Weight Management Overview

A customized Body Composition and Weight Management Program

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A customized Body Composition and Weight Management Program

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Nearly anyone can lose some weight. Some can maintain that weight loss. But most people struggle because they are not treating the causes.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), women's experience of health and disease differ from those of men, due to unique biological, social and behavioral conditions. Biological differences vary all the way from phenotype to the cellular, making a woman’s risks for ill health different from that for a man. Women and men differ in chromosomal makeup, protein gene products, genomic imprinting, gene expression, signaling pathways and hormonal environment. That's why we create individualized treatment plans that take our patients' varied needs into account.

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Designed by Defy Medical to reduce fat and increase muscle mass.

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Defy Medical offers a medical program that promotes fat loss and improved muscle tone for a better quality of life with long term results. Together, this leads to an improved body composition.

These are the interventional components identified by Defy Medical for effective fat reduction and weight management:

Balanced Nutrition

Regular Exercise

Pharmaceutical Tools and Nutritional Supplementation

Hormone Replacement Therapies*

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*If deficient or diagnosed with a necessity.

The physicians at Defy Medical have developed a proven method for effective fat loss which includes a customized program combining nutrition, exercise, hormones, peptides, lipotropic injections and hunger suppressants. Patients are given access to affordable blood testing, prescription medications and physician services that can be accessed remotely for your convenience.

New patients will go through the following process:

Initial Assessment

History

Conditions

The initial assessment typically includes:

A targeted blood panel to test for potential underlying causes
A Physical Examination
A consultation with a Defy Medical provider

If treatment is prescribed, patients will be given access to a cGMP compounding pharmacy that offers a variety of affordable medications delivered to your doorstep.

Regular follow-up assessments will include blood work, symptomology, body composition and physician consultation.

The Defy Medical program also includes testing which allows Defy physicians to detect, prevent, or reverse Adult Onset Diabetes as well as comprehensive metabolic and hormone testing to detect and treat any hormone deficiency.

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Call: 813-445-7342

How to become a patient in 3 steps.

“The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.”

-Thomas A. Edison

1. Blood Work

2. Consultation

3. Medications shipped to your door

New patients begin with a consultation that includes a blood panel, an evaluation and a treatment plan. Our initial consultation allows for up to an hour with a Defy provider, who will discuss all test results, conditions and goals. Whether the objective is to manage diabetes, improve body composition or find a weight management program that emphasizes quality of life, the Defy Medical clinical team will develop a personalized program designed to exceed expectations. You may also have access whenever you want and stay connected to your care team anywhere you go.

Change your life
Chat now for immediate assistance

Call: 813-445-7342

MEDICALLY MONITORED to get results SAFELY.

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Your Defy Medical program is created specifically for you by Defy physicians.

Defy Medical is a leading concierge medical practice, expert in both preventative and restorative therapies, that focuses on the entire person and not just the symptoms. The Defy Medical goal is to improve quality of life, improve overall health and promote longevity, by combining proven treatment models for a healthier body weight and composition.

The Defy approach is a different approach for healthcare, addressing multiple issues with the current protocols either at Defy’s full service clinic in Tampa or by using a convenient technology platform that allows remote care via virtual visits.

Defy Medical offers medically monitored weight management programs designed to improve body composition, while suppressing appetite during the initial stages of dieting. These strategies combine nutrition, hormone restoration, and supplementation to help improve body composition. Follow-up appointments will include program adjustments depending on progress.

According to data by research firm Marketdata Enterprises, Americans spend more than $60 billion annually on weight loss programs and products, many of which ultimately fail to decrease body fat. Defy Medical understands the importance of focusing on improvements in body composition rather than merely weight as a measurement of success. Most weight-loss clinics provide a one-size-fits-all approach using ineffective protocols (e.g., the HCG diet, which the FDA has advised consumers to avoid) and suboptimal approaches. Many clinics place patients on a low calorie diet without providing an adequate assessment, leading to the loss of muscle and the preservation of body fat, resulting in the regaining of weight after the program is discontinued.

The Defy Medical weight management program is designed to promote fat reduction while also improving muscle mass with successful long-term results. Analyzing key hormone levels are important for these treatment plans, which are designed not only to promote successful fat-loss, but also to improve health and longevity. If endocrine axis imbalances and hormone deficiencies are not properly treated, it will be very difficult to lose body fat no matter the efforts placed upon diet and exercise. Therefore, all patients referred to the weight management program will be given a comprehensive blood panel to provide a baseline overview of sex hormones, thyroid gland, adrenal function, metabolic function, lipids and screening for prediabetes. This test will be analyzed in conjunction with a thorough body composition measurement and lifestyle assessment.

Patients who show hormone deficiencies, which prevent effective weight management, will be given Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) as a treatment option. HRT can be very effective for long-term weight-management and fat reduction.

Balance the scales by treating hormonal imbalance.

The Defy difference is hormone science for weight loss results. Fad diets and ordinary weight loss centers result in the wrong type of weight-loss. Weight gain is a symptom of larger problems. Defy Medical focuses on the 3 key causes to put you back in balance:

BALANCED HORMONES
Personalized therapy to correct hormonal imbalance due to age and hormonal disorders.

BALANCED NUTRITION
A sensible plan made for you that concentrates on eating right rather than starvation or extreme dieting gimmicks.

BALANCED EXERCISE
An attainable regimen of activity to help grow muscle mass and lose fat.

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What do hormones have to do with my weight?

Hormones are the key to maintaining a healthy weight, which is why Defy Medical offers comprehensive hormone management for weight loss. Your hormones work to promote a healthy and well-functioning body. When key hormones are produced in insufficient quantities, that imbalance impacts your weight. You can even work out four to five times a week and notice that you are retaining fat in hard-to-lose areas. This is usually due to hormones that are not working optimally.

Hormones send the body chemical messages, produced in the endocrine glands, that control processes such as regulating metabolism and body weight. Hormonal imbalance means having too much or too little of certain hormones — and even small changes can cause serious effects.

For women, changes in estrogen levels affect weight, particularly around menopause. You gain weight, and weight is harder to lose. According to Medical News Today, this can lead to a dangerous buildup of visceral fat, which is linked to serious conditions such as diabetes, stroke, heart disease and some cancers. Healthline reports that 10 million Americans, including 1 in 5 women over 60, can gain weight even when dieting.

Weight gain in men is commonly caused by not producing enough testosterone. Normal testosterone promotes muscle gain and may suppress increased fat buildup. Men with “Low T” gain fat more easily, with Healthline adding that 30% of obese men and over 70% of morbidly obese men shown to have lower testosterone levels.

DIABETES can be prevented and MANAGED.

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Defy Medical also helps patients concerned with detecting, preventing or reversing adult-onset diabetes.

Defy Medical also helps patients concerned with detecting, preventing or reversing adult-onset diabetes.

Type-2 diabetes mellitus is a preventable disease that has been diagnosed in 29 million Americans as of 2012. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are an estimated 86 million Americans aged 20 years or older with prediabetes. Improvements in diet and body composition alone may prevent type-2 diabetes in patients who are at risk. Sometimes established type-2 diabetes can be reversed with proper nutrition, body composition improvement and adequate testosterone levels.

Men who have type-2 diabetes are twice as likely to suffer from low testosterone as a man without diabetes. Among men with low testosterone levels, 70% reported ED and 63% reported low sex drive. A new study on men with type-2 diabetes, presented at the Society for Endocrinology, shows that those with low levels of testosterone may die sooner than those with optimized testosterone. It’s important to note that testosterone is an important hormone for women as well.

A Defy Medical physician will evaluate important metabolic biomarkers to establish diabetes risk, along with important hormone markers to determine if there is a deficiency. Improvements in body composition through the reduction of body fat, increase in muscle mass and application of testosterone therapy (when appropriately diagnosed) will provide an effective and comprehensive approach to treating type-2 diabetes. Blood sugar control will remain a priority, while diet, education and support will be a routine part of each patient’s treatment. An on-site nutritionist will be an integral member of the clinical team.

Your Defy Medical doctor will provide complete diabetes management in addition to employing progressive strategies to help improve or reverse the disease.

Learn About Diabetes Support

BLOOD TESTS are the key to finding the UNDERLYING CAUSES.

Defy the fads and defy the fat with Defy Medical’s personalized program.

Treat the causes with your own custom, medically-based plan to get lasting weight loss results and promote a healthier you. Defy Medical’s team of doctors apply their proven methods to your own personalized medical program of weight management and body composition improvement by combining the essential elements outlined below.

Bloodwork

Analyzing blood chemistry is an important tool needed to design the most effective treatment plan. All new patients will receive a blood test completed at Defy Medical or your local laboratory.

The blood tests include the following biomarkers:
Metabolic | Testosterone FT | Estrogen | Insulin-like Growth Factor | Thyroid | Diabetes Panel

Consultation

Your doctor will discuss your lab results along with symptoms, dietary habits, activity, medical history and lifestyle choices, in addition to reviewing personalized treatment options available to you. You will have enough time with your doctor to address multiple issues.

Pharmacy Service

Defy Medical uses compounded products for weight management and hormone therapies.

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
This is an area of treatment that often requires a personalized approach. Compounding medications allow doctors to customize strengths, ingredient combinations and dosage form depending on individual patient needs.

CUSTOMIZE MEDICATIONS
Compounding also gives doctors the ability to customize medications into different combinations, strengths and dosage forms.

COMPOUNDING PHARMACIES
Compounding pharmacies that specialize in weight management, hormones and adjunctive wellness treatments can provide a convenient single source for integrative treatments.

CUSTOM OPTIONS
These pharmacies carry custom options in addition to commercial generic and branded products.

INJECTIONS
Most lipotropic/nutrient injections are not available commercially and can only be sourced from a compounding pharmacy.

LOWER COST
Medications ordered from a compounding pharmacy are often significantly lower cost than commercial products, including weight-loss pharmaceutical products which are also usually lower at locally owned specialty pharmacies.

DIRECT TO YOU
Your medications can be ordered through the Defy Medical patient portal and delivered directly to your door.

Start your own specialized program
Chat now for immediate assistance

Call: 813-445-7342

Pharmaceutical OPTIONS help MANAGE WEIGHT.

A directory of pharmaceutical tools that can be deployed as part of an integrative weight management strategy.

Commercial options used in weight management:

PHENTERMINE (ADIPEX)

Available Products:

Both T3 and reverse T3 are thought to deiodinate into a metabolite called 3,5-diiodothyronine (T2) within peripheral tissues.
Generic Phentermine hydrochloride (multiple options)
Compounded phentermine in custom strengths and combinations

It is often recommended for obese patients who possess greater risk factors for high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes
Phentermine is an oral sympathomimetic amine used as an adjunct for short-term (e.g., 8-12 weeks) treatment of exogenous obesity
Chemical structure and pharmacological effects of phentermine are similar to amphetamines
Clinical effects include CNS stimulation and elevation of blood pressure. Appetite suppression is believed to occur through direct stimulation of the satiety center in the hypothalamic and limbic region
Phentermine acts as an appetite suppressant by stimulating branches of the sympathetic nervous system located within the central nervous system and is best used when used in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle
Phentermine is indicated in the management of exogenous obesity as a short term (several weeks) adjunct in a regimen of weigh reduction based on caloric restriction

DIETHYLPROPTION (TENUATE)

Available Products:

Tenuate Dospan 75mg, a commercially branded extended release tablet
Generic diethylpropion tablets
- Diethylpropion HCl 25 mg
- Diethylpropion HCl ER 75 mg

Also known as Amfepramone
Orally administered sympathomimetic amine that is used as an anorexiant agent
Chemically related to the antidepressant and smoking cessation aid bupropion (previously called amfebutamone)
The pharmacologic effects of diethylpropion are also similar to amphetamines
Diethylpropion is indicated in the treatment of obesity as a short-term adjunct in a regimen of caloric restriction in patients with an initial body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater and who have not responded to a weight-reducing regimen of diet and exercise alone
Recommended for short term treatment of obesity; longer periods of therapy, up to 25 weeks, may be safely and successfully utilized without the development of tolerance or drug dependence
Diethylpropion was approved by the FDA in 1959 and is available in both immediate-release and sustained-release tablets.
It is only indicated for use as monotherapy

PHENDIMETRAZINE (BONTRIL)

35mg, 105mg

LORCASERIN (BELVIQ)

Available Products:

Belviq 10.4mg immediate release tablet and Belviq XR 20.8mg extended release tablet

Serotonin 2C receptor agonist
Previous serotonin agonists fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine caused cardiac valve disease, removed from market
2C receptor only in the brain not in heart
Studies in 1-2,000 people for up to 2 years do not show evidence if valvulopathy with lorcaserin.
Weight loss: 3-5%. No better than phentermine or orlistat

NALTREXONE/BUPROPION (CONTRAVE)

Available as Contrave, a commercially manufactured tablet
Extended-Release Tablets: 8 mg naltrexone HCl /90 mg bupropion HCl

Naltrexone, an opiate antagonist, and bupropion, a noradrenergic/dopaminergic antidepressant, have many effects on the reward systems of the brain
These medications impact eating behavior, presumably via their impact on food reward. However, only bupropion induces weight loss in obese individuals, while naltrexone does not have any appreciable effect
The combination of 32 mg of naltrexone and 360 mg of bupropion in a sustained-release combination pill form has been recently approved for obesity treatment
Studies have shown that the combination of these two medications is more effective in inducing weight loss, when combined with lifestyle intervention and calorie reduction, than each individual medicine alone
The naltrexone–bupropion combination, when combined with lifestyle intervention and modest calorie reduction, seems to be quite effective for 6-month and 1-year outcomes for clinically significant weight loss (over 5% of total body weight)
Source and more information: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4862388/

METFORMIN HCL

Available as Glucophage, Glumetza, Riomet, Fortamet and Glucophage XR

Metformin helped maintain long-term weight loss in individuals at risk for type-2 diabetes, as found by an analysis of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) trial
28.5% of patients lost at least 5% of their body weight after 1 year on Metformin (Annals of Internal Medicine)

Thyroid Replacement Products

Thyroid function may be important for body composition and the occurrence of obesity in the population.

Evidence shows that low normal thyroid levels are associated with an inability to lose weight and obesity. Thyroid medications should never be given as a weight loss medication but appropriate replacement with the proper preparations often alleviates a number of symptoms, often including continued weight gain.

COMPOUNDED options also aid WEIGHT MANAGEMENT.

Growth Hormone Secretagogues (GHS)

Peptides send chemical messages to help regulate the body. Growth Hormone Secretagogues are peptides that stimulate the release of Human Growth Hormone (hGH), which is responsible for healing, cell regeneration and reproduction, and other important functions. As we age, our bodies naturally produce less hGH, which can lead to slower healing, weight and fat gain, lessened quality of sleep, reduced muscle mass, and other issues. Using Peptide Therapy, we can stimulate the release of hGH and improve these symptoms.

Read more about Peptide Therapy.

Injectable Lipotropic Products

Many clinics employ compounded nutrient combinations as part of a weight-management program. These combinations are commonly referred to as ‘lipotropic’ injections. Lipotropic compounds help catalyze the breakdown of fat during metabolism. Lipotropic products are sterile compounded products that are administered by injection. Injections are administered at Defy Medical or can be self-administered by the patient. All lipotropic products contain three foundational ingredients: methionine, inositol, choline. It’s important to understand that injections alone will not provide significant fat reduction. Combining the injections with a healthy diet, exercise program and weekly weigh-ins is the best way to ensure success. Most injection claims are subjective and anecdotal.

Lipo Injection Summary:

Methionine Inositol Choline (MIC) Injections, also referred to as Lipo Injections, are used to help release fat throughout the body by specifically targeting its primary fatty deposits
Lipotropic, or fat burning substances include: inositol, which helps the liver remove fat; choline, which distributes cholesterol and prevents it from getting deposited in one part of the body; and methionine, which is similar to inositol, but also amplifies the combination
Injections can be administered up to twice a week, and vitamin B-12 is purported by practitioners and users to help accelerate metabolic processes, while creating a greater feeling of overall energy
Since lipotropics directly aid in the breakdown of fatty tissue, and are also closely related to B vitamins, when used together, they are thought to intensify each others’ effects and are usually injected together as part of the same treatment injection cycle
Carnitine is an amino acid which is required for the transport and breakdown of body fat for the generation of metabolic energy
Studies show that oral L-Carnitine supplementation can decrease fat mass, preserve muscle during exercise and reduce muscle fatigue
Further research over the last decade has shed new light on the importance of L-carnitine as a regulator of skeletal muscle fuel selection, which means it is needed to determine whether muscle tissue utilizes carbohydrates or fat for energy
When taken orally, L-Carnitine requires a high dose to promote fat tissue breakdown. This is because only a fraction of carnitine is absorbed during oral digestion
When administered by injection, nutrients like L-Carnitine are completely absorbed by the body

MIC LIPO INJECTION

Concentration: Methionine 25mg / Inositol 50mg/ Choline 50mg per mL
Category: Compounded lipotropic for injection
Use: Used for liver disease; increases liver enzymes; fat metabolism
Admin: IM; SQ

Directions:

IM: 1mL-3mL 2-7 days
SQ: 1mL daily or 3x week

Description:

Methionine, Inositol, Choline (MIC) are considered “lipotropic nutrients”
Enhance the liver and gallbladder's role by decreasing fat deposits and speeding up metabolism of fat and its removal
Lipotropic nutrients are also used to maintain a healthy liver
linicians who specialize in injectable lipotropic nutrients use a specific formula, also known as MIC Combo, which has proven to be an effective aid in total fat loss. Methionine, Inositol, and Choline are the three ingredients which form MIC. MIC is the foundational ingredient within our lipotropic injections

Note:

Lipo should never be administered via IV due to possible reaction to the preservatives
Combining injections with a healthy diet, exercise program, and weekly weigh-ins is the best way to ensure success

LIPO B INJECTION

Concentration: Methionine 25mg / Inositol 50mg / Choline Chloride 50mg / B12 (Cyanocobalamin) 1,000mcg per mL
Category: Compounded lipotropic for injection
Use: Used for liver disease, increases liver enzymes, fat metabolism; energy
Admin: IM; SQ only

Directions:

IM: 1mL-3mL 2-7 days
SQ: 1mL daily or 3x week

Description:

Custom formulated lipotropic injection used to promote body fat reduction and preserve lean muscle tissue
Can also be used to maintain healthy liver function and protect the liver from disease

Note:

Lipo should never be administered via IV due to possible reaction to the preservatives
Combining the injections with a healthy diet, exercise program and weekly weigh-ins is the best way to ensure success

LIPO C INJECTION

Concentration: Methionine 15mg / Inositol 50mg / Choline Chloride 50mg / L-carnitine 50mg / B1 (Thiamine HCl) 15mg / B5 (Dexpanthenol) 5mg per mL
Category: Compounded lipotropic for injection
Use: Used for liver disease, increases liver enzymes, fat metabolism; energy
Admin: IM; SQ only

Directions:

IM: 1mL-3mL 2-7 days per week
SQ: 1mL daily or 3x week

Description:

Lipo-C is a custom formulated lipotropic injection used to promote body fat reduction and preserve lean muscle tissue
Lipotropic injections can also be used to maintain healthy liver function and protect the liver from disease

Note:

Lipo-C should never be administered via IV due to possible reaction to the preservatives
Combining the injections with a healthy diet, exercise program, and weekly weigh-ins is the best way to ensure success

METHYL-B12 INJECTION

Concentration: 10,000mcg; 50,000mcg
Category: Compounded vitamin for injection
Use: Increases RBC’s and appetite; can be used to treat anemia; improves mood and energy; should be supplemented in vegetarians who do not get adequate amounts of B12 from diet or patients consuming low calorie/low protein diet
Admin: IM; SQ (not recommended IV)

Reconstitution:

10,000 mcg: dilute 10mL of bacteriostatic water for 1 mg/mL concentration
50,000 mcg: dilute 5mL of bacteriostatic water for 10 mg/mL concentration

Directions:

IM/SQ: 1mg-5mg once per week or 1mg - 5mg once per month
IV: 5mg administered IM during IV treatment

Description:

Has some metabolic and therapeutic applications not shared by the other forms of vitamin B12.
Very effective treatment for B12 deficiencies commonly found in patients who suffer from diseases or have nutritional deficits (such as ultra low calorie diets)

Note:

Serum B12 levels remain elevated for at least 2 weeks after a single 1mg injection. Weekly and even monthly injections can maintain elevated serum B12 in most patients. It can be taken daily or 3 times per week when used to increase appetite, energy or for mood disorders. Test serum B12 levels throughout treatment to find the minimum frequency needed to maintain levels.

B12 INJECTIONS FOR WEIGHT-MANAGEMENT

Some weight-loss clinics offer vitamin B-12 injections as part of their weight-loss programs
Proponents of vitamin B-12 injections claim that injections improve energy and boost metabolism, helping you shed unwanted pounds
Unless you have a vitamin B-12 deficiency, vitamin B-12 injections are not likely to increase energy
Metformin is sometimes used as part of a weight-loss strategy for people with type-2 diabetes. Vitamin B-12 deficiency can be a side effect of using metformin and can be supplemented
Patients with Pernicious anemia may see improvement of fatigue with B12 supplementation
Although research remains unclear/inconclusive, other conditions, disorders and complications related to vitamin B-12 deficiency have shown some improvement during vitamin B-12 supplementation including: Fatigue; CD; high cholesterol; depression; joint pain; diabetic neuropathy; claudication; mental performance
Patients who follow an energy-restricted and imbalanced diet might develop vitamin deficiency and may benefit from supplementation

COMPOUNDED PHENTERMINE CAPSULE

α,α-dimethylphenethylamine
Psychostimulant and substitute amphetamine; similar in pharmacology to amphetamine
Used as an appetite suppressant for short term use, as an adjunct to exercise and reducing calorie intake
Your doctor can request immediate release (IR) and sustained release (SR) capsules
Compounded in strengths not available commercially
Your doctor can customize strengths and combinations
Compounded phentermine can be combined with other drugs and/or supplements into a single capsule
Sometimes more cost effective than commercial products

PHENTERMINE + 5-HTP CAPSULE

Compounded combination containing a pharmaceutical ingredient (phentermine HCL) and a nutritional supplement (5-Hydroxytryptophan)
There several patient reports online describing improvement in appetite suppression when switched to phentermine plus 5-HTP
Only available at a compounding pharmacy
Your doctor can customize the dosage of each ingredient to tailor it to your needs

7-KETO DHEA CAPSULE

7-Keto-DHEA is a natural metabolite of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). DHEA is one of the most abundant steroidal products of the adrenal gland
7-Keto-DHEA is the oxygenated form of DHEA and is present naturally in the body.
Studies have been conducted to evaluate 7-Keto-DHEA effects on the reduction of adipose tissue, increased immune response, enhance memory, lean tissue levels and other effects
Each DHEA metabolite is thought to have some biological significance. 7-Keto-DHEA is one of the major metabolites of DHEA
7-Keto-DHEA may have a profound effect on the body’s ability to metabolize fat. 7-Keto-DHEA has been shown to increase resting metabolic rate in dieting adults undergoing caloric restriction, thus increasing dieting effectiveness. One study demonstrated a 1.4% increase in resting metabolic rate in individuals who were administered 7-Keto-DHEA, compared to a placebo group who experienced a 3.9% decrease (7-Keto-DHEA 100 mg twice daily). Another study demonstrated a formula containing 7-Keto-DHEA helped subjects who were dieting and exercising to lose 4.7lbs compared to a placebo group who lost 1.6lbs (7-Keto-DHEA 100 mg twice daily)

References:

Zenk, J.L., J.L. Frestedt, and M.A. Kuskowski, HUM5007, a novel combination of thermogenic compounds, and 3-acetyl-7-oxo-dehydroepiandrosterone: each increases the resting metabolic rate of overweight adults. J Nutr Biochem, 2007. 18(9): p. 629-34.
Zenk, J.L., et al., The effect of 7-Keto Naturalean™ on weight loss: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Current Therapeutic Research, 2002. 63(4): p. 263–272.

Meet Your Care Team

Defy Medical is staffed by knowledgeable medical professionals including medical doctors, experienced healthcare professionals, and administrative teams who are qualified and trained to deliver a high level of care.

Meet

Justin Saya, MD

Dr. Justin Saya, M.D. is the medical director and lead practicing physician at Defy Medical. He offers therapy to both men and women who are looking to balance their hormone levels and improve their overall quality of life. His patients have reported benefits such as improved energy levels, restored libido, and much more.

Meet

Caleb Calkins, MD

Dr. Calkins is focused on optimum health for his patients. He believes in a proactive approach to medicine that emphasizes maintaining an appropriate balance of nutrition, hormones, and fitness. He is dedicated to finding the root causes of his patient’s symptoms and the appropriate treatment regimens for complete wellness.

Meet

Melissa Faulk, PA-C

Melissa Faulk, PA-C, graduated Summa Cum Laude from South University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Physician Assistant Studies. Melissa is a NCCPA (National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants) board-certified physician assistant with nearly 20 years of clinical experience...

Meet

Janel Mayer, MSN, APRN, FNP-C

Janel Mayer, MSN, APRN, FNP-C obtained her bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Penn College in 2004 and gained valuable experience caring for critically ill patients at some of the finest facilities on the east coast.

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Mike Linkous, PA-C

Mike Linkous, PA, completed his bachelor’s degree in Adult Fitness/Exercise Science at Marshall University in West Virginia. He received his Physician Assistant degree from The College of West Virginia in Beckley, West Virginia in 2000.

Meet

Ben Walker, APRN, DC

Ben Walker, APRN, DC received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree in 1989 and has been a nurse practitioner since 2014. His interest in the integrative approach to healthcare inspired him to explore and understand the many facets of optimizing personal health.

Meet

Jill Dillenburg, RN

Jill Dillenburg, RN, has practiced as a board-certified registered nurse for the past 10 years. She has specialized in the areas of hormone replacement therapy and cardiology. Since 2014, Jill has practiced with Defy as both a provider and the medical manager to Defy’s team of medical assistants.