Audio clip
James Marcum
Local cardiologist Dr. James Marcum wants Chattanoogans to shift their thinking when it comes to weight loss.
Using what he calls the HeartWise Biblical Approach to Weight Management, Dr. Marcum and a team of doctors, nutritionists and exercise physiologists will track how a spiritual emphasis affects weight management.
"What really differs in this is we're going to try to plug people into an active prayer life," Dr. Marcum said, "and pray for each other and encourage each other as Christians to make these changes and get the power of the Holy Spirit in our life to stick with it long term."
The free, yearlong endeavor begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Brainerd Baptist Church BX Building. During the kickoff event, Dr. Marcum will explain his approach and distribute questionnaires to divide people into three groups based on their weight-loss goals.
IF YOU GO
* What: HeartWise Biblical Approach to Weight Management program kickoff
* When: Thursday at 7 p.m.
* Where: Brainerd Baptist Church BX Building.
* Who: Dr. James Marcum will introduce the program and explain his spiritual approach to weight management. Attendees will fill out questionnaires and be placed into three groups based on weight loss goals.
David Hamilton, a 42-year-old Chattanooga resident who has struggled with overeating for years, not only is helping to organize the program, he plans to participate.
"We hope this might be the first step on a path to a program that really will be a successful addressing of the problem," he said.
Dr. Marcum will monitor data such as weight, resting heart rate and resting blood pressure to see how successful his teachings are. He said he will publish the data after a year and, if the program is successful, he plans to reproduce it on a national scale.
"If they're losing weight and their heart rate is coming down, their blood pressure is coming down, that's the data that's easy to get and it's cheap," he said. "And if that's happening, I automatically know that the parameters of weight loss -- their blood sugar, their inflammation, their cholesterol -- all that will be improving, too."
The approach is part of Dr. Marcum's Christian-based charity, HeartWise Ministries, which produces TV, radio and Internet programs that address the physical and spiritual sides of health.
Choosing more nutritious foods and getting regular exercise also are teachings from the Bible that will be key to the program, Dr. Marcum said.
The program is open to people of all sizes and ages and is not solely for those who need to lose weight, Dr. Marcum said.
Brittany Cofer is a business reporter who has been with the Chattanooga Times Free Press since January 2010. She previously worked as a general assignment Metro reporter. In the Business department, she covers banking, retail, tourism, consumer issues and green issues. Brittany is from Conyers, Ga., and spent two years at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Ga., before transferring to the University of Georgia. She graduated from the university’s Grady College of Journalism in December ...
Will Dr. Marcum's weight plan continue to meet every Thursday at 7:00 through out the year? Would he ever consider going the same thing in Cleveland? Thanks!
Dr. Marcum is a good doctor and honorable man. While I personally may not ascribe to his religious views, that does not negate his great compassion, genuine concern, and tremendous medical skills. Unlike many, he walks his talk.
I can not think of anyone who could be a better doctor and good man and I would happily have him as my cardiologist (though I hope I don't need him).
To those who may be on-the-line about attending, Dr. Marcum truly believes in his mission to help others and I'm sure will be of great help to you.
I agree with harrystatel. Dr. Marcum is one of few willing to stand up and speak the truth. He helped turn me around five years ago. I would definitely listen and pay the fee. I disagree in that I find his religious views refreshing. He believes in the Bible and the doctrine of love and is unafraid to share that with his patients.
I listened to a part of Dr.Marcum's interview.. http://www.lifetalk.net/media/VL/mp3/VL060831.mp3
I'm sure he is a good Christian and a fine cardiologist. But he lost me when he claims that the Bible holds "truths" to good health.
He advocates rest as part of healthy living. DUH!! Specifically, he states that proper rest is part of "Gods Natural Law" and part of a "Biblical Treatment". His advocacy of this Biblical "truth" is the story of Creation where God rested on the seventh day. The inference is that God is telling us to rest our bodies thus it is a "Biblical Treatment".
All due respect, I don't believe anyone needs the Bible to tell you your body needs rest and to believe that the Bible is some sort of repository or prescription for healthy living seems a wee bit of a stretch.
Thanks, but I'll stick with my secular exercise of yoga which includes rest. I can also rest any day of the week.
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