M.D. Charlotte Spine Center, Charlotte, North Carolina Botulinum toxin was introduced as a safe and effective treatment for strabismus and other disorders of the extraocular muscles in the early 1980s. Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in the treatment of strabismus, blepharospasm and seventh cranial nerve disorders, botulinum toxin has also been shown to be effective in the treatment of a wide range of disorders associated with involuntary muscle contraction and spasm, including focal dystonia, hemifacial spasm and spasmodic torticollis. Neurologic syndromes associated with excessive muscle contraction or involuntary movement, disturbances of sphincter function and musculoskeletal pain are other conditions that can be successfully treated with botulinum toxin. South Carolina Obesity is a common and serious health problem in the United States. Excess weight is associated with an increased mortality rate, as well as such risk factors as hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes mellitus.
Numerous treatments are available for obesity.
Behavioral therapy, surgery and pharmacologic treatment have been used with varying degrees of success. Newer preparations are currently under development. Behavior modification, including regular exercise and the development of healthy eating habits, remains the best hope for long-term weight loss. However, surgery or medication can be useful in specific circumstances. The recent report of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is a compendium of the scientific evidence supporting clinical preventive services that might be offered by primary care physicians.