There has been a lot of controversy lately regarding soda, sugary drinks and their link to obesity. Some lawmakers have even proposed extra taxes on these beverages to help curb the problem. In this article, printed with permission of the Obesity Action Coalition, Dr. Rodrick D. McKinlay discusses the role liquid calories play in obesity among children.

Research has long linked obesity to such negative health conditions as high blood pressure, sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes. One commonly overlooked, yet very serious, risk of obesity is cancer. A pivotal study released in 2003 followed more than 900,000 adults for sixteen years. When these men and women were enrolled in the study they were cancer free, but over the duration of the study, more than

As a young adult, Stephen Head of Lecompte, Louisiana, injured himself falling out of a tree and slowly began to gain weight. Although he often made solid efforts at weight loss, once losing over 80 lbs, the weight came back as soon as he stopped dieting.

Many patients undergoing bariatric surgery often wonder if they will need plastic surgery to remove excess skin after they’ve lost weight. This is not always the case. Depending on your age and the elasticity of your skin you may see your body return to a somewhat normal state.

For those patients who have struggled with weight their whole life, bariatric surgery may seem like the final solution. It’s true that, for the morbidly obese, weight loss surgery is known to be the most effective and long-lasting treatment. But surgery is only the first step. Successful weight loss comes from an ongoing mental and emotional commitment to a healthier lifestyle.

Despite the benefits of losing weight, some people worry about weight loss surgery cost. Surgical Specialists of Louisiana understands the challenges surrounding the insurance hurdle. To help you, we staff 7 full-time Patient Advocates who focus exclusively on acquiring bariatric insurance approval for our patients.

Did you notice our new look? We’ve refreshed our WhyWeight.com™ website and, by launching this exciting new blog, now have the opportunity to share important and relevant information about our practice, weight loss and more!