Some people know Travis Stork as the star of season eight of "The Bachelor." Some know him as the host of “The Doctors,” a syndicated talk show now in its sixth season. But in addition to being a TV celebrity, Stork is a working emergency room physician and a graduate of Parkway West High School.
He was scheduled to be in St. Louis today as part of tour for his new book, “The Doctor’s Diet: Dr. Travis Stork’s STAT Program to Help You Lose Weight & Restore Your Health,” but due to the weather, his trip has been postponed. He joined the conversation today via phone.
Stork said the advantage of being on television is he has a platform to talk with people about preventing medical problems, something that it is too late to do by the time they reach him in the emergency room. Prevention is also the focus of his diet book, designed to help people obtain and maintain a healthy weight in order to avoid health problems such as diabetes or heart disease.
Here’s what he had to say about the book, his career and his celebrity status.
How do you balance your life as a celebrity and a working doctor?
"It’s a work in progress...hosting the show, I view it as just a regular doctor but with a bigger audience...it’s a lot of flying - I fly out to Los Angeles every week to tape the show."
Is watching “The Doctors” a good way for people to get their medical information?
"It’s really important first and foremost that everyone has a relationship with a medical practitioner they can trust...one of my biggest messages I share with my viewers is being the CEO of your own health is probably one of the biggest jobs you’ll ever have.”
What makes this diet book different from all the rest?
“This is a book written from a physician’s perspective...It's not a deprivation diet...A true diet, one that works is one where you’re embracing changes that you’re going to continue for the rest of your life. Yeah everyone wants to look good when they look in the mirror, but I believe what they really want is to feel good.”
Stork believes that in order for people to maintain healthy eating, they have to enjoy what they eat, so in his book he suggests ways for people to make what they like to eat healthier. For example, making pancakes with whole grain flour instead of white flour. The fiber of the whole grain makes it take longer for the body to break down the sugar in the carbohydrates, thus avoiding insulin spikes.
Stork also suggests avoiding artificial sweeteners because they “trigger your brain to crave sweets” and numb the enjoyment of more natural, but more subtly sweet foods, such as fruit.
St. Louis on the Air provides discussion about issues and concerns facing the St. Louis area. The show is produced by Mary Edwards and Alex Heuer and hosted by veteran journalist Don Marsh.