Hormonal Balance: Understanding Hormones, Weight, and Your Metabolism [Paperback]

Scott Isaacs (Author), Neil Shulman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2006

First published in 2002 and now updated and expanded, this guide pioneered the idea that hormones play a key role in weight loss and weight control. Writing in clear, simple terms, Dr. Isaacs profiles each hormone system, discussing what can go wrong and how imbalances can affect weight and even perpetuate obesity. The book explains how to reverse symptoms of hormonal imbalance through diet changes and other remedies, and then expands the discussion, teaching readers how to deal with everything from menstrual cycles to diabetes by recognizing and remedying hormonal problems.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A remarkable resource for anyone with any chronic health problem."  —American Lung Association

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Scott Isaacs, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.E. is a board-certified endocrinologist in Atlanta, Georgia, and widely considered to be one of the leading weight-loss experts in the country. Dr. Isaacs is a faculty member at Emory University School of Medicine and the medical director for Atlanta Endocrine Associates and their award-winning weight loss program. Dr. Isaacs has been honored with numerous awards, including being listed in Castle Connolly Top Doctors for the past four years. His peers voted him Best Physician in Lifestyles Magazine in 2010 and 2011. The online Citysearch Guide announced Dr. Isaacs's weight loss program as its 2009 "Best of Citysearch" winner. Author Jillian Michaels called Dr. Isaacs the "guru of all things hormonal" and referenced his books in her New York Times bestselling book, Master Your Metabolism. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists also lists Dr. Isaacs's books as a resource for practicing endocrinologists.  Dr. Isaacs has been profiled on CNNHealth.com, livestrong.com, WebMD.com, and many other websites. Dr. Isaacs has provided expert commentary on radio and television news programs including CNN Headline News, CNN Health, National Public Radio and local NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox news affiliates. He appeared as a weight loss expert on TBS Superstation's "Movie and a Makeover." He has published clinical and basic science research on diabetes, obesity and bone metabolism.  His publications in peer-reviewed medical journals include the Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Diabetes Care, Journal of Cellular Physiology, Thyroid and the Journal of Critical Care.  Dr. Isaacs lives with his wife and five-year-old daughter in Atlanta. For more information on Dr. Isaacs, visit OutsmartHormones.com and YourEndocrinologist.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 463 pages
• Publisher: Bull Publishing Company; 2nd edition (November 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933503041
• ISBN-13: 978-1933503042
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #83,674 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed, July 20, 2010

By 

J. Warwick "J. Warwick" (London UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hormonal Balance: Understanding Hormones, Weight, and Your Metabolism (Paperback)

I was somewhat disappointed with this book on a number of issues. Whilst I do not doubt that the author is an excellent endocrinologist, I do really think he should stick to what he knows best.

I was expecting a layman's guide to how our hormones work. Instead I got drawn into a lecture on nutrition and positively cringed at some of the misinformation, such as don't chew your food thoroughly as it will cause an insulin surge - simply untrue as slow eating has been proven to improve satiety over a longer period.

And telling us that saturated fats cause cardiovascular - again not true as meta analysis has proven this to be a fallacy.

That coconut oil is unhealthy - it's positively one of the healthiest oils going!

That we need to drink at least eight 8oz glasses of water a day. A fad which can lead to dangerous overdrinking of water. Fluid intake from watery foods and other incidental drinks when thirsty is the more natural way to proceed.

And so on.

A lot of the information in the book in now common knowledge - e.g. on insulin resistance - or very dry and off track. In the end, I just couln't continue reading any further and put the book down a third of the way through.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HORMONAL BALANCE, November 12, 2007

By 

K. Thompson (SF, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hormonal Balance: Understanding Hormones, Weight, and Your Metabolism (Paperback)

The most comprehensive book I have read thus far on total hormones.

Easy reading, easy to understand. Book covers many hormones, their function in the body & how to get/keep them healthy.

If you have felt tired, depressed, exhausted, moody, forgetful - READ THIS BOOK. It is not just a matter of ageing.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very accessible information on a complex topic, March 16, 2009

By 

Joni C. Lawrence (Roswell, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hormonal Balance: Understanding Hormones, Weight, and Your Metabolism (Paperback)

I read Dr. Isaac's book cover to cover and found it not only informative, but fascinating and easy to read. He make the highly complex endocrine system easily understandable in layman's terms, and his writing is very conversational and straight-forward. He has an open-minded approach to endocrinology, meaning that he understands there's not always a one size fits all approach to treatment. Patient lab results are a good baseline, but patient input and symptom description is also important. For this reason I made an appointment with him and was equally impressed with his bedside manner - he listened - and his thorough review of my case history. He even went as far as requesting all of my previous records from other doctors who I've seen for thyroid disease. The book covers all the hormones, their roles, and the various illness that can result from improper balance. His diet recommendations are very sensible and easy to follow. I'm looking forward to trying some of the recipes in the book and the diet section has inspired me and given me ideas to include more fruits and vegetables in my diet. For the first time in several years I feel optimistic that a) I understand what's going on in my body, and b) I've found a doctor that cares enough to work with patients until they are well enough to enjoy life without worrying about chronic health problems. I too was a bit concerned that he's not an Armour thyroid fan like so many of us who've felt better on that drug. I thought it would be my panacea based on internet research, but instead it seems to be doing more harm than good. And the way he explained his thoughts to me on that topic made perfect sense. He supports the use of Armour for patients who do well on it, but it must be prescribed properly and carefully monitored. I would recommend this book for anyone with weight or other endocrine or metabolic disorders who wants to understand the role of hormones in the body in language that's clear and easy to understand.