Posts Tagged ‘Obesity’

Newer Entries »

Food Labels – A Primer: Part One

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

A key to healthy eating is understanding what exactly goes into the food we eat. The Surgical Specialists of Louisiana are pleased to share the first part of a two part feature article by Jacqueline Jacques, ND that explains the importance of food labels and reprinted with the permission of the Obesity Action Coalition. Understanding nutrition labels is an important part of any medically supervised weight loss program. Please visit our Blog next week for part two of this feature article. Part two will discuss what type of information is actually included in the Nutrition Facts Box and how to read it.

food-labelsIf you are trying to eat a healthy diet and make good food choices, you will often get the advice: “become a label reader.” This is said in reference to the Nutrition Label found on virtually all foods sold in grocery stores in the United States.

Food labels are required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) so that consumers can make an informed choice about the food they eat. When you know how to read them, you can understand valuable information about the ingredients in a food, its nutritional value as part of your diet and much more.

Nutritional labels on food are required by the FDA under the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act and are regulated by the Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling and Dietary Supplements. The regulations set forth by this office literally regulate almost everything on a food label such as:

• What specific ingredients are called
• How the information is presented graphically
• What size type needs to be used
• How to use descriptive terms like “low,” “reduced” and “free” for fat, salt and calories

What foods have to be labeled?

These days, most foods sold in your grocery store are required to have some sort of label. The obvious exceptions are fresh fruits and vegetables and fresh cuts of meat or fish. Foods like sandwiches made in the grocer’s deli and those sold in bulk bins are also not required to be labeled. Other foods that are exempt form labeling include:

• Foods sold in restaurants, hospital cafeterias and airplanes or sold by food service vendors (including vending machines)
• Food shipped in bulk – that which may be shipped to a restaurant for food preparation
• Medical foods
• Plain coffee, tea and spices
• Very small business – provided they inform the FDA and meet the criteria for this exemption

What should you look at when you look at a label?

Most people never get past the front of a food label when they are shopping – and that is what most manufacturers hope for. The front of a label is generally a modified ad for the food – maybe a picture that suggests a way to eat the food, catchy information like “low fat” or “part of a healthy diet,” and perhaps a slogan that is familiar to consumers as part of a bigger advertising campaign.

If you are a health-conscious shopper, the front of a label generally tells you very little of what you need to know. There are, however, a few things that are required to be present in this area of the label under FDA guidelines. These things include the name of the food and the quantity of the product in the container (ounces, grams, etc.).

In some cases, the manufacturer also must describe the form of the food – meaning they should tell you if the milk is skim or whole, the cheese is sliced or shredded or the pineapple is sliced or in chunks, etc. Virtually everything else is there by the choice of the manufacturer.

Turn the package over!

If you really want to know about a food, the front of the label doesn’t tell you what you need to know most of the time. The best place to start looking on a food label is the area – usually on the back or side of the package – called the Nutrition Facts Box. (If you are looking at a dietary supplement, this will be called a Supplement Facts Box.)

This article first appeared in the OAC News Vol.2/ Issue 3 April 2007 Reproduced with permission from Obesity Action Coalition. Please visit www.oac.org

The Surgical Specialists of Louisiana are committed to helping our patients achieve a healthy lifestyle and a healthy weight through their MyWeighttm nutrition and wellness counseling program. Whether you are interested in weight loss surgery or medically supervised weight loss counseling, we can help you take control of your eating and your weight. Join us for a free seminar or take a weight loss quiz to help you get started.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Medically Supervised Weight Loss Program, Obesity Today | Comments Off

Weight Loss Surgery May Cut Risk of Cancer

Friday, January 8th, 2010

research2

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 years1. When these men and women were enrolled in the study they were cancer free, but over the duration of the study, more than 50,000 cancer deaths occurred. The study concluded that those with a body mass index of 40 or more, those considered morbidly obese, had death rates from all cancers that were 52% higher for men and 62% higher for women compared to people of normal weight. Based on this data, the researchers estimated that 14 percent of all deaths from cancer in men and 20 percent of those in women could be directly linked to obesity. Obesity related cancers include esophagus, colon, rectum, liver, pancreas and kidney cancers. For women, there is also an increased rate of breast, uterus and other gynecologic cancers.

Seven years have passed since the publication of that study and much headway has been made in the treatment and prevention of obesity in the United States. Although the obese population continues to climb, options such as weight loss surgery and medically supervised diets are widely available. This June, the Journal of the American College of Surgeons published a report that bariatric surgery appears to decrease the risk of cancer in obese women.

The study followed 1,482 severely obese (BMI over 30) women who had undergone bariatric surgery and compared them to a group of severely obese women who had not undergone surgery. Although the results of the study were not conclusive, the obese women who did not have surgery had a significantly higher cancer diagnosis2. These findings may be the first step toward bariatric surgery being a preventative treatment for obesity related cancers.

Certainly more research needs to be done to evaluate the numerous factors contributing to weight loss. Still, for the morbidly obese, weight loss surgery, such gastric bypass or laparoscopic gastric banding, has proven to be a more effective means of weight loss than diet and exercise alone.

1. EE Callee, C Rodriguez, K Walker-Thurmond, M Thun Overweight, Obesity and Mortality from Canter in a Prospectively Studied Cohort of U.S. Adults, NEJM 348: 1625-1638, April 24, 2003, No. 17
2. Cancer in Obese Women: Potential Protective Impact of Bariatric Surgery, 17 April 2009

The Surgical Specialists of Louisiana are committed to helping our patients achieve a healthy lifestyle and a healthy weight. Whether you are interested in weight loss surgery or medically supervised weight loss counseling, we can help you take control of your eating and your weight. Join us for a free seminar or take a weight loss quiz to help you get started.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Gastric Bypass, Gastric Sleeve, Lap Band, Realize Band, Weight Loss News | Comments Off

Love What You Eat: How Mindful Eating Helps Break Your Eat-Repent-Repeat Cycle

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

happy new year

Happy New Year from the Surgical Specialists of Louisiana! We are pleased to be able to help you start it off right with this week’s feature article about mindful eating by Michelle May, MD, from her book “Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat: How to Break Your Eat-Repent-Repeat Cycle” and reprinted with permission of the Obesity Action Coalition.

Most of us have attempted weight loss numerous times. We counted calories, exchanges and points. We ate pre-packaged food or meal replacements. We followed rigid meal plans that restricted fat or carbohydrates – or solid food altogether.

From an energy balance perspective, any of these tactics should work, and some do – in the short-term. From my perspective, the reason they do not work long-term is that they change what and how much we eat, without changing why and how we eat. Those two issues are critical because people who struggle with their overweight and obesity are often disconnected from their signals of hunger and satiety.

Overeating occurs in response to hundreds of environmental and emotional triggers such as free food, stress or boredom. Overeating also occurs unconsciously. For example, eating quickly or while distracted watching television or driving.

Changing Why and How You Eat

Mindful eating was one of the keys to breaking my eat-repent-repeat cycle. One definition of mindfulness is paying attention, on purpose and without judgment, to the internal and external world in the present moment. I describe it as eating with intention and attention.

Benefits of Mindful Eating

Eating is a natural, healthy and pleasurable activity when you are eating to satisfy hunger and meet your needs for nourishment and enjoyment. Mindfulness helps you identify the difference between physical hunger and head hunger. Further, learning to savor food makes eating more pleasurable, leading to a paradoxical decrease in the quantity of food you need to feel satisfied.

Mindfulness also makes it possible for you to notice the difference between physical satisfaction and the discomfort of fullness, allowing you to self-regulate the quantity of food you eat.

Mindful Eating is Eating with Intention and Attention

Eat with Intention

Be purposeful when you eat:

•    Eat when you are truly hungry.
•    Eat to meet your body’s needs for fuel and nourishment.
•    Eat with the goal of feeling better when you finish.

Eat with Attention

Devote your full attention to eating:

•    Eliminate or minimize distractions.
•    Tune into the ambiance, flavors, smells, temperature and texture of the food.
•    Listen to your body’s cues of hunger and fullness.

Excerpt from “Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat: How to Break Your Eat-Repent-Repeat Cycle” by Michelle May, MD (Greenleaf Book Group, October, 2009).

The Practice of Mindful Eating

Admittedly, if you are used to eating on autopilot, learning to eat mindfully may feel awkward at first; however, like any new skill, it becomes natural with practice. During our Am I Hungry? workshops, we have a Mindful Eating potluck or go out to dinner together; you too can practice the following steps by yourself or with a friend.

Step 1

Before a single bite of food passes your lips, it is important to recognize why you are eating since the reason(s) impacts every other decision downstream. Whenever you feel like eating, first ask yourself, “Am I hungry?” This simple, but powerful, question helps you recognize whether the desire to eat was caused by your body’s need for fuel or some other trigger. It may be helpful to close your eyes and do a mind-body scan, looking for signals of hunger. These may include hunger pangs, growling stomach, low energy, shakiness, headache or other symptoms that indicate that your stomach is empty and your blood glucose is low. Recognize that these are all physical symptoms, not cravings or thoughts, such as “That looks good,” or “I better eat now while I have the chance.”

Step 2

Decide what to eat, honoring your preferences by asking yourself, “What do I want?” and honoring your health by asking, “What do I need?” If you are preparing your own food, view it not as a chore, but an opportunity to become an integral part of the process. Connect with all of your senses as you touch, smell and combine the ingredients.

Step 3

Create a pleasant ambiance. Even when you are preparing food for yourself, make it attractive by setting the table, turning on music and perhaps even lighting candles. Minimize distractions so you can give the food and your body’s signals full attention. If you eat while you are distracted by watching television, driving, working or talking on the telephone, you may end up feeling full, but not satisfied.

Do not eat while standing over the sink, peering into the refrigerator or sitting in bed. Instead, choose one or two places at home and at work for eating.

Step 4

Before serving yourself or ordering, set your intention for how full you want to be at the end of eating. This intention guides you in deciding how much food to purchase, prepare or serve. Once you have the amount of food you think you will need, physically divide it in half on your plate to remind yourself to stop halfway and check in again. This little “speed bump” slows you down and serves as a reminder to reconnect if you lost your focus.

Step 5

Take a few deep breaths to calm and center yourself before you begin eating. Reflect on all that went in to bringing this food to your plate. Express gratitude for the nourishment, the people with whom you are sharing the meal, or simply the fact that you are giving yourself time to sit down and enjoy eating.

It is Time to Eat Mindfully

Make eating a multi-sensory experience. Look at your food and appreciate the colors, textures and arrangement. Decide which food looks the most appetizing and start by eating one or two bites of it while your taste buds are the most sensitive. If you save the best until last, you may want to eat it even if you’re full.

Take small bites since large bites are wasted on the roof of your mouth, teeth and cheeks where you have very few taste buds. In addition, much of what you perceive as taste actually comes from smell. When you slowly chew a small bite of food, the aromas are carried from the back of your throat to your nose, enhancing the flavors.

Put your fork down after each bite. When you are loading your next forkful, you cannot pay attention to the one in your mouth. When you are always paying attention to the next bite you will keep eating until there are no more bites left.

Recognize Fullness

Pause in the middle of eating. When you get to your speed bump, stop eating for a couple of minutes. Estimate how much more food it will take to fill you to comfortable satiety, keeping in mind that there is a delay in the fullness signal reaching the brain.

Notice when your taste buds become less sensitive to the taste of food; that is a sign that your body has had enough. Push your plate forward or get up from the table. The desire to continue eating will pass quickly, so distract yourself for a few minutes if necessary. Keep in mind that your intention was to feel better when you were done and that you will eat again when you are hungry.

Complete the Mindful Eating Process

When you’re finished eating, notice how you feel. If you over-ate, do not judge or punish yourself. Instead, be aware of the physical and/or emotional discomfort caused by being overly full and create a plan to decrease the likelihood that you will overeat next time.

Once you experience the pleasure of eating mindfully, you may be motivated to become more mindful during other activities too. Use intention and attention in your personal relationships and during routine activities like showering or exercising. Living fully in each moment increases your enjoyment and effectiveness in everything you do.

This article first appeared in the OAC News Vol.4/ Issue 3 April 2009.  Reproduced with permission from Obesity Action Coalition. Please visit www.oac.org.

Download the first chapter of Dr May’s new book, “Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat: How to Break the Eat-Repent-Repeat Cycle” from www.amihungry.com.

The Surgical Specialists of Louisiana are committed to helping our patients achieve a healthy lifestyle and a healthy weight. Whether you are interested in weight loss surgery or medically supervised weight loss counseling, we can help you take control of your eating and your weight. Join us for a free seminar or take a weight loss quiz to help you get started.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Medically Supervised Weight Loss Program, Obesity Today, Uncategorized, Weight Loss News | Comments Off

Body Image vs. Health Risk: What’s Your Motivation for Weight-Loss Surgery?

Friday, December 18th, 2009

By David Engstrom, PhD, ABPP, FAClinP

Self-EsteemBody image is loosely defined as a person’s perception of their own physical appearance, or the internal sense of how one’s body appears to others. Although it is a complex subject, research suggests:

1. Body image dissatisfaction is greater in women than in men.
2. A person’s body image is often dramatically different from the way their body actually appears to others.

There is no doubt that there is still a great deal of stigmatization and moralizing about obesity and excess weight in this society. Many scientific studies demonstrate this point. They show that people with excess weight, in comparison with their normal-weight counterparts, are often perceived as being:

  • “Less intelligent”
  • “Lonelier”
  • “Having less self-control”
  • “More lazy”

While these perceptions are often not true, they still persist and can have a marked effect. We have all heard remarks like, “she ought to just push herself away from the table,” or “he should get to the gym.”

To the outside world, the reasons people with morbid obesity seek bariatric surgery may be a mystery. The obvious reason might be to “look better” or to “feel better about their bodies.” The bottom line is that society still too often views this procedure as the “easy way out,” or a “quick fix” for lifelong problems.

Perceptions and Social Stigma

Although body image seems to develop naturally as we mature, there is probably a large part of our body image that is socially derived, from these real or imagined perceptions, judgments and comments of other people. When you add this social stigma to a person’s previous failure at dieting, already low self-esteem and poor body image, it is not difficult to imagine that the idea of significant weight loss through surgery is appealing for a number of reasons.

Despite the fact that a primary goal of bariatric surgery is to prevent, improve or cure medical health problems or co-morbidities, the psychosocial effects of the surgery are just as powerful and important. Several recent studies have reported dramatic positive changes in the body image of patients following weight loss surgery. So what really motivates people to seek this surgery in the first place?

Weight Loss Surgery Motivation

First, a few facts about motivation itself. There are four types, or sources, of motivation.

  • External motivation is often initiated by outside sources, like friends, family or doctors. “They made me do it.”
  • Guilt-driven motivation is, as one might expect, a result of trying to escape from negative feelings. “I would feel badly if I didn’t do it.”
  • Identified motivation is a result of wanting to be like, or identifying with, someone else who is doing the behavior in question.
  • Internal motivation is when the desire to change arises within the person. “I like doing it…it’s fun.” Studies that examined motivation to exercise or to lose weight have shown that the most enduring source of behavior change is internal motivation. That is, the more a person’s motivation comes from within, as opposed to some outside agent (e.g., doctor, spouse), the more likely it is that behavior change will continue.

It is clear that there are many sources for motivation, and they should be examined carefully, especially when the subject is weight-loss surgery. At our practice, we have examined the motivating factors for a group of 65 of patients who were seeking bariatric surgery. They were each asked about their primary motivating factors, including:

  • Health concerns, including medical co-morbidities
  • Improvements in self-esteem, including feelings of self-worth and enhanced body image
  • Increasing physical functioning, including better mobility and ability to accomplish physical tasks
  • Business or job advancement
  • Increased social attractiveness

They were asked to rank-order their reasons for seeking surgery, from 1 (most important) through 5 (least important). The results of this assessment are shown below.

What is your most important reason for seeking bariatric surgery?

Health Concerns                               62%
Increase Physical Functioning            11%
Improve Self-Esteem                         19%
Business or Job Advancement             5%
Social Attractiveness                          3%

One clear finding here is that health concerns far outweigh all other categories of motivation for bariatric surgery. These may represent either current or future concerns about physical health and well-being. When motivation to improve physical functioning is added to health concerns, the total for both represents nearly three quarters of all primary reasons.

Body Image and Self-Esteem

Although “body image” was not a separate category, it is assumed that this issue is incorporated into the categories of “improve self-esteem” and “social attractiveness.” Together, these two areas were primarily endorsed by 22 percent of the respondents.

People obviously choose to have bariatric surgery for many reasons, and these cannot easily be broken down into distinct categories. While our data suggests that health concerns are well in front of other reasons, there were secondary reasons, including body image, which play a part in their decision-making as well. Of equal importance is the person’s source of motivation. Be sure to examine yours, and make certain the decision is an internal one!

This article first appeared in the OAC News Vol.3/ Issue 4 July 2008.  Reproduced with permission from Obesity Action Coalition. Please visit www.oac.org

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Obesity Today, Uncategorized, Weight Loss News | Comments Off

Bariatric Patient Spotlight–Obesity & Type 2 Diabetes: Steven Head

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

As a young adult, Steven 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. As his weight crept up, so did associated health conditions such as Type 2 diabetes. By age 50, Steven was injecting 200 units of insulin each day when he found a wound on the bottom of his foot that would not heal. When the doctors started mentioning amputation, Steven knew he had to do something.

Type 2 diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, a hormone necessary to convert sugar and starches into energy. Its exact cause is unknown, but genetics, obesity, and lack of exercise are all contributing factors.

Glucose intolerance should not be taken lightly. But, unfortunately, it is not the only concern. Nearly 60-70% of people with diabetes develop some form of nervous system damage including the loss of ability to feel pain. Nearly 30% of adults ages 40 and over with diabetes suffer from neuropathy, impaired sensation of the feet. This means that those with neuropathy can develop blisters or sores on their feet that they may not be aware of.

Despite several visits to specialists across the state and multiple treatments, Steven’s wound on his foot did not get better. Finally, the doctors suggested amputation, and Steven realized that he had to get rid of the diabetes in order to save his leg.

In December of 2006, Steven had laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery performed by Dr. Tom Lavin of the Surgical Specialists of Louisiana. This minimally invasive, one-hour procedure creates a smaller stomach pouch that allows food to bypass a large portion of the small intestine so the patient absorbs fewer calories. Interestingly, gastric bypass, also called Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, also affects the hormones that may be behind diabetes. Studies show that 83.8% of patients often resolve their diabetes within days of bariatric surgery.

Since his surgery, Steven has lost 185 pounds and is no longer diabetic. Best of all, his wound was healed and he was able to keep full use of his foot and leg.

Dr. Lavin believes that, by treating the core problem, many obese individuals can solve most of their related health problems. Steven is excited about his weight loss success, but beyond the numbers on the scale he is thrilled to have regained his health.

1. American Diabetes Association. All about diabetes. Available at: http://www.diabetes.org/ about-diabetes.jsp. Accessed Nov 15, 2009

2. National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC). A service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), NIH. National Diabetes Statistics, 2007. Available at : http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/DM/PUBS/statistics/. Accessed Nov 15, 2009.

3. Buchwald H, Avidor Y, Braunwald E, et al. Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA 2004;292(14):1724-37.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Gastric Bypass, Gastric Sleeve, Lap Band, Realize Band, Weight Loss Patient Testimonials | Comments Off

Walk From Obesity

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

Walk from ObesityThe 4th Annual Walk From Obesity, sponsored by Southern Surgical Hospital, in conjunction with The Surgical Specialists of Louisiana, took place Saturday, November 14th in Slidell’s Olde Towne Historic District. The Walk From Obesity is the only annual nation-wide event to increase the awareness of the life threatening disease of obesity.

Walkers participated in raising money to help fight the obesity epidemic. An estimated 90 million people in the US are obese and 15 million are morbidly obese, putting them at an increased risk for other life threatening diseases including type II diabetes and heart disease.

With the help of business sponsorships, such as the Surgical Specialists of Louisiana who were “Benefactor Level” sponsors, the Slidell area walk raised $16,500, making it one of the Top National Fundraising Sites in the Country. Thanks to these fundraising efforts, the ASMBS (American Society For Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery) Foundation awarded a $5,000 grant to Slidell Memorial Hospital’s “Fit as a Firefighter” Camp. This is the second year in a row the award has been given to SMH which has brought the money raised back into our local community.

About The Surgical Specialists of LA
The Surgical Specialists of LA is a group of nine board certified laparoscopic bariatric surgeons who have performed over 4,000 minimally invasive weight loss surgeries. With locations in New Orleans, Covington, Lafayette and Slidell, they are able to offer the Gulf South Region the most comprehensive weight loss program in the area. Whether you need to lose 15, 50 or 150 pounds, SSL has a program to meet your needs. MyWeightTM is the most recent addition to SSl’s offerings. MyWeightTM is a medically supervised, individualized, multi-level weight loss program that offers a variety of options focusing on the Medical, Nutritional, and Physical components for a healthy lifestyle.

About Southern Surgical Hospital
Southern Surgical Hospital (SSH) is a multi-specialty, 63,538 square-foot short-stay hospital located in Slidell, Louisiana. The hospital houses six operating suites, one pain treatment room, a procedure room; two sleep lab beds, 32 inpatient beds, and five ICU beds. SSH is owned and operated by physicians in partnership with Cirrus Health.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Gastric Bypass, Gastric Sleeve, Incisionless Bariatric Surgery, Lap Band, Medically Supervised Weight Loss Program, Obesity Today, Uncategorized, Weight Loss News | Comments Off

Obesity and Society – We Are What We Eat

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

SedentaryWe live in an obesogenic environment. But what does that mean? It’s a concept that’s gathering a lot of attention these days. The word obesogenic comes from combining the word “obese” with the suffix “genic” – to produce or generate something. It attempts to describe the condition of our modern society and how it contributes to the obesity epidemic.

As humans we are very efficient creatures, built to defend our weight. The increase of obesity rates in America can, in part, be explained by the disparity between our sedentary lifestyle and the genes that once helped our ancestors survive famines. You might say that our genes load the gun, but our environment pulls the trigger.

The rapid increase of technology, and the subsequent conveniences it brings, has dramatically shifted the typical environment and lifestyle of most Americans:

• Many of our cities are built for driving rather than walking. Public transportation can be inconvenient.

• People are working in increasingly sedentary jobs and enjoying sedentary leisure activities such as TV, video games, and surfing the web.

• There are safety concerns that lead many to forgo outdoor activities such as cycling or walking, and this affects children and adults alike.

And our environment isn’t the only thing that is changing. Over the past few decades the nature of food itself has changed significantly:

• Food is plentiful year round and inexpensive. Cheaper, less healthy, processed foods are eaten more frequently. In fact, Americans spend far less of their disposable income on food than other any other nation.

• Consumers are inundated with advertising messages hooking us on unhealthy foods and creating bad eating habits. In one year, an average child will watch about 10,000 commercials touting food and beverages.

• Portion sizes are out of control! In 1955 McDonald’s French fries were 210 calories for a 2.4 oz. serving. In 2004, McDonald’s fries were 610 calories for a 7 oz. serving. In 1916, a Coca Cola was served in a 6.5 fluid oz. bottle containing 79 calories. Today, a 16 oz. bottle of Coke has 194 calories.

With both our genes and our environment fighting against us, the outlook may seem bleak. But understanding how these two factors, our genes and our environment, go hand in hand is the first step in the right direction. By acknowledging the environmental factors that may fight against you, you can make healthier decisions and fight back.

This is just as important for those who have already had weight loss surgery, or have committed to a medically supervised weight loss program, as it is for those trying to lose weight on their own. Bariatric surgery and medically supervised diets are excellent, safe and effective tools that go together with new habit formation and positive lifestyle change to produce long-term weight loss.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Exercise, Medically Supervised Weight Loss Program, Obesity Today, Uncategorized, Weight Loss News | Comments Off

Body Contouring After Bariatric Surgery

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

venus2

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. Others, however, will see an excess of saggy skin around their midsection, thighs, arms or breasts. This can present both physical and emotional concerns. Hanging skin can be uncomfortable and can cause hygiene problems. And patients who worked hard to reach their weight loss goals may find themselves, once again, embarrassed by their physical appearance. Plastic surgery could be the solution.

Body contouring after massive weight loss is on the rise. In fact, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) nearly 67,000 body contouring procedures after massive weight loss were performed in 2007. This accounts for roughly one-fourth of all bariatric surgery patients.

The most commonly performed procedures for bariatric surgery patients are panniculectomy, abdominoplasty, breast lift, brachioplasty, and vertical thigh lift.

• Panniculectomy: a procedure that reduces the size of the pannus, or the excess skin that hangs in the abdominal region. This procedure is often covered by insurance companies to improve physical function.

• Abdominoplasty: this procedure, like the panniculectomy, also removes excess abdominal skin but also tightens the muscle.

• Breast lift: also known as a mastopexy, this is the most common plastic surgery procedure for weight loss surgery patients. Because the breast volume may have decreased with weight loss, implants are often used to lift and shape the breast.

• Brachioplasty: this technique, to remove excess hanging skin from the arm, cannot be performed without creating a large scar. Many patients however, find this trade off well worth it.

• Vertical thigh lift: a procedure that removes the excess tissue extending from the groin to the knee. Like the arm lift, it generally leaves a large scar.

If you are considering body contouring after your weight loss procedure, it is best to wait at least one full year after your bariatric surgery or until you have reached a stable weight. Having plastic surgery prematurely may not give you the results you are looking for and may mean revisional surgery later on. It is also advisable to reach a healthy weight. Surgery, cosmetic or otherwise, carries risks. These risks can be minimized as your Body Mass Index (BMI) decreases and any weight-related health conditions begin to resolve themselves.

Many plastic surgeons are now specializing in procedures for weight loss surgery patents. The Surgical Specialists of Louisiana can provide you with a list of recommended plastic surgeons and connect you with patients who have undergone body contouring. Additionally, the ASPS is a great resource for detailed information about these and other procedures. You can reach their site at www.plasticsurgery.org.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Bariatric Support, Gastric Bypass, Gastric Sleeve, Incisionless Bariatric Surgery, Lap Band, Obesity Today, Realize Band | Comments Off

Bariatric Patient Spotlight: Teen Obesity – Jeremy Poulton

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

Jeremy BeforeAdolescent obesity is getting a lot of attention these days. And rightly so! The NHANES surveys show that the prevalence of obesity for those aged 12 to 19 has increased from 5% to 17.6% over the past three years1.

Jeremy Poulton was one of the 17.6 percent. His weight problems started back when he was only 12 years old. He would frequently fall asleep in his fourth grade class causing his teachers and family much concern. And things only worsened each year. By age 19 he weighed 373 lbs and had several weight-related medical conditions: high cholesterol, sleep apnea and Type-2 diabetes. Jeremy knew he needed to take action.

When he learned about the effectiveness of laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery, sometimes called Roux-en-y gastric bypass surgery, he realized there was hope. Jeremy pushed his mother to call for more information, researched his options and, with the help of The Surgical Specialists of Louisiana, even fought his bariatric insurance denial.

Jeremy AfterSince the surgery, Poulton has lost over 105 pounds. But his weight isn’t the only thing that’s changed. His confidence has skyrocketed. He’s more outgoing; more willing to talk and socialize. He’s going to the prom. He’s flying comfortably in airplanes. He even made the tennis team only two weeks after weight loss surgery!

But perhaps the biggest change is the positive impact Jeremy’s surgery has had on his family. His mother, who suffered along with him while he struggled with childhood obesity, is thrilled to see her son in a healthier state. And Jeremy is happy his family won’t be worrying about him anymore.

Research shows that obese children and adolescents are more likely to become obese adults. One study found that nearly 80% of children who were overweight at 10 to 15 years of age were obese at 25. Another study showed that obesity is more severe if one becomes obese before the age 81.

Not all adolescents will qualify for surgical weight loss. But if you or your child believe there is a medical necessity please visit WhyWeight.com to learn about weight loss options, read more weight loss success stories and sign up for a free seminar.

1. Source: CDC: “Childhood Overweight and Obesity.” Available at http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood. Accessed Oct 16, 2009.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Bariatric Surgery Cost and Insurance, Gastric Bypass, Obesity Today, Weight Loss Patient Testimonials | Comments Off

Help Fight Obesity in Louisiana

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

Louisiana – The Least Healthy State in the Nation

weightScaleCould where you live actually determine how long you live? According to the United Health Foundation, it can! In their annual report, “America’s Health Rankings,” the UHF provides an analysis of the nation’s health on a state-by-state basis1.

In the 2008 report, Louisiana moved to the bottom position making it the least healthy state in the nation. Joining Louisiana at the bottom were Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina and Mississippi. Some of the top-ranked states were Vermont, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Minnesota and Utah. Researchers based their findings on several factors, including the personal behaviors of those living in the state, such as smoking, and factors like the rate of uninsured residents, the percentage of children in poverty, or the rate of preventable hospitalizations and cancer deaths.

But another important indicator is the obesity rate, because obesity, can often lead to other serious health conditions such as type II diabetes and heart disease. Since 1990, the prevalence of obesity in Louisiana has increased by 150% percent. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) 28.1% of the Louisiana population is now classified as obese2.

Regardless of rank, each state has the opportunity to improve the health of its residents. Fighting the obesity epidemic is an excellent way to start – even modest weight loss can significantly improve one’s health. Medically supervised weight loss programs have been proven successful and, for the morbidly obese, bariatric surgery is known to be the most effective and long-lasting treatment. The Surgical Specialists of Louisiana offers all minimally invasive options, as well as the revolutionary incisionless weight loss surgery options and personalized non-surgical weight loss plans.

Join the 2009 Walk From Obesity

In the end, the health of our State depends on the actions of the individuals who reside here. As weight loss specialists and Louisiana citizens, the Surgical Specialists of Louisiana joins the fight every year by sponsoring the annual American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery’s Walk From Obesity. This year, the SSL- and Southern Surgical Hospital-sponsored Walk will be held on November 14 in conjunction with Camellia City Market and Olde Towne Merchants in Slidell’s Historic Olde Towne District:

Walk from Obesity

2009 Walk From Obesity
Saturday November 14, 2009
8:30am in Slidell, LA

Interested in joining the annual Walk from Obesity to help raise funds for the research, prevention and advanced treatments and make Louisiana a healthier place to live? Visit WhyWeight.com to register online or call Kim Mulkey at (985) 661-2172.

1. United Health Foundations: “America’s Health Rankings.”
Available at http://www.americashealthrankings.org/2008/index.html
2. CDC: “U.S. Obesity Trends 1985 – 2008.” Available at http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Gastric Bypass, Incisionless Bariatric Surgery, Lap Band, Medically Supervised Weight Loss Program, Obesity Today, Weight Loss News | Comments Off

Newer Entries »