About the Authors

Robert M. Johnson, M.D., F.A.S.B.P. (Fellow of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians)

Dr. Johnson is a native South Carolinian and a graduate of the Medical University of South Carolina. He is one of the most respected and well-known physicians in the world in the treatment of obesity. He served for two terms as president of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians (the medical specialty society of physicians who specialize in treating obesity and related conditions), has served as chairman of the board of directors of that medical society, and was named Bariatric Physician of the Year in 1983. He was president of the South Carolina Chapter of the American Society of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, and is a diplomate of the American Board of Bariatric Medicine. Dr. Johnson has been in the clinical practice of medicine in Charleston for 41 years and is founder of the Bariatric Medicine Center in Charleston.

Maury M. Breecher, Ph.D., M.P.H. (Master of Public Health)

Dr. Breecher is a longtime medical journalist and author. He has written for major national magazines and Internet websites such as 21st C: The World of Research at Columbia University, HealthScout, and WebMD. His magazine work includes: In Touch: The Magazine for Cancer Survivors, Kiwanis Magazine, Ladies' Home Journal, Liberty: The Magazine of Religious Freedom, Mademoiselle, Readers' Digest, Working Mother and Woman's World. He has made appearances on radio and television, taught journalism at the university level, and is author or co-author of eight books including the original Charleston Program: The Revolutionary New Way to Lose Weight Permanently, Healthy Homes in a Toxic World, Dr. Anderson's Antioxidant, Anti-Aging Health Program, and Live Longer Better: Dr. Anderson's Complete Anti-Aging Program. Most recently he has written and published, How to Keep Your Home Healthy. He has served as a communication consultant to hospitals, medical societies, and public relations agencies, and has lectured on "Public Health in the U.S.A.," "Solutions to Problems of Indoor Air Pollution," and the "Benefits of Hypnosis as an Adjunct to Medical Care: Recent Studies from the Medical Literature." Dr. Breecher is a member of the American Hypnosis Association, the American Society of Journalists and Authors, the American Medical Writers Association, the Author's Guild, Hypnotherapists Union - AFL-CIO, the National Association of Science Writers, and the National Writers Union. He is a co-founder of the At-Large Local of the National Writers Union and served as Treasurer and member of the board of directors of that Local.

Shirley Linde, M.S., Ph.D.

Dr. Linde is a well-known author in the medical field. She has written for major national magazines such as Family Circle, Good Housekeeping, Ladies' Home Journal, and Readers Digest, has made many appearances on radio and television, and is author and co-author of 25 books including the original Charleston Program: The Revolutionary New Way to Lose Weight Permanently, Dr. Atkins' SuperEnergy Diet, The Whole Health Catalogue, How to Beat a Bad Back, No More Back Pain, Lifegain, 201 Medical Tests You Can Do at Home, No More Snoring, and No More Sleepless Nights written with Dr. Peter Hauri of the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Linde has been on the executive board of both the National Association of Science Writers and the American Medical Writers Association, and has served as a consultant to hospitals, universities, medical associations, government agencies and corporations. Dr. Linde is also a travel writer and is currently editor of smallshipcruises.com, the biggest website in the world on small ship cruises. She has received the Outstanding Service Award from the American Medical Writers Association and the Communications Award from Brandeis University and is listed in Who's Who in American, the World Who's Who of Women, and Foremost Women of the Twentieth Century.

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