Posts Tagged ‘Bariatric Surgery’

Puberty Starts Sooner in Obese Girls

Friday, January 28th, 2011

Puberty is setting in as early as age seven for some obese American girls, and the health risks this carries are quite worrisome, according to a new study published in the journal Pediatrics.

More than 1,200 young American girls were used for the study, which chose participants based on their age, body mass index (BMI), ethnicity, and whether they had shown any early signs of puberty.

What the researchers found was that some of the girls had developed breasts by the age of 7 or 8, which was thought to be due to the relationship between body fat and the production of sex hormones, and definitely linked to the high rate of childhood obesity in the United States.

The results showed that by the age of 7, breast growth was evident in 13 percent of the white girls in the study, 23 percent of the African American girls, and 15 percent of the Hispanic girls, all of whom were showing physical development consistent with the onset of puberty. It was also noted that the 7-year-old and 8-year-old girls who had a higher body mass index were developing breasts years earlier than other girls of the same age group.

These results are disturbing for a number of reasons, as many health experts believe that the emergence of puberty at a very young age puts girls in the high-risk category for breast cancer as they grow into adulthood. Another aspect of this early development that poses problems has to do with the psychological effects that breast growth can have on young girls as young as 7 or 8. Earlier research done on this subject suggests that girls who go through puberty at a younger-than-usual age have a tendency to experience various forms of depression and may become sexually active.

According to the experts, young girls who are physically well-developed are going to be treated like girls in their early or mid-teenage years. The psychological confusion that this can cause often creates a big problem that needs to be dealt with correctly, they said.

Fortunately, there are steps parents can take to minimize the chance that puberty will emerge at a very young age. One of the most effective approaches is to make sure growing girls are eating a healthy, well-balanced diet that includes plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Experts also encourage families to eat meals together, which helps to provide a very important support system for young girls.

Learn more about gastric sleeve. Find the cost of gastric bypass surgery at www.NationalBariatricLink.org

Diabetics Can Save Money Long-Term With Bariatric Surgery

Thursday, January 27th, 2011

Weight Loss Surgery surgery can help most diabetics save money over the course of their lives, even though this type of weight loss procedure can run as high as $30,000. The savings come primarily from the drastic drop in general healthcare costs for the diabetic, and especially from the minimal need for diabetes medications.

A new study on bariatric patients has shown that six months after their procedures, as many as 75% of the diabetic patients involved no longer needed their medications, and their yearly healthcare costs went down by over 70%. The study focused on the three-year period following their weight loss surgery.

To gather information for the study, researchers focused on data from insurance claims of over 2,235 patients in the U.S. who have Type II diabetes, and who had undergone weight loss surgery in the period between January 2002 and December 2005. The specific surgery done for the majority (nearly 85%) of the study patients was the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery.

Prior to their surgery, about 23% of the study patients were taking insulin and nearly 86% of the study patients were on some type of diabetes medication. The study reported changes that took place at specific intervals following the surgery – at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years later – specifically noting the reduced levels of diabetes medication that the patients were taking. The study concluded that:

- 74.7% of the patients had stopped taking their medication within 6 months after their surgery.

- 80.6% of the patients stopped their medication by the 1-year mark of their surgery.

- 84.5% of the patients were no longer taking medication 2 years following their surgery.

When it became clear that significant proportions of the patients were able to get off their diabetes medication in short periods after their surgery also supports the theory that it is easier to control blood glucose levels when surgery is responsible for altering stomach hormones, than when the glucose levels drop by diets and other non-surgical forms of weight loss.

In addition, the majority of the patients also were able to get off other medications for serious conditions, such as blood pressure medications.

Another important issue covered by the study dealt with tracking the healthcare costs of these patients. It was learned that bariatric surgery indeed proved cost-effective for bariatric patients over the long run. Prior to their surgery, the patients were spending an average of $6,376 yearly on healthcare expenses. After their surgery, the patients reported these changes in healthcare expenses:

* In the 1st year, individual annual healthcare costs rose by 9.7% ($616) * In the 2nd year, healthcare expenses dropped by 34.2% ($2,179) per person * In the 3rd year, costs decreased by 70.5% ($4,498) per person

With this data about the health and cost benefits in hand, researchers are calling for health insurers to provide coverage for bariatric surgery for suitable candidates. Researchers also hope that their support will be helpful to people who are seeking insurance coverage for their weight loss surgery.

Learn more about gastric sleeve. Find the cost of gastric bypass surgery at www.NationalBariatricLink.org

Bacteria Supplements Boost Weight Loss in Gastric Bypass Patients

Sunday, January 23rd, 2011

Patients who have opted for gastric bypass surgery can benefit long-term by taking probiotic supplements following their procedure, research has shown.

Also known as “friendly” bacteria, probiotics are necessary to help the body function well, and can contribute to overall good health. They serve to help the body’s digestion, as well as the safe and effective absorption of food and nutrients.

It isn’t unusual for weight loss surgery patients to experience a wide range of digestive troubles. This is the result of food blockages which develop when food doesn’t proceed through the digestive system properly. Normally, anatomical reasons are the source of such food blockages for many patients, but not always.

To learn more about the effects of bacteria on gastric bypass patients, a study was done using 44 gastric bypass patients who were split randomly into 2 groups: 1. the probiotic group and 2. the control group. So that the members of both groups would obtain a natural source of probiotics, they were required to eat yogurt, a natural source of probiotics. In addition, the probiotic group received probiotic supplements on a daily basis.

This particular study was done to gain a better understanding of the post-surgery digestion problems experienced by weight loss patients. The idea for the study came as a result of the need to determine the source of digestion problems experienced by some weight loss surgery patients, who had no clear anatomical reasons for this type of condition.

Bariatric clinics wanted to find out if the digestive ailments were in fact caused by excess bacteria in the intestines, and to learn if probiotics would successfully eliminate the unpleasant symptoms.

Results from the study were a welcome surprise to the researchers. It turned out that the patients in the study group that took probiotics lost more weight and had higher levels of vitamin B-12 than the control group, which did not take supplements. Bariatric surgeons will now be encouraged to try this probiotic approach to relieve their patients’ digestive symptoms.

Gastric bypass patients should also be proactive, and discuss a probiotics regimen with their surgeon. Patients who do decide to take the supplement route must make sure they are aware of all the possible side effects and other issues related to probiotic supplements, since people react in different ways to the addition of new bacteria into their system.

Find out more about weight loss surgery at www.NationalBariatricLink.com. Our Bariatric counselors will help you find the right bariatric clinic in your area.

categories: bariatric surgery,gastric bypass,gastric sleeve,weight loss surgery,weight loss,weightloss,diet,health care,health,medical,fitness,food,family,lifestyle,women issues

New Stomach Folding Surgery for Weight Loss Surgery

Wednesday, January 19th, 2011

A new form of bariatric surgery that involves folding the stomach into itself has produced impressive weight loss results in a pilot study. Researchers are heralding the procedure as an excellent option for bariatric surgery.

The new gastric plication procedure is appealing to surgeons and patients alike, as it uses a technique that is minimally invasive and yet dramatically reduces the patients’ stomach size. According to researchers, none of the stomach is removed during gastric placation, there is no stapling or cutting of the stomach, and no stitching used.

The procedure is done laparoscopically and requires no more than a half dozen incisions in the abdomen. The recovery period for this type of low-risk surgery is generally very quick.

Other advantages to gastric placation: – It costs less than more traditional types of bariatric surgery – It’s safer than the older methods – It can be reversed And without the risks inherent in cutting or removing stomach tissue, there are fewer of the commonly seen complications associated with weight loss surgery, such as infections and excessive bleeding.

Results from the pilot study have shown that the stomach volume can be reduced by as much as two-thirds. With a smaller stomach, patients will eat less food and still feel full. As a result, the new procedure may eventually become one of the more widely accepted options for bariatric weight loss surgery.

The pilot study involved 12 women and 3 men between the ages of 26-58, whose average body mass index (BMI) before surgery was 44.3, which is considered morbidly obese. After having the gastric plication procedure, the patients reported weight losses ranging from 23 percent, for those who had only minimal amounts of their stomach folded, to 53 percent for those patients who had considerably more of their stomach folded.

Gastric plication can be compared to the sleeve gastrectomy, as it ultimately forms a long, thin, tube-shaped and smaller stomach. Though gastric plication stands alone in that no stapling, cutting or removal of stomach tissue is involved. Instead, the large area of the stomach is actually folded into itself, and fastened with non-absorptive sutures. As well, none of the intestines are rerouted in this procedure, it doesn’t lead to the various problems with malabsorption that can result from gastric bypass surgery, and no medical implants that require adjusting – such as those used in laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding are necessary.

As with every trial study, there are disadvantages that emerge from a new procedure. The main issues associated with gastric plication are related to the lack of any long-term data and results, and the problem of getting insurance companies to pay for the surgery. Currently, only a few weight loss surgeons are performing the procedure.

Surgeons agree that the procedure needs further study of the long-term weight loss outcomes. Nevertheless, gastric plication remains an alternative for patients who decide to have weight loss surgery.

Learn more about gastric sleeve. Stop by National Bariatric Link where you can find out all about weight loss surgery and what it can do for you.

categories: Surgery,bariatric surgery,bariatric,weight loss surgery,gastric sleeve,weight loss,plastic surgery,medical,healthcare,health,diet,lifestyle,family,home

EndoFLIP Is Making Big Changes in Weight Loss Surgery

Wednesday, January 19th, 2011

A new medical device called EndoFLIP has been developed to help bariatric surgeons, may give weight loss surgery procedures an extreme makeover.

The EndoFLIP (Endolumenal Functional Lumen Imaging Probe) Imaging System is designed to help surgeons get more precise measurements of the shape, size and functions of the gastrointestinal tract area. As a result, outcomes of bariatric surgeries will be measurably more successful.

The EnsoFLIP has received FDA approval and CE marking, which means it can be used for procedures that are not related to clinical trials. And though this type of surgery isn’t groundbreaking, the EndoFLIP itself is an innovative tool that not only can help bariatric doctors upgrade the outcomes of bariatric surgeries, it can also be used for other new types of bariatric surgery techniques.

The EndoFLIP imaging technology is now being used for bariatric procedures now, providing a number of uses as a tool to measure and calibrate:

* the stoma, during adjustable gastric banding surgery

* the gastric pouch, during gastric bypass surgery

* the gastric sleeve, during vertical sleeve gastrectomy

Bariatric clinics can make use of the precision measurements given by the new device in several ways, such as to keep track of and document the need for revision surgery for certain weight loss patients; to get printouts listing data on pouch volume and stoma size, which will be important in the event a patient regains weight; and to ensure that the gastric band stoma maintains a consistent size during surgery.

Not only that, the device has served as an important tool to use for another new weight loss procedure, one that is especially hailed by bariatric clinics and patients alike because it is reversible, the gastric imbrication. No type of medical implants are used and none of the stomach is removed in the gastric imbrications, which still is able to reduce the stomach size, and in turn help the patient to limit food intake.

The procedure can be compared to the gastric sleeve, but no stomach tissue is removed and a larger amount of the stomach is folded over and fastened with stitches.

The potential for the EndoFLIP imaging system isn’t limited to weight loss surgery patients, either. Patients suffering from GERD and anorectal disorders may also benefit from surgical procedures that use the EndoFLIP.

Want to find out more about weight loss surgery, then visit http://www.nationalbariatriclink.org on how to choose the best doctor for gastric sleeve weight loss surgery.

categories: Surgery,bariatric surgery,bariatric,weight loss surgery,gastric sleeve,weight loss,plastic surgery,medical,healthcare,health,diet,lifestyle,family,home

Weight Loss Surgery to Help Moderately Overweight and Diabetic

Friday, December 10th, 2010

For most seriously obese people, weight loss surgery is considered the last resort after other treatments and approaches have failed. Given that there are now new, advanced procedures that use safer techniques, bariatric surgery is more frequently viewed as the best solution by an increasing number of patients who are significantly overweight.

The following are some of the innovate new procedures that health experts believe will lead to great changes in the way obesity and type 2 diabetes are treated.

A variety of endoscopic methods, also called natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery, are among these new surgical approaches. To minimize the need for incisions, which leave scars and require a longer recovery period, natural openings in the body are accessed in this type of technique.

The FDA has approved many of these procedures, including StomaphyX and ROSE for gastric bypass revision. In addition, clinical trials are underway for a number of other procedures. Of these, the three that are viewed as especially safe and effective are POSE, EndoBarrier TOGA.

POSE (Primary Obesity Surgery, Endolumenal) is done with a specially made type of endoscopic surgery tools known as the EndoSurgical Operating System (EOS), along with a flexible endoscope that allows surgeons to visualize the part of the stomach they are operating on. This system is also used for the ROSE (Restorative Obesity Surgery, Endoluminal) procedure, which involves revising previous gastric bypass procedures for patients who have experienced significant weight gain. Clinical trials are currently underway to evaluate the effectiveness of POSE.

The EndoBarrier is a form of non-surgical therapy that is being used to treat obesity as well as a related disease, type 2 diabetes. The EndoBarrier is a liner for the intestines that is used to create a barrier between food that is consumed and the area of the small intestine where digestion takes place. This barrier is inserted into the stomach through the mouth (endoscopically), and requires no surgical incisions. It also can be removed after a six-month waiting period, and it doesn’t involve any changes to the patient’s anatomy. Currently in clinical trials in the U.S., the EndoBarrier is showing positive results comparable to the kind of success that is generally found with gastric bypass surgery.

TOGA, or transoral gastroplasty is a treatment option which uses no incisions. In the TOGA procedure, surgeons create a sleeve in the stomach, which produces the same type of results found in other bariatric procedures, namely reducing the amount of food that a patient can eat, and giving the patient a feeling of fullness after eating only a small amount. This treatment involves inserting, via the mouth, specially made medical instruments that are used to staple the stomach. Studies done on the TOGA procedure have shown very positive outcomes.

These innovative procedures and treatments give obese patients more, and safer, options in weight loss surgery. Not only that, they have the potential to be able to help those patients who don’t meet the patient criteria for weight loss surgery (including gastric bypass surgery and laparoscopic adjustable gastric binding) set by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

With obesity and related medical problems becoming an epidemic in the U.S., it is encouraging to see the emergence of new bariatric treatments in the medical field designed to improve the overall health, quality of life, and longevity of people who suffer from morbid obesity and diabetes.

Find out more about bariatric surgery at www.NationalBariatricLink.com. Our Bariatric counselors will help you find the right bariatric clinic in your area.

categories: bariatric surgery,gastric bypass,gastric sleeve,weight loss surgery,weight loss,diet,health care,health,medical,fitness,food,family,lifestyle,women issues

Visualizing Your Food Consumption Can Cause Obesity

Saturday, December 4th, 2010

While we may think that eating a sensible salad at dinner followed by a fudge brownie will balance each other out calorie-wise, the truth is that people who juggle their calories this way are actually more likely to be consuming more calories than they need. The result of this can be seen in America’s ongoing struggle with obesity.

A recent survey on eating habits showed that of the 934 participants, very few were able to accurately estimate the number of calories they had eaten in four separate meals. Some 50 percent of those questioned were asked to calculate the calories in high-fat, high-carb meals, such as hefty cheeseburgers or cheesesteaks made with pepperoni or meatballs. The other 50 percent had to come up with a calorie count for these same foods, along with healthy side dishes such as apples, celery or a small salad.

The study revealed that the participants’ idea of how many calories were in the various items were based on which they saw first – the high-fat item or the healthy side dish. Those who were shown a cheeseburger first estimated an average calorie count of about 699. And the participants who first viewed a salad and then the cheeseburger said the meal had only 656 calories on average.

Clearly, our eyes can play tricks on us when it comes to counting calories. According to the findings, people think if they combine a healthy dish with something more fattening, they will really be eating fewer calories. This tendency to see more food as less can lead people to consume more than their body needs – a fact that becomes disturbing in light of the current obesity epidemic in the United States.

In general, the dieters were more likely to underestimate the number of calories in various meals. And when the findings from this group were compared to the statistics from people who didn’t care what they weighed, the dieters underestimated their calorie consumption by twice as much as the non-dieters.

Learn more about gastric sleeve. Find the cost of gastric bypass surgery at www.NationalBariatricLink.org

categories: bariatric surgery,gastric bypass,gastric sleeve,weight loss surgery,weight loss,diet,health care,health,medical,fitness,food,family,lifestyle,women issues

The Rising Cost of Obesity

Friday, December 3rd, 2010

As obesity continues to be an increasingly common health problem faced by a growing number of Americans, the money it takes to provide proper medical treatment for the condition is also on the rise.

If President Obama’s health care plan takes effect, it is possible that treatment for morbid obesity could be subject to more guidelines. This is because the amount of money needed to pay for such treatment may well be double the earlier estimated figure.

The reason for the change has to do with the previous reporting methods used to figure the actual weight of the population. According to a recent study, people previously just guessed at their weight when questioned, and the number was, more often than not, far lower than the accurate weight. Other information collected for the study dealt with the individual weight of all the family members of the study subjects, to help determine if obesity is actually more or a genetic problem.

The study involved a survey of 24,000 subjects, all obese adults, who received treatment for their related health problems from 2000 to 2005. Based on the information collected from this group, it was discovered that medical care for morbid obesity came to about $168 billion, a figure that accounts for about 17% of the total medical costs in the U.S. This amount is a huge leap above the total for the previous year, during which about $147 billion was spent on medical costs for obesity, representing 9 percent of the total amount spent on medical costs.

Earlier study estimated that an additional $1,400 is spent annually on a variety of medical expenses by people who are obese in America. The new study also examined this trend, and found that the actual cost was at least 2 times that figure, or $2,800 in yearly medical costs.

Clearly, the studied revealed, the variety and scope of health issues resulting from obesity is becoming a huge burden for the American society.

The purpose of the study was to determine the range and amount of the cost associated with obesity-related medical treatment, as well as to gain a better understanding of the economic impact that obesity is having on the U.S., and finally to inform the public of the findings.

Results from the study are causing health experts to rally for increased funding for programs that would help fight obesity in the United States.

Learn more about bariatric costs. Stop by National Bariatric Link where you can find out all about bariatric financing and what it can do for you.

Bariatric Surgery New Procedure Removes Excess Stomach Though Mouth

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010

A new type of bariatric surgery that takes out a portion of the patient’s stomach through the mouth has been performed at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.

The gastric sleeve, which is also called sleeve gastrectomy, requires the surgeon to section off and permanently remove 80% of the stomach. In bariatric surgery, when the size of the stomach is reduced, the patient becomes fuller more quickly and eats less. These types of bariatric weight loss procedures are used to help obese people gain weight loss success.

The more common approach to the gastric sleeve procedure calls for an incision in the stomach, through which the excess stomach tissue is removed. But never before have surgeons done the operation taking stomach tissue out via the mouth.

The surgery took one hour for the surgeon to use a combination of techniques, which included laparoscopic and orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery. The surgeon make 5 incisions in the abdomen using the laparoscopic technique. Cameras and other instruments were inserted, so the surgeon could divide the stomach into sections and then close it with staples. After the laparoscopic portion of the procedure, an endoscope was placed in the stomach via the mouth, and the divided segment of the patients stomach was removed.

There are numerous benefits to using a surgical method that allows surgeons to go through the mouth to remove the stomach sections, rather than through wide incisions, according to health experts. Mainly, the approach causes minimal trauma to the abdominal region, it lowers risks for developing hernia, and it causes far less pain for the patient.

The surgery was performed at the Center for the Treatment of Obesity at the University of California San Diego, where surgical options for minimally invasive bariatric surgery are evolving. Ultimately, the purpose of this type of surgery is to help morbidly obese patients get a tailor-made answer for their long-term weight loss goals, to leave few scars, and to involve as few medical devices as possible.

Find out more about your gastric bypass options and find local surgeons that preform gastric sleeveoperations.

Importance Of Support Groups For Weight Loss Surgery Recovery

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

Seeking out bariatric surgery support is very important to letting you effectively navigating your own struggles after weight loss surgery. The doctor’s clinic is the best place to get advice for essential inquiries regarding the procedure nevertheless, you will want a place to ask other folks the small day by day questions. Bariatric surgery support communities can be a setting to talk about your current success and also locate support to help you get over the hard times. Nothing is just like having exhortation of somebody who has previously encountered what you are in the days following surgery. The following is how to locate weight loss surgery help through weight loss surgery support groups.

Support organizations usually help pre-operative patients gain knowledge from the experience of post-operative bariatric treatment patients. The brand new weight loss surgery patients present an exceptional opportunity to connect with other folks, seek advice, as well as discuss their own expectations and fears. Usually you’ll find that the medical doctor will certainly visit from time to time to accept difficult health-related issues coming from the group and will normally defer the rest of the meeting to the support group overseer.

The support treatment can be a lengthy one and it helps to have other people to turn to for guidance. Bariatric surgical treatment can bring about massive changes in a person’s lifestyle, and different individuals experience is beneficial to helping patient’s deal with their brand new reality. Becoming aware of the realities isn’t always adequate. There is an psychological element to experiencing the significant lifestyle adjustments involved after the surgery. These days, an increasing number of bariatric clinics are going to utilize the assistance of professional advisors, dieticians, trainers, doctors, and even beauty specialists who can add their experience to promoting the all around success of their patients. The all-encompassing strategy to patient support is really a lot more patient friendly.

In case you can’t find a group to enroll for post weight loss surgical treatment support, contemplate establishing your own. Locate some other patients within driving distance and start a gathering. Just about everybody who’s fighting the battle following bariatric surgery is seeking a support group if they do not have one currently.

A major oversight that patients make as they attempt to lose weight is to shun the support of peers. Many wls patients have specific issues they must encounter before they can be truly free from particular emotional food addictions.

Wls support meetings should never be a spot where you feel guilt , but you will end up motivated and uplifted. Individuals who feel shame must realize the human reality of what is taking place. Patients that are too prideful to search for help from others are on the journey to losing the fight if they are not diligent. There is absolutely no valid reason to never go to a meeting. It helps you to draw from the advice and ideas of other people dealing with the very same troubles. Often times, you will at the same time discover that other patients need you, and this can offer you a feeling of self-worth like absolutely nothing else.

If you would like get a decent jump start on exactly what to anticipate after weight loss treatment, show up at a group support meeting in advance of having your surgical treatment. There’s no shame in leaning on other people for guidance and support through the hard times that you may go through as you recover from surgery and as your going through the weight loss program Support groups generally result in mentorship of group members. The reassurance and suggestions can be an excellent asset to anybody recovering from obesity by way of medical intervention. Mentors have been where you are at in your progress and it undoubtedly helps to have somebody you can contact any time by telephone or e-mail for counsel. The friendship that you have with your mentor and the other people in the group meeting will help to relieve the worry of having to go at it alone.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so to speak. Same way with learning from the mistakes of other people before you’re making them yourself. Everyone makes mistakes, and if you are able to discuss it with others, you will find that you can cope and adapt to your personal circumstances. It helps to have someone that you can easily talk to and who will understand the trials that you’re going through. It will also help you achieve success in your quest to burning off your excess weight. Quite often, people find relationships that last a lifetime. With the grief, you won’t need to be on your own. Isolation increases the harmful effects on your psyche as you tried to recuperate from bariatric surgery. The strength of the whole group will bolster you as an individual.

Weight loss surgery support groups are not only about speaking up about your problems. You will discover that they’re pretty entertaining social events also. Before you have your surgery, attend at least one meeting to find out more about what it’s like to have bariatric surgery. Don’t be reluctant. Just go and observe. Ask plenty of questions to not only the group but the individuals that are there. It is essential that when you decide you are going go through with the medical treatment that you continue to attend the group meetings and remain in touch with successful patients. It is highly rewarding. After all, the surgical treatment is merely the starting point, because this is an ongoing journey. Meetings are a safe haven for you and everyone else to talk about struggles with obesity in context with bariatric surgery. Not only that you will find that there is a lot more in terms of continuing education that will enhance your new lifestyle.

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