A growing number of studies are dedicated to the medical condition known as metabolic syndrome. This mysterious malady may be particularly harmful for overweight and obese adults. But there may be good news. Recent studies find that regular exercise and a healthy diet may actually reduce the risk of this condition.

In a new study published in the American Journal of Health Promotion, a program of daily exercise, along with a diet rich in calcium, were found to reduce the risks of this condition. Metabolic syndrome is actually a group of potentially harmful symptoms, including high blood pressure and cholesterol, large abdominal girth, and insulin insensitivity. When combined, these symptoms may increase patients’ risks for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

With this study, 5,077 Illinois adults provided information about such health matters as: chronic health conditions, exercise habits and their intake of fruit, vegetables and other sources of calcium. The study revealed that this condition was more common in certain groups,. including:

• Older, less affluent people
• People with less education, and
• People who engaged in less physical activity, consumed calcium-rich foods less frequently and had hypertension (high blood pressure) and hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol levels)

It’s estimated that 23.7-34.5% of the nation’s adult population suffers from metabolic syndrome. The study’s findings showed that those adults who reported little or no daily exercise were at risk for almost double the risk of developing the condition. Adults not consuming calcium-rich foods regularly were shown to have about 1.5 times the risk of developing metabolic syndrome as those consuming calcium-rich diets.

It’s important to note that a diagnosis of  metabolic syndrome does not mean a definite future of diabetes or heart disease.  Instead,  this diagnosis is an opportunity to reduce or even prevent the future likelihood of heart disease or diabetes, which are irreversible, but manageable.

Men and women considering undergoing weight loss surgery may be in store for a state-of-the-art holiday gift. San Antonio’s own medical professionals are offering a much less-invasive surgical procedure; one that requires little more than a single, tiny incision!

Known as “gastric sleeve surgery,” this remarkable procedure is considered the midway point between gastric bypass surgery and LapBand procedures.  The steps for this procedure are as follows:

1. A single incision is made at the belly button.
2. The surgeon then inserts a camera and special tools.
3. Next, the surgeon removes the big, round part of the stomach. This comprises about 2/3 to 3/4 of the entire stomach. An area no bigger than a small tube is left to hold food. As a result, patients  eat much less and actually feel less hungry.

According to Dr. John Gonzales Jr., a frequent practitioner, the gastric sleeve procedure is winning over patients. “It’s not quite as invasive as the gastric bypass in that there’s no rearrangement of the anatomy. However, it’s a little bit more invasive than the band in that we’re excising a portion of the stomach,” he says.

The success of the gastric sleeve surgical procedure may be due to the removal of the stomach’s fundus. The left part of the stomach, this region allows gases produced by chemical digestion to accumulate for up to an hour. In addition, the hormone known as the grehlin, thought be a leading hunger hormone, is removed, as well. The entire gastric sleeve procedure takes less than 30 minutes, and any scars are concealed in the belly button.

The road to overcoming obesity rates has been filled with speed bumps. But thanks to  Medicare, patients will have to work even harder to receive coverage for bariatric surgery.

According to the a memorandum released by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the agency has restructured the requirements for senior citizens to receive coverage for these weight loss procedures. Now, seniors will have to show a body mass index (BMI) of 35 to be considered “morbidly obese.” With this score, patients will qualify for coverage for bariatric surgery as a treatment for beneficiaries with type 2 (or “non-insulin-dependent”) diabetes. Beneficiaries afflicted with type 2 diabetes –  and BMI scores below 35 – would not receive coverage.

In 2006, Medicare beneficiaries were given access to expanded coverage for bariatric surgery. These patients had been required to undergo surgery from highly qualified surgeons that were certified by one of two governing organizations: the American College of Surgeons or the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. In addition, Medicare’s 2006 decision allowed for only four types of bariatric surgery procedures: gastric bypass; open and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass; laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding; and open and laparoscopic biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch.

With the new decision, Medicare beneficiaries must now exhibit a serious health condition, other than morbid obesity. These conditions may include osteoarthritis, hypertension, or coronary artery disease. Unfortunately, those patients with type 2 diabetes, but not considered morbidly obese, will not qualify for coverage. This new decision stems from Medicare’s position on the health benefits of bariatric surgery. Specifically, the agency believes that that there’s not enough evidence of these procedures’ effectiveness for  improving the health of  non-morbidly obese people.

Would you like to review the agency’s position, or submit your thoughts and comments? If so, the proposed decision is available on the CMS Coverage website.  Comments will be accepted for 30 days following the memorandum’s posting.  CMS will issue a final decision memorandum within 90 days of the proposed decision.

The 2002 documentary Super Size Me dealt a devastating blow to junk food fans, and the fast food industry, in general. But it now appears that this documentary may have had a powerful impact on the diet industry, specifically cleansing diets.

The movie’s director, Morgan Spurlock, ate nothing but McDonalds’ meals three times a day, for an entire month. During this time, his health plummeted, including serious liver failure, mood swings, and excessive weight gain. But following the movie’s completion, Spurlock underwent a healthy, 14-month program of exercise, along with a purely vegan diet. This so-called “Detox Diet,” which was also the basis for a book written by Spurlock’s dietitian and girlfriend, has now drawn the attention of medical experts.  You see, the effectiveness of these cleansing diets has long been debated among medical professionals.

The Body’s Natural Detoxifying Abilities

The bottom line? No matter what plan you choose, it’s usually unhealthy to follow a dietary plan so restrictive. Studies show that these programs are typically missing key nutrients shown to be essential for optimal health. Additionally, quick weight loss may not be realized. Even such time-tested methods as taking laxatives will fail eventually. That’s because most of the weight lost is water, which is rapidly replaced.

Most healthcare professionals advise that healthy  livers and colons can provide the proper levels of detoxification in the human body. Therefore, enemas and other types of colon cleansers are unnecessary. However, patients with enlarged colons or those that are unable to fully cleanse themselves may benefit from these medications. Patients with chronic constipation preparing for colonoscopies may also need these cleansing products.

Regardless, physicians advise that following a healthy eating plan can successfully cleanse the body of food-based toxins. Dietitian Debbie Berg states: “If someone’s trying to get healthy, I would advise them first to go to more natural foods, whole grains, fruits and vegetables for 90 percent of their intake for about a week and see how they feel. They’ll get rid of a lot of salt, sugar, get processed foods out, and I think they can get just the same benefits [as a cleansing diet].”

When considering a cleansing diet, it’s important to proceed carefully. You should also discuss your plans with a physician or healthcare provider first. “Everything in moderation is good,” says Dr. Sherif Kaiser, head of the bariatric program at Winchester (NV) Medical Center. “You don’t want to start a diet when people are starving.” Dr. Kaiser goes on to state that reducing portion sizes and calories are more effective for weight loss.

Are you obese, and considering having a baby? If so, here’s another reason to consider weight loss surgery. New research suggests that these procedures may actually increase the chances of getting pregnant. In fact, women who become pregnant after weight loss surgery were shown to be healthier, in general.

According to a study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), undergoing bariatric surgery may normalize obese women’s menstrual cycles and hormone levels. This may increase the likelihood of becoming pregnant. Weight loss due to these procedures may contribute to reduced risks of premature delivery. There may also be reduced risks of delivering babies with low birth weights, or exceedingly large-bodied babies. Medical experts still consider natural weight loss the preferable method for overcoming obesity, though.

Post-Surgery Pregnancy Pros & Cons

Clinical studies illustrate the proposed benefits of weight loss surgery for pregnancy. Nationwide, 150,000 women of child-bearing age had weight loss surgery from 2002-2005 (the years covered by the study). These procedures may reduce the risks of problems for mothers and their newborn children. Among these conditions are high blood pressure and diabetes.  Obese women not undergoing weight loss procedures were more likely to deliver babies with complications.

Gastric bypass surgery was the specific procedure linked to increased fertility. With this procedure, the stomach’s size is reduced, enabling food to avoid entering part or all of the small intestine. Gastric bypass surgery may alter patients’ digestive systems by reducing the volume of food that can be eaten and digested. After having bariatric surgery, medical experts advise patients to wait one year before becoming pregnant. But according to Melinda Maggard, a surgeon and a study researcher, some patients were able to get pregnant earlier, without any problems. These procedures may also be effective for overweight, but not obese, women having trouble becoming pregnant.

Researchers warn patients not to undergo these procedures just for a fertility boost.  In addition, losing excessive weight through bariatric surgery may actually lead to unplanned pregnancies. That’s because the patients’ previous birth control doses may not be absorbed as well. As such, post-surgical female patients may want to consider alternative birth control methods.