Hi! My name is Allison Haughton-Green MD. FAAP, a board-certified physician who practices functional weight loss medicine (Clinical Bariatrics) in Orlando, Florida.

I have struggled with my weight since my early twenties. For years, I tried to solve my weight problem the way I was taught to in medical school—eat less and exercise more. So I faithfully exercised 6 hours a week, followed a healthy diet, and made sure not to eat too late.

Despite my efforts, I received disheartening news every time I went to my annual physical. My weight kept going up and my belly fat was considerable— bad enough that a patient asked me if I was pregnant (I wasn’t).

My doctors diagnosed me with pre-diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, polycystic ovarian syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and gastroesophageal reflux. On top of that, I also suffered from chronic migraines, anxiety, trouble sleeping, and struggled with infertility, Every year I went to the doctor, I was prescribed more and more medications.

I had resigned myself to the fact that I would have to live my life sick, overweight, depressed, and in constant pain. There I was telling my overweight patients that they needed to do what I couldn’t do, and I felt like a hypocrite.

Thankfully, in 2008, I was introduced to the work of Dr. Barry Sears. His clinical research on insulin and its role in obesity changed my life forever. I learned that my high body fat was not caused by caloric excess but by a hormonal issue known as INSULIN RESISTANCE.

Insulin resistance prevents cells from properly absorbing carbohydrates and sugar. I cannot tell you how relieved I was to finally have an answer as to why my body didn’t behave as expected, despite my calorie deficit.Not only that, but I finally understood that my struggles with my weightwere not my fault.

Insulin resistance is a genetic condition, in mycase inherited from both of my parents. This was the real cause of myobesity and disease.