Dr. Robert Posner, founder of the Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Program, the largest medically supervised weight loss program in the region, has opened a satellite office in National Harbor.

“For years enthusiastic patients have been traveling from all over the metro area to take part in my program. It just makes sense to open a satellite office in National Harbor for travel convenience.” Posner has partnered with Michael Chiaramonte, M.D., Medical Director of the Bella Cosmetic Surgery Center. Locally, Posner has four locations: Burke, Chantilly, Bethesda and now National Harbor.

Nationally, Posner has licensed his program to board certified doctors in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Southern Maryland and soon New York City. “Thousands of Washingtonians have shrunk their waistlines over the past 7 years. On average, patients lose 30 pounds in 12 weeks. We have a 99% success rate and a 100% safety record. It’s only natural that I expand nationally so people across the country can benefit from this one-of-a-kind weight loss program.” said Dr. Posner.

The business expansion comes on the heels of national exposure, both in the media and medical community. The January 12th, 2009 edition of Woman’s World Magazine featured Dr. Posner’s weight loss program in a cover story. And Posner just published his second book “Stress Eater’s Diet” which is an easy to read guide for women on tips to avoid stress eating during stressful times, like a recession. Woman’s Health Magazine introduces the book in an upcoming edition.

In December, Posner spoke to hundreds of doctors at the The American Academy on Anti-Aging Medicine 16th Annual Congress in Las Vegas, where he is regarded as one of the top experts in the world on serotonin and how imbalances increase appetite and carb cravings. “Everyone has been hearing how a cortisol imbalance leads to belly fat,” said Dr. Posner, “Comparatively speaking, a serotonin imbalance leads to carb carvings and an increase in appetite. Fluctuating serotonin levels are often the culprit of weight loss failure.” Posner has agreed to speak for a second time at the conference in Orlando, Florida in April and has completed a chapter on his research on serotonin supplementation for weight loss which will be included in The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine Textbook, 2009.

Dr. Posner has been in private practice in the Northern Virginia area for 20 years as an internal medicine physician. Dr. Posner developed the Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Program and the Serotonin Weight Management System™ as a result of his groundbreaking research into the effects of oral serotonin. The Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Program and Dr. Robert Posner developed and patented the Serotonin Formula™, a unique oral serotonin supplement. The United States Patent and Trademark Office issued a patent for this invention in January, 2000 (U.S. Patent Number 6,017,946). He is a former member of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians. He has also researched the concept of serotonin replacement for serotonin imbalance conditions, such as depression, chronic fatigue, migraine headaches, premenstrual syndrome, fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome. Dr. Posner’s book, “Doctor, I have a Chemical Imbalance” – The Serotonin Story, was released in 2002 is an in-depth read on his breakthrough research.

Dr. Robert Posner is a pioneer in serotonin research and the adverse effects of disruptions in serotonin levels resulting in carb cravings and an increase in appetite. “Everyone has been hearing how a cortisol imbalance leads to belly fat,” said Dr. Posner, “Comparatively speaking, a serotonin imbalance leads to carb carvings and an increase in appetite. Fluctuating serotonin levels are often the culprit of weight loss failure.” Posner is presenting his groundbreaking research for the second time to hundreds of doctors attending The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine 17th Annual Congress April 23rd in Orlando, Florida. Posner last spoke to the group in December, 2008 In Las Vegas. Posner has summarized his research in a chapter which will be included in The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine Textbook 2009, currently in production.

“I consider it to be an honor to be invited back to speak at the conference and am excited to continue presenting my research on serotonin,” said Dr. Posner, “Although serotonin can be found naturally in foods like bananas and nuts, you cannot increase serotonin levels in the body by ingesting food. The total body content of serotonin is 10 to 12 milligrams, which is about one thirtieth of an aspirin, and that amount has a profound effect on appetite, carb cravings, mood, memory, learning, sleep and other cardiovascular functions. Any disruption in levels causes a huge disruption to normal body functioning.”

“People think they are weak if they give in to food cravings, when actually an imbalance in serotonin levels can make it next to impossible to lose weight,” said Dr. Posner, “Nearly everyone knows what it’s like to have carb cravings under stress and nearly every woman has experienced mood and appetite changes during certain stress periods of her cycle.”

Dr. Posner has been in private practice in the Northern Virginia area for 20 years as an internal medicine physician. Dr. Posner developed the Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Program and the Serotonin Weight Management System™ as a result of his groundbreaking research into the effects of oral serotonin supplementation on weight loss. During the last seven years, nearly 8,000 patients have lost extraordinary amounts of weight through his program which has a 99% success rate and 100% safety record. Dr. Robert Posner developed and patented the Serotonin Formula™, a unique oral serotonin supplement. The United States Patent and Trademark Office issued a patent for this invention in January, 2000 (U.S. Patent Number 6,017,946). He has also researched the concept of serotonin replacement for serotonin imbalance conditions, such as depression, chronic fatigue, migraine headaches, premenstrual syndrome, fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome. He has been invited to present Medical Grand Rounds to the medical staff at the Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, Virginia in September, 2009. Dr. Posner’s book, “Doctor, I have a Chemical Imbalance” – The Serotonin Story, was released in June 2002 and gives in-depth analysis of his research. His second book “Stress Eater Diet” released in 2008, is an easy to read pocket guide designed to help woman everywhere with weight issues and is being promoted in Women’s Health Magazine April 2009 edition. Posner’s diet plan was featured on the cover of Woman’s World Magazine January 2009 and he has been interviewed as a weight loss expert on local television.

Dr. Posner’s highly effective Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Program averages a weight loss of 35 pounds in 12 weeks. The program utilizes the patented Serotonin-Plus formula, which has been proven to reduce carbohydrate cravings and aid in weight loss. The Serotonin-Plus program focuses on lifestyle changes, where patients are taught how to lose weight effectively through a transitional diet plan that helps to modify behavior and teach portion control. Aside from having a 100% safety profile, the Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss program is 99% effective; the program has helped over 9,000 patients achieve their weight loss and the pursuit of a healthier lifestyle.

In keeping with Dr. Posner’s initiative to reform health, Serotonin-Plus will now offer the highly praised Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Program free to two adults within the community each month. Individuals can nominate themselves or someone they know that is in need of this worthwhile program. Qualified candidates are those that have a BMI greater than 30, have health problems related to excess weight and those that are affected daily by their weight. Consideration will first be given to those who are unable to afford the cost of a medically supervised weight loss program. Nominations can be made on the Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss website, http://www.spdiet.com, by following the “Adam Katz Memorial Weight Loss Program” link.

Dr. Posner and Serotonin-Plus are committed to giving back to the community; by offering the FREE Community Program, the first steps are being taken to fight obesity and the need for costly healthcare. To support the Free Community Program or to get more information on Dr. Posner and the Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Program, please visit www.spdiet.com.

Robert Posner, M.D., says he didn’t invent a serotonin supplement or write his book, “Doctor, I Have a Chemical Imbalance,” for the money, but rather to help the patients who came in and “suddenly started crying.”

Posner, who lives in Fairfax Station, said that as a Navy doctor he saw patients “get lost” in the military’s huge health-care system. His unconventional practice includes making house calls, battling insurance companies, and community involvement. “We’re the community practice,” said Posner, and said that many practices opened by hospitals fail because the doctors don’t feel “bonded” with their community.

HOUSE CALLS save very ill patients a lot of “aggravation,” said Posner, who practices in Burke. Patients agree. Lee Kara, home after a recent hospitalization, “greatly appreciated” Posner’s house call. Kara said she didn’t know one other doctor that made house calls. The American Medical Association did not have statistics available on the number of doctors who make house calls.

“I credit him for saving my life,” said Rick Ostler, who said Posner “prodded” him into going for tests that revealed he had kidney cancer.

Posner and his partner Victoria Currall fund high-school sports teams and host students completing “clerkships,” time spent in a doctor’s office. During last year’s flu shot shortage, they held a health fair, donating proceeds to the National Capital Area’s Survivors Fund for victims of Sept. 11.

MANAGED CARE has “ruined” the relationship between doctors and patients, said Posner. He won’t accept insurance, but helps patients file claims. He also gives Medicare patients a 20-percent discount on fees as well as free samples of medication.

He said that insurance companies pressure doctors to write cheaper prescriptions, force doctors to hire extra personnel to process paperwork, and have reduced participating doctors’ salaries, causing them to take on too many patients.

Dr. Harold Bondy, who practices in Arlington and still accepts insurance, said it takes “two people for every doctor” to handle paperwork. Bondy said patients are forced to travel to labs and hospitals that have contracts with the patient’s insurance company for particular procedures. “More and more physicians are dropping insurance,” said Bondy.

POSNER CREATED his supplement, Serotab, which is available without a prescription, after realizing that many patients refused to seek treatment for depression due to the “social stigma.”

There are several types of antidepressants. Some, such as Prozac, act as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors which work indirectly to maintain levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter. Posner financed several studies on Serotab’s safety and effectiveness, unlike what is done for most supplements, which are not regulated by the FDA, said Posner.

“Many of my patients have been looking for a natural solution to their mood problems,” said Dr. Mary Jo Palmer, who as a chiropractor does not prescribe drugs.

Posner’s self-published book explains chemical imbalances and documents studies for both mainstream and naturopathic treatments for such imbalances.