Roizen, Michael F.

Michael Fredric Roizen (born January 7, 1946) is an American anesthesiologist and internist, an award-winning author, and the chief wellness officer at the Cleveland Clinic. Roizen became famous for developing the RealAge concept and has authored or coauthored five number-one New York Times best sellers. Roizen completed a tour of duty in the Public Health Service and has 165 peer reviewed publications and 100 medical chapters, 14 US patents, started six companies, served on Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committees for 16 years, and chaired an FDA advisory committee. He also co-invented a drug, methylnaltrexone (MTNX, trade name Relistor), and took it through phase 2 trials. In May 2008, methylnaltrexone received FDA approval for marketing in the United States. He has been praised  for encouraging Americans to exercise and live healthier lives, and he has been an outspoken critic of politicians who use health funds for other purposes – particularly for taking tobacco settlement money and using it for unintended purposes. Besides advocating for a healthier lifestyle today, Roizen has speculated that by 2023 one of the 14 areas of aging might have a breakthrough that will allow people to live until 160 with the same quality of life as at age 45. This speculation has been met with both criticism as well as agreement. Roizen has also been criticized for what has been called his wild exaggerations about the potential payoffs of exercise and healthy eating.