BioFit Medical Group

The Leader in Anti-Aging Medicine for Men.

By Jeffery S. Dunham, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H. — Medical Director

BioFit is a medical practice dedicated to improving quality of life and preventing diseases of aging in men through a customized program of bioidentical hormone replacement, dietary guidance, and exercise.

As men age, levels of important hormones like testosterone, thyroid, and growth hormone decrease. When this happens, they may experience the following symptoms:

• Decreased energy
• Depression
• Increased belly fat
• Loss of libido
• Erectile dysfunction
• Elevated levels of cholesterol and triglycerides
• Decreased muscle mass and bone density
• Anemia
• Increased risk for diabetes, heart disease, and kidney failure
• Dementia

Testosterone levels in men begin to decline significantly after age 40. A typical male with low testosterone will be pale, flabby, depressed, and tired. He will have low sex drive, poor sexual functioning, decreased motivation, and trouble focusing. He often will complain that no matter how hard he exercises he can’t seem to make any gains. When he relates these complaints to his physician, he may be told that he needs to eat better and exercise more. He will often be told that he’s just getting old and offered a prescription for Viagra or an anti-depressant. The cause of all of his problems could be effectively treated with a simple testosterone supplement, but this is usually overlooked.

Low thyroid is probably one of the most under-diagnosed conditiions in men. Men with a low functioning thyroid wake up tired, feel tired all day, and go to bed tired. They generally need a lot of coffee to get going in the morning, have trouble losing fat, have dry skin and hair, and have high cholesterol. Thyroid hormone replacement increases energy, makes it easier to lose fat, improves skin and hair, and lowers cholesterol levels naturally without drugs. Some prominent endocrinologists believe that if you need more than two cups of coffee to get going in the morning, you’re probably low thyroid.

Growth hormone is secreted during sleep and functions to stimulate cell division and repair. As men age and growth hormone levels decline, the repair processes do not keep up with the damage, resulting in many of the clinical manifestations of aging. Growth hormone is also extremely effective in removing abdominal fat, and men with growth hormone deficiency have increased belly fat in addition to accelerated aging. This can occur despite exercise and a good diet. Increased belly fat is a serious medical condition and will dramatically increase the risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. A recent study by physicians at Kaiser Hospital showed that men who have increased abdominal fat in their 40s also have a three times higher risk of developing dementia in their 70s. Replacing growth hormone to more youthful levels will decrease abdominal fat, increase energy, stimulate cell repair, and decrease the risk for these diseases of aging.

Bio-identical hormone replacement at physiological doses is safe and effective. The patients get back the exact same hormones they already have circulating in their body but are no longer producing at sufficient levels. These hormones are restored to levels that they presumably had at a younger age. Unlike drugs, which are totally foreign to the body and can have serious side effects, bio-identical hormones are completely natural compounds, and the side effects are generally minimal and dose related.

Insulin levels are also extremely important as men age. High insulin levels favor storing fat and can lead to adult onset diabetes and increased risk for heart disease, kidney failure, and dementia. Testosterone, thyroid, and growth hormone can easily be optimized by hormone replacement, but maintaining low insulin levels depends upon diet. Unfortunately, most patients are totally confused when it comes to proper diet, and most of what they think they know (like eating fat makes you fat) is wrong. Dr. Dunham initially spends up to two hours with each new BioFit patient in order to design a customized program of hormone replacement, dietary guidance, vitamin supplementation, and exercise to meet their goals.

At 53, Dr. Dunham practices what he preaches. He has been on the BioFit Program for the last 10 years.

Dr. Dunham has an M.D. from Harvard Medical School, a Ph.D. in Biology from M.I.T., and a master’s degree in Public Health from U.C. Berkeley. He is certified by the American Board of Preventive Medicine, and is a member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. You can learn more about the BioFit Program at www.BioFitmedical.com.

BioFit Medical Group
1751 N. Sunrise Way
Palm Springs, CA 92262
(760) 327-7100
www.BioFitmedical.com