Estimates are that by 2020, 60% of US adults will suffer from Pre-Diabetes or full blow Type 2 Diabetes.  The combined epidemic of Diabetes and Obesity affects us all.  We all know someone we care about who suffers from these problems and based on the statistics, it is more likely than not that any one of us could already be affected.  Why would this epidemic be developing so rapidly?  It doesn’t take long to realize that there must be important reasons beyond the repetitive ‘calories in, calories out’ explanations that have failed to change our trajectory despite the fact that every overweight person has tried dieting.

Weight prone individuals display a myriad of hormonal imbalances which may influence energy level, hunger, satiety, cholesterol, blood pressure, exercise capacity and inflammation.  In weight prone individuals, the organism prioritizes fat storage because the biology is communicating a false need to do so.  But there is reason to be hopeful.  While we won’t succeed if we remain in denial about all of the issues surrounding this epidemic, if we understand why abnormal fat storage is prioritized, we will develop better and better methods to reverse the condition and the epidemic.

The end goal of treatment must be to restore normal metabolic function or at least much improved function!  We are very encouraged to see so many patients with normal post weight loss metabolic rates that are equivalent to their weight resistant counterparts who have never dieted.  It is exciting to treat overweight conditions medically and see these types of results especially when research has consistently shown that resting metabolic rate is not normalized through dieting.

Emily Cooper, M.D.

Type 2 Diabetes is a preventable disease, however by 2020 more than half of Americans will suffer from Pre-diabetes or full blown Type 2 Diabetes. In over 20 years of practice, I don’t recall any at-risk patient having developed Type 2 Diabetes while under my care and now I feel more confident than ever. We have teamed up with Katy Cook, mathematician, to help with data tracking for all of our patients at increased risk of developing this disease, and now we are also able to track each patient’s individual progress and ranking within the entire at-risk group.

This number crunching capability takes diabetes prevention to a level it rarely reaches in clinical practice. Recognizing common variables, we can now more accurately and efficiently predict an average rate of improvement, identify typical barriers to success and implement the most appropriate guidance and treatment.

Emily Cooper, M.D.

I have been a practicing physician for over 20 years and have always been committed to providing healthcare services that include early detection of disease, reduction of disease risk and enhancement of health and quality of life. After thorough evaluation and detection of underlying risk factors, SPM provides a team approach, offering education and guidance to help patients reach their goals. For some, that includes competitive athletic performance and for others it involves improving energy, achieving weight balance or reversing pre-diabetes.

We strive to provide the best guidance possible. My staff and I are continuously advancing our knowledge and will never be satisfied that we have learned all we hope to, or have done all we can to make a difference for our patients. We are dedicated to our patients’ success and feel privileged to work with such committed people who actively pursue their health and fitness goals. We are inspired by our patients, we eagerly take on challenges and we enjoy what we do every day.

Although we rely on science, we value subjective evidence. How a person feels and what they notice is incredibly important. We use objective markers and all that science has to offer to guide our recommendations rather than guessing at what is best, what is wrong, what is right . “Cookbook Medicine” and “Cookbook Coaching” doesn’t work for most people. Instead, our recommendations are based on a personal, individualized evaluation that includes family and personal history, and physical and physiologic analysis. Coming to SPM involves putting yourself ‘under the microscope,’ as no two individuals are the same. Our ‘get scientific’ approach is not for everyone but if you seek information and tools to take charge of your health, or if a data driven strategy is your style, we are a good match!

Stay tuned for lots of lively health and fitness related discussion.

Emily Cooper, M.D
Founder, Seattle Performance Medicine