the Naval Medical Center in California and a 2 year Fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in DC.

In addition to joining the staff at the Columbia Counseling Center, Dr. Grubb currently works at the US Navy, Behavioral Health Directorate, National Naval Medical Center- Outpatient Psychiatrist and Former Head, Traumatic Stress and Brain Injury Service. He has been involved in the evaluation and treatment of inpatients and outpatients who present with psychological disorders secondary to exposure to trauma and who have suffered brain trauma in combat or in civilian environments. In addition to treating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), he serves as an expert in military Disability Evaluation. Further, Dr. Grubb has provided consultation for Bariatric Surgery Evaluations.

During his military career, Dr. Grubb provided mental heath services and direct patient care to children and adults. In addition, he was employed at the Pentagon and Headquarters of Navy Medicine where he was in charge of accession and disability policies for all the military services.

Dr. Grubb specializes in Medication Management of psychiatric and pharmacologic intervention for a full spectrum of psychiatric disorders. His broad based experiences enable him to effectively treat children, adolescents, and adults who present with mood disorders including depression and bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, attention and impulse-control disorders such as ADHD, and more severe mental illness.

Currently, Dr. Grubb has a specialty interest in treating patients with Eating Disorders and providing Weight Management Intervention. He is the author of the book “Solving the Weight Loss Puzzle,” and the eBook “Get Your Head Out of the Refrigerator.” His CD “Reaching Your Natural Weight” has received much praise from parents and educators. These are exciting endeavors as physicians and psychologists attempt to address the serious increasing childhood obesity problem with comorbid disorders such as diabetes.

Dr. Grubb is available to see patients at CCC on Saturdays including Child, Adolescent, and Adult patients for Medication Evaluation and Management who present with Mood Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Eating Disorders, Sleep Disorders, ADHD, and more complex Disorders who may require a consult for differential diagnoses and pharmacological intervention.

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Dennis Glick, M.D.

Dr. Dennis Glick is Board Certified in Psychiatry and received his Medical Degree from George Washington University in 1980. He completed his Psychiatry Residency at the University of California at Davis in 1984. He was awarded a Diplomate status from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in 1986. Dr. Glick served as the Chairman for the Department of Psychiatry at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for 5 years. In addition,Dr. Glick was the Medical Director for Psychiatric Inpatient Services at Santa Rosa Hospital for 2 years. He has extensive experience in Health Care Management for the behavioral health delivery system.

Dr. Glick is a broadly based psychiatrist with 27 years of clinical and 14 years of HMO and Hospital Medical Director Service. He specializes in outpatient private practice with evidence based medication assessment and management of Depressive and BiPolar Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Panic, Phobia, PTSD, ADHD, Sleep Disruption, and psychotic disorders in adults and older adolescents.
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William Dean Charmak, Ph.D., M.P.

Dr. Charmak is a licensed psychologist with 24 years of experience providing individual, family and couples psychotherapy. Services are provided to adults and adolescents over the age of 15. Areas of specialization include depression, bipolar illness, anxiety, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, addictions, geriatric services, oncology, and other chronic illnesses, developmental disabilities, psychopharmacology, executive coaching and organizational consultation.

Dr. Charmak obtained a PhD in Clinical Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology-Fresno and Post Doctoral Master of Science Degree in Clinical Psychopharmacology from Alliant International University/California School of Professional Psychology. He is the recent co-author of Successful Aging: Optimizing Strategies for Primary Care Geriatrics, in Reichel’s Care of the Elderly, Sixth Edition, 2009, Cambridge University Press.
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Melanie Sholtis, Psy.D.

Dr. Melanie Sholtis is a licensed psychologist, with 6 years of experience providing individual, couples, and family therapy with adolescents and adults. She has worked in a variety of settings, including substance abuse treatment, hospitals, private practice, and forensic settings. In addition to her experience in psychotherapy, Dr. Sholtis has extensive experience providing psychological, forensic, and psychoeducational assessments to a wide variety of patient populations.

Dr. Sholtis received her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from the American Professional School of Psychology. Her areas of specialty include: anxiety disorders, depression, mood disorders, PTSD, anger management, family therapy, behavioral techniques, and psychological assessment.
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Theresa Smith, M.S., LCPC-C

Theresa Smith is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with over five years experience providing individual, couples, and family psychotherapy. She is available to see adolescents, adults, couples, and families regarding premarital counseling, blended family issues, depression, anxiety, stress management, and pastoral counseling. In addition, Ms. Smith provides services to children ages three through thirteen experiencing school related behavioral problems, separation anxiety, generalized anxiety, depression, loss, separation and divorce, blended step-families, social skills, and peer relationship issues.

Ms. Smith obtained a MS in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola College of Maryland and completed additional post-graduate course work and clinical requirements to become licensed in the state of Maryland. She has earned the recognition of the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC), as a National Certified Counselor (NCC), having successfully met the professional counseling standards established by the Board. She is also a member in good standing of the American Counseling Association.
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Priscilla Ballsun, MSW, LCSW-C

Ms. Priscilla Ballsun has been in practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for 22 years. She graduated from Hunter School of Social Work in New York City in 1987, and concurrently attended the Washington School for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy in New York and received her certificate in 1992. Ms. Ballsun also has a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and a Master’s degree in Education. She has post master’s training in couple’s therapy and a specialty in divorce mediation. She was the child and adolescent therapist at Georgetown University Hospital outpatient clinic for 8 years. She worked at Walter Reed Hospital in the Post Traumatic Stress inpatient unit. Her other specialty training is in Cognitive Behavior Training. Ms. Ballsun sees individuals including adults and late adolescents, couples and families. Ms. Ballsun can treat a range of problems including mood and anxiety disorders, work related issues, grief counseling, eating disorders and other life situations.

Ms. Ballsun is a member of the National Association of Social Workers.
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Gabriel Chernoff, MSW, LCSW-C

Gabriel Chernoff is a licensed clinical social worker with 10 years of experience in providing psychotherapy for children, adolescents, adults and families. Mr. Chernoff specializes in children and adolescents dealing with social skills issues, school/behavioral issues, ADD/ADHD, as well as parent/child conflicts. He also assists adults in dealing with depression, anxiety, grief, divorce, work-related stress, and relationship issues. Additionally, Mr. Chernoff offers couples/marital therapy focusing on improving communication and intimacy. Lastly, Mr. Chernoff engages in family therapy and group work including support groups for men as well as social skills groups for elementary school-aged children.

Mr. Chernoff obtained a Masters in Social Work from the University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration. His clinical social work internship was at the University of Chicago Hospital, Department of Adult Psychiatry. He has previous experience working in school and community mental health settings.

Mr. Chernoff is a member of the National Association of Social Workers as well as the Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work.
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Kristin Zimmer, M.S., LCPC

Kristin Zimmer, LCPC-C graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a Master of Science in Counseling. Her primary focus is children, adolescents, and their families, with concerns including: adoption, ADHD, anxiety, depression, blended families, and bicultural adjustment. Ms. Zimmer offers clients a variety of treatment options, including play therapy and expressive arts, relaxation training, and cognitive behavioral therapy. She has 5 years experience providing counseling services.
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Joan Pittman, LCSW-C, Ph.D.

Dr. Joan Pittman is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 10 years experience providing individual and family therapy for adolescents and adults. Dr. Pittman has experience working with individuals who have symptoms of depression and/or anxiety, relationship problems, life transition issues, post-traumatic stress, and eating disorders. She uses a variety of therapeutic techniques to help clients including cognitive-behavioral strategies, family therapy techniques, and solution focused therapy.

Dr. Pittman obtained a Ph.D. and Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Maryland, in Baltimore. She is a Clinical Instructor at University of Maryland specializing in training clinical social workers to provide group, individual, and family therapy.
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Tanya Quille, Ph.D.

Dr. Quille is a Licensed Psychologist who has an extensive background in treatment and treatment research at both the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry and at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health in the Division of Mental Health.

Dr. Quille has worked in the field of psychology for more than 20 years. She offers individual, couples, family and group therapies. Dr. Quille specializes in family therapy, couple’s therapy, substance abuse, depression, anxiety, stress management, women’s issues, sexual trauma, grief and loss. Her preferred populations are adolescents and adults.

Dr. Quille has presented seminars and training nationally to state and local Departments of Children and Families, universities, hospitals and outpatient treatment facilities. She has presented therapy training sessions at the National Conference of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy and presented at the National Conference of the American Psychological Association. Dr. Quille also provides clinical supervision for doctoral psychology students.

Ada Rodriguez, Psy.D.

Ada Rodriguez, Psy.D. is a Bilingual (Spanish and English) Maryland Licensed Psychologist who received her doctoral degree from George Washington University in 2006.  She completed her internship at Walter Reed Army Medical Center with rotations in Neuropsychology, Assessment, Military Psychology, and Psychiatry Consultation Liason. She was the former Assistant Chief for Psychology Service, Behavioral Health Care at Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center in Fort George Mesage, where she provided psychological assessment and treatment including individual and group pscyhotherapy. She was a staff Psychologist in Iraq providing Anger/Stress Management, relaxation training, psychotherapy and assessment.

Dr. Rodriguez is available to see adults and older adolescents who present with Anxiety, Depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, grief and loss, women in transition, Panic, Eating Disorders, Stress Management issues, Separation and Divorce. In addition, she is adept at treating military families and civilians who have recently separated from the military and are experiencing stress due to reintegration. She provides psychological and neuropsychological assessment for adolescents and adults who may present with the following:  ADHD, Learning Disabilities, Academic difficulties, memory impairment, cognitive deficits, need for differential diagnosis.

Dr. Rodriguez provided behavioral health services in Spanish to Latino men, women, and children.  She is a member of the Maryland Psychological Association and the American Psychological Association. She received a Meritorious Service Medal and an Army Achievement Medal while serving in the military.

Melinda Goodman, Ph.D.

Dr. Goodman is a Maryland Licensed Psychologist with a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Student Health and Counseling. She has 5 years of experience in treating adolescents and young adults. Her areas of specialty include: adolescent adjustment, adjustment to college life, body image, Eating Disorders, Depression, Anxiety, Trauma, Sexual Abuse, PTSD, Gay and Lesbian issues.

Dr. Goodman received her doctorate degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Florida in 2008. She was an adjunct professor and has published research articles on gay and lesbian issues.

Philip Schwartz, Psy.D.

Dr. Philip Schwartz has twenty years of experience treating adults, children, couples, and families both nationally and internationally. Dr. Schwartz has both a Psy.D. from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology (1997), and an MSW from Wurzweiller School of Social Work in New York City (1993). He is a Licensed Psychologist in the State of Maryland.

Dr. Schwartz offers clients a unique perspective with respect to families and individuals struggling in the school system. His insights for children and families stem from both his clinical experience, and his role as principal, teacher, and learning specialist in the private school system for over ten years. He has the unusual experience of sitting on both sides of the desk, and thus offers his clients the full spectrum of psychological services, serving as clinician, educational consultant, and liason to the school system. (including ADHD, the spectrum of learning disabilities, and IEPs).

Dr. Schwartz specializes in working with adolescents, young adults, and couples focusing on adjustment issues, depression, anxiety, bereavement, navigating through traumatic issues, parent effectiveness training, developmental delays, academic difficulties, school related behavioral and social issues, and relationship conflicts.

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Roseanne M. Middleton, Ph.D.

Dr. Roseanne Middleton is a Licensed Psychologist who has been in private practice for over 15 years. She received her doctorate from Texas Tech University and completed a two-year internship at the Institute of Pennsylvania Hospital with specialized training in the treatment of trauma. Dr. Middleton’s therapeutic style was shaped by a background emphasizing psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral interventions focusing on the development of skills to improve psychosocial well-being and strengthen relationships.

Dr. Middleton provides services for adults as well as older adolescents seeking treatment for a range of mental health concerns including depression and anxiety, Panic Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). She specializes in treating individuals who have experienced trauma and problems forming or maintaining satisfying interpersonal relationships. In addition, Dr. Middleton focuses on treating couples to enhance communication and intimacy, as well as to negotiate the complexities of separation and divorce.

Geriatric services are another facet of expertise. Dr. Middleton has considerable experience working with elderly patients who face unique challenges related to aging and the impact of physical and cognitive debility on emotional health.

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Sharon Cannon,Ph.D.

Dr. Sharon Cannon is a Maryland Licensed Psychologist who specializes in the treatment of adolescents and young adults. She received her Ph.D. in 1992 from the University of Nebraska with a specialty in adolescents and young adults with Eating Disorders. Dr. Cannon has provided psychological services at the Center of Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt Hospital in the Outpatient Department for children, adolescents, and young adults.

In addition, Dr. Cannon has participated in NIMH funded research investigating family therapy approaches for individuals with Anorexia. She has provided case consultation for interdisciplinary team members on inpatient and outpatient units. Dr. Cannon spent 16 years at Children’s Behavioral Health at the Children’s Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska providing Outpatient psychotherapy for children, adolescents, and adults seen for individual, family, and group therapy. She has provided psychological services for children in pediatric oncology and pain management treatment.

Dr. Cannon has been in private practice for 20 years providing psychotherapy for adolescents and young adults who present with a broad spectrum of disorders including: Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Phobia, PTSD, BiPolar Disorder, Eating Disorders, Sleep Disruption, and Personality Disorders. She is a member of the American Psychological Association and the Maryland Psychological Association.
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Previous Articles

December 13, 2011 By sue

Conflict Resolution vs Separation

By Dr. Susan Minsky

Couples often believe the easiest solution to frequent arguments that appear unresolvable is to threaten separation and divorce. Divorce is the last choice to resolve what initially may appear as unreconcilable differences. Marriages require the willingness on both parties to rebalance needs, expectations, hopes, on a consistent basis at various stress points and change which occur throughout a long term relationship. Clear, direct communication, hearing each other in an accurate manner is necessary to produce effective changes for both parties. Couples often require refresher courses and new skills to promote a growth oriented exchange during stressful times, in particular.

Come join the Columbia Counseling Center team who provide an integrated approach to promoting and strengthening the bonds between partners in relationships. Individual and couples therapy are offered simultaneously to promote more rapid and productive identification of issues that require resolution to enhance the lost intimacy and positive communication and interaction between partners.

 

 

November 21, 2011 By Dr. Larry Grubb

Overweight and Mental Health

According to the Centers for Disease Control more than a third of American adults—over 72 million people—were obese in 2005 and 2006 and they predicted that, unless we change our eating and exercise habits, 86 percent of the American population will be overweight or obese by the year 2030. People who are obese are more susceptible to serious health problems, such as high blood pressure, type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, orthopedic problems and stroke. But being overweight or obese doesn’t just affect your physical health. You may also have feelings of guilt, embarrassment, low energy, isolate yourself socially, and feel depressed. These feelings can definitely impact your physical health and even shorten your lifespan.

The Social Consequences of Being Overweight

While being fat was once seen as a sign of wealth and comfort, most people almost automatically assume that someone is overweight or obese because they overeat on pizza, cheeseburgers and ice cream. But it’s not that simple. We live in a society in which you can get great tasting, high-calorie, high fat foods at any time of the day or night. They actually have a name for this: “the obesogenic society.” Some obese people may have jobs that require them to work seated for long hours and just don’t have the time or energy to exercise. And, food is ALWAYS THERE. This results in eating many more calories than their level of activity can burn off and leads to constant gain weight.

Overweight and obese people may feel strongly stigmatized and experience discrimination because of their weight. Discrimination usually begins during early school years, when overweight persons are not chosen for school teams, and this discrimination extends into adult life. In schools and colleges, obese students face harassment, rejection from peers, and biased attitudes from teachers. At work, obese people commonly report they have experienced humiliation and discrimination related to their weight – such as not getting promotions. Obese employees are often viewed as less competent, sloppy, and lacking in self-discipline by co-workers and supervisors.

What can be done to reduce the stigma of obesity?

You have a voice at work and at home. You don’t have to accept discrimination in school or in your workplace. It’s okay to share with your co-workers that YOU ARE NOT YOUR WEIGHT.  Also, if you are trying to lose weight you should be sure to surround yourself with supportive, caring friends and family members. Be open about your weight loss goals and ask explicitly for a helping and motivating hand. Supportive friends and family are a vital part of your weight loss program

Finally, take the word “diet” out of your dictionary and vocabulary. Diets don’t work. Lifestyle change does. Eat healthier foods…eat smaller portions…exercise at least 30 minutes a day. And think happy thoughts.

Columbia Counseling is here to help you on your journey to a natural, healthy weight. Our caring therapists and medical staff can help you to look at your lifestyle and help you understand what you might do to successfully achieve your weight loss goals. Call us  at 410- 992 – 9149 for an initial appointment to begin a rational, sustainable and effective weight loss program.

November 21, 2011 By Dr. Larry Grubb

Winter Depression

My favorite season is winter. My wife calls me “a bear with furniture,” and like a bear, in winter the cold weather and shorter days give me the opportunity to slow down, pull my energy back into myself and prepare for spring. However, many men and women in winter have low energy, become irritable and gain weight because they eat too much, especially foods that contain a lot of carbohydrates. They don’t exercise as much, lose interest in getting out of the house and being with other people, sleep more and just stay “tired” all the time. In reality, all of these symptoms may be signs of depression. Some people get depressed because they lose their job or don’t like their job, get a divorce or there is a death in the family. There may also be a genetic basis for depression because it seems like everyone in the family is depressed. But some people get depressed every winter even without experiencing a stressor that would make any of us feel depressed and without a family history of depression.

Winter depression is sometimes called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and affects between 5 to 10 percent of the U.S. population. Another 10 to 20 percent of the population may suffer from more mild winter “blues.” SAD is more common in women, between the ages of 20-50, and is thought to be caused by the shorter hours of daylight the winter brings during its colder months of the year January and February.  Although the specific cause of this disorder isn’t known, some biological factors such as the circadian rhythm, which helps regulate the body’s internal clock, may be disrupted with the decreased amount sunlight in fall and winter. Also, the decreased amount of light may also cause a biochemical imbalance of the neurotransmitters serotonin and the sleep-related hormone melatonin in the brain.

As a psychiatrist I usually treat winter depression with antidepressant medication and individual or group psychotherapy, but I also use “light box therapy.”  Light box therapy uses a very strong source of broad-spectrum light for a half-hour or hour each day during the winter months to replace the missing hours of daylight. Research has shown that some people with SAD who are exposed to bright light treatments experience relief from depression because the light therapy mimics outdoor light and is thought to cause a biochemical change in the brain that improves mood.

Tips for Coping with Seasonal Affective Disorder

Besides using anti-depressant medication, individual group and light box therapies there are other very effective ways to deal with SAD and other types of depression.

Exercise – Physical exercise has huge health benefits. It’s one of the most powerful ways to prevent and treat depression. One of the first things I ask my patients is to become more active, “just start moving.” For example, instead of eating lunch at your desk, take a midday walk to get as much sun as possible (there’s that light thing again) and to breathe in fresh air.

Work space-try to locate where you sit in your office so that you are next to a window and are exposed to sunlight during the workday.  One of the things I’ve always put high on my priorities is to always have a window in my own office. Open the window for fresh air even in winter.

Sugar-Cut back on the amount of sugar and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in your diet. They have been shown to cause increased swings in mood and directly impact your brain function. All of us have experienced a “sugar rush” and “sugar crash” as your body uses up the sugar in your blood.

Foods-Eat protein and complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables at every meal. Less sunlight means less Vitamin D and you can get Vitamin D from milk, most whole grain cereals and fish, especially cod, herring and sardines.

Greyhound Therapy- If it’s in your budget, get out of town and go someplace sunny. Just a change of scenery by itself can help you feel better.

Seek Professional Help-if the depression gets so bad that you find it difficult to get through the day, it’s important that you talk with someone about your struggles and depression. You are not alone and we can get through this working together.

Remember, if you have SAD, unless you live in Alaska or Greenland, the sun will shine, the air will get warm and you will feel better and more alive as the depression melts away with the snow.

October 9, 2011 By Dr. Larry Grubb

Choosing the Correct Weight Loss Pill

If you have a headache…you take a pill and it goes away. If you have an upset stomach…you take a pill and it goes away. If you are overweight…well, you can’t just take a pill to lose weight even though there are thousands of advertisements on television and in magazines that promise to help you lose weight and “it takes no work at all!” I bet you wonder if there ARE weight loss pills that really work, or are they just a waste of time and money.

Why can’t just take a pill and lose weight?

The pharmaceutical companies are in a desperate multi-BILLION dollar race for an effective and safe “weight loss pill”. But they have failed in their search because feeling hungry or feeling full is based upon hormones in your body. The hormone levels constantly change depending on how much energy your body needs and how much and what type of foods you eat.

The most important hormones that control when and how much you eat are called Ghrelin and Leptin. There are other hormones such as Peptide YY, Adiponectin, Cholecystokinin, and Pancreatic polypeptide which are all involved in this energy balance but the main hormones are Grehlin and Leptin.Grehlin and leptin act together, but in opposite ways, to control your urge to eat or to stop eating. Grehlin tells your body to eat because it needs energy and Leptin lets your body know when it is full so you stop eating.

But it gets even more complicated. The level of Ghrelin, which is also called the ‘hormone of hunger,” is affected by many factors such as the type of food you eat, sleep deprivation, being overweight and drinking sweetened soda. Almost everyone drinks soda but grehlin levels don’t decrease after meals if you drink a lot of soda so you still feel hungry. The next time you buy a soda don’t buy the 64 ounce size or even better, drink water with your meals. Because it takes about 20 minutes for the hormones to interact and for you to feel full after you start to eat, always stop eating before you feel full.

When the pharmaceutical companies first discovered Leptin they thought it might be the “anti-fat” miracle drug and they spent an enormous amount of money on research and advertising. But it quickly became obvious that taking leptin or ghrelin as a pill does not control appetite or help people normalize their weight. Because of the difficulty in isolating these hormones and using them in a weight loss pill, don’t expect to see them in the ingredients listed on the pill boxes any time soon.

Prescription weight loss pills

But if we don’t have a pill that can specifically raise and lower the levels of Grhelin and Leptin (and the other appetite hormones) in our bodies, then what kind of pill CAN we take for weight loss? Most weight-loss medications you buy at drug stores, groceries or get by prescription are “appetite suppressant” medications and usually come in tablets or extended-release capsules. Appetite suppressants promote weight loss by tricking the body into believing that it is not hungry or that it is full by increasing brain chemicals, such as serotonin and norepinephrine, that affect mood and appetite.

Fat absorption inhibitors, another type of weight loss pills, work by preventing your body from breaking down and absorbing fat from the foods you eat. The fat which your body can’t digest goes out of your body in bowel movements and many people complain of oily stools, gas and frequent bowel movements. These side effects are especially bad with a high fat diet and can really be embarrassing. Fat absorption inhibitors also reduce the absorption of fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K so you should take supplements containing these missing nutrients along with the fat absorption inhibitor.

But what about other side effects besides the oily stools? Luckily, the side effects of most weight loss medications are usually mild and become less bothersome the longer you take the medication.

Some of the common side effects of the different medications include increased heart rate and blood pressure, sweating, constipation, problems sleeping, excessive thirst, lightheadedness, headaches and anxiety. But some serious and even fatal outcomes from taking weight loss medications have also been reported. The most tragic example is the use of the appetite suppressor “phen-fen” which caused severe damage to the heart and lungs.

There is still little information on how safe and effective weight-loss medications are if you take them for more than just a few months.You should not expect to reach a “normal” body weight using just medications because most people have individual reactions to any most types of medications, and some people lose more weight than others.

Most people who take weight-loss medications lose about 10 pounds more than people who don’t take weight loss pills. Most weight loss occurs within 6 months of starting the medicine and then your weight will level off or even increase. Sadly, most people will regain the weight they lost when they stop taking weight-loss medications.The best weight loss pills on the market can be a big help for people who are struggling with losing weight.

If you combine weight loss pills with an exercise program and a healthy diet, prepared in a natural way, of fresh meats, fish and whole grains, you’ll see even faster results than you would without them.

Even if you don’t take weight loss pills, because obesity is a chronic disease, you should definitely include regular physical activity and a healthy diet to improve health and to reach and maintain a normal weight. A weight loss of even 5 to 10 percent of your body weight, for example from 200 pounds to 180 pounds, can markedly improve your health.