The Dr. Now or the Dr. Nowzaradan diet is a diet for obese people in order to lose some weight before the bariatic surgery. What constitutes this diet? Who created it? Know all about this diet here.
The Dr. Now or the Dr. Nowzaradan diet
Dr. Younan Nowzaradan created the diet that now goes by his name as the Dr. Nowzaradan diet. It is simply also put as the Dr. Now diet. This diet is a highly restrictive and low carb diet. It has very low calories too.
Dr. Younan Nowzaradan is a renowned doctor who is also a famous TV personality. He is on the TLC show My 600-Lb. Life. On the show, one can watch him conduct various surgeries in patients with obesity. And he follows those who weigh more than 600 lbs before and after the surgery.
The Dr. Now diet (Source: Pinterest)And prior to the surgery, the doctor puts them on a specific diet. This is the Dr. Now diet. Dr. Nowzaradan has also penned a book with the title The Scale Does Not Lie, People Do.
Bariatic surgery types
There are various kinds of bariatic surgical procedures for obesity. These include lap band, sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass surgery and duodenal switch. Based on individual case, the doctor decides which surgery is best for the patient. Dr. Erik P. Dutson, who is the surgical director of the Center for Obesity and Metabolic Health at UCLA in Westwood, California explains:
“Most bariatric surgery practices in the U.S. perform either gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy, and the decision is one that should be mutually decided upon by the surgeon and patient together,”
Types of bariatic surgery (Source: Pinterest)And he adds:
“The overwhelming number of patients will do well with either operation, however, a smaller number of patients should not get one or the other based on medical conditions. For example, we know that larger patients, patients with diabetes in more advanced stages, and patients with GERD (a disorder where stomach contents come back up through the lower esophageal sphincter, which is the lower valve of the esophagus) tend to do better with the gastric bypass.”
Those that have medical issues including immunosuppressive conditions fare well with sleeve gastrectomy. Further Erin Palinski-Wade, a registered dietitian from Sparta, New Jersey states:
“The Dr. Now diet is designed to promote rapid weight loss prior to weight-loss surgery to help reduce post-surgical complications in those suffering from morbid obesity,”
The three primary principles of the diet
The diet has three primary principles that go by the acronym FAT. This stands for frequency, amount, and type.
Frequency: to consume 2 to 3 meals per day with no snacking.
Amount: 1200 calories per day. This is as two 600 calories meals or three 400 calories meals.
Type: Have less fats and carbs. But have more proteins and dietary fiber in foods. Foods allowed are chia seeds, flax seeds, lean protein, low carb condiments, non fat milk, and non starchy vegetables. One has to avoid nuts, bacon, battered and fried meat, refined carbs, fruits with high natural sugars, honey, full fat milk, sausage and potatoes.
Dr. Now diet (Source: Country recipe book)Read here: Chia seeds: Uses, nutritional facts, and health benefits!
There are claims that it can reduce weight before surgery and help prevent post surgery complications. Studies have shown that weight loss before surgery reduces risk of death postop. Other studies, however, failed to prove that this helps. Erin warns:
“This is a medically supervised weight loss plan and should not be attempted by individuals on their own without guidance of a physician and dietitian.”