As of April 9, 2010, Aetna has changed its position on reimbursement for sleeve gastrectomy and will now cover the procedure. This coverage will be the same as other bariatric surgery procedures covered by Aetna.

Your Weight Matters is a National web-based awareness campaign proudly produced and presented by the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC). The goal of the campaign is to get the public talking about weight as it relates to their health and to challenge each and every American to talk to their doctor about their weight.

Childhood obesity is a serious and growing problem. Over the past 30 years, obesity rates among children have tripled. A recent study In the Journal of American Medical Association shows that gastric banding surgery, such as LAP-BAND, can and have been, more effective than traditional weight loss programs promoting diet and exercise.

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.

Could where you live actually determine how long you live? According to the United Health Foundation, it can!

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.

It comes as no surprise that the United States is suffering from an obesity epidemic. Over the past thirty years, the number of Americans classified as overweight or obese has, according to the CDC, nearly doubled. Today about 21.6% of adults in the United States are obese.

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!