Weight Loss Surgery Blog by TexasBariatric.com

Studies Show Gastric Bypass Surgery May Help Relieve Lower Back Pain

PatientOutreachDesk — Sun, 11 May 2008 21:18:10 +0000

Bariatric procedures such as gastric bypass and Lap-Band surgeries have been known to help resolve medical problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol. Recent studies are now showing that undergoing the weight loss surgery that limits the amount of food one can ingest can also help alleviate lower back pain in morbidly obese patients. (more…)

Dieting As a “Shared Activity” Between Partners Increases Chances for Long-Term Weight Loss

PatientOutreachDesk — Sun, 11 May 2008 20:35:49 +0000

A recent report in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior shows that a spouse or partner can sometimes help keep their partner’s diet on the right course, although what may seem to be helping may also be hindering their dietary changes at the same time. (more…)

Helpful Tips for Choosing a Weight Loss Surgery Program That’s Best For You

PatientOutreachDesk — Fri, 09 May 2008 05:19:55 +0000

Obesity, and the health problems it inevitably causes, is a physical and emotional dilemma that more Americans than ever are experiencing. Consider this sobering fact- according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a staggering 66% of all U.S. adults are obese or overweight. So it’s not surprising that many individuals are opting for bariatric surgery, rather than traditional diet and exercise, to help them lose the weight and keep it off. However, just like a diet and exercise regime, there are certain factors to take into consideration before undergoing weight loss surgery. The following five tips, compiled by Nick Nicholson, a Plano, Texas M.D. that specializes in weight loss surgery at Baylor Regional Medical Center, are to assist you in choosing a weight loss surgery program that suits you best. (more…)

Weight Loss Surgery Significantly Improves Cardiac Aberrations in Morbidly Obese Adolescents

PatientOutreachDesk — Mon, 05 May 2008 05:15:55 +0000

According to the findings of a recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, morbidly obese teenagers who undergo bariatric surgery show significant improvements in cardiac health and geometry after losing weight. Adolescent patients who opted for weight loss surgery also showed signs of improved left ventrical mass and diastolic function that are viewed as a reflection of a decrease in cardiac functions, following substantial weight loss. (more…)

Genetics May Help Determine Bariatric Surgery Outcomes

PatientOutreachDesk — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 18:25:16 +0000

A recent study has shown that two obesity-related genetic variations have been associated with higher body mass index (BMI) among those that suffer from morbid obesity (BMI of 40 or higher) that undergo bariatric weigh-loss procedures to help lose weight. However, a consistent variable that determines the success of these surgeries in keeping off the weight in the long term hasn’t been identified until now. (more…)

Body Contouring Surgery An Option For Post Weight-Loss Procedures

PatientOutreachDesk — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 13:16:59 +0000

Bariatric surgical procedures such as gastric bypass and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (lap-band) surgery have been shown to be a highly effective means of losing weight for those suffering from morbid obesity (those with a body mass Index of 40 or higher). However, people that lose weight through these procedures or through diet and exercise are left with large amounts of loose folds of excess skin, which sags and loses elasticity after being stretched for a long time. The skin usually does not shrink back to its former size and shape after significant weight loss; this can cause many health complications, as well as posing a cosmetic issue. Often, the only way to remove excess skin after extensive weight loss is through body contouring plastic surgery. (more…)

Weight Loss Surgery May Help Less Severely Obese, says University of Texas Southwestern Study

PatientOutreachDesk — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:36:05 +0000

U.S. researchers have suggested that people with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of less than 40 have a good chance of keeping heart health problems (cardiovascular disease) at bay with bariatric surgery. The weight-loss surgery is usually performed on patients with a BMI of 40 or higher, or those that are at least 100 pounds over their healthy weight, which is considered morbidly obese. A healthy BMI ranges between 18.5 and 25. However, people with a BMI greater than 35 that may be suffering from a life-threatening illness such as non-insulin dependent diabetes or heart disease, may be eligible for bariatric procedures such as gastric bypass and lap-band surgeries. Research has shown that those that otherwise healthy overweight people with a BMI lower than 40 may benefit more from the surgeries than people who are morbidly obese. (more…)

Top Five Psychological Factors that Contribute to Long-Term Weight Loss Success

PatientOutreachDesk — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:38:19 +0000

Alexa Altman, the show psychologist on the popular television show “The Biggest Loser” shares her ideas for keeping emotionally fit by discussing five factors to keep you emotionally fit in her “Feeling Good” column. (more…)

Establishing Lifelong Healthy Eating and Exercise Habits After Weight-Loss Surgery

PatientOutreachDesk — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:57:55 +0000

After gastric bypass or laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (lap-band) surgery, your stomach is reduced to the size of a walnut or small egg - a fraction of its normal size. Your digestive system has been altered to promote healthy weight loss, and therefore what and how you eat, and how much, must be changed as well. If you adhere to these dietary and exercise recommendations, you can expect to lose 50 to 60% of your excess weight following surgery. (more…)

Doctors Focusing on San Antonio Toddlers In the Fight Against Obesity, Diabetes

PatientOutreachDesk — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 19:21:26 +0000

Statistics compiled by the U.S. Center for Disease Control have shown that 31% of San Antonio residents are obese and 65% are overweight, prompting the American Obesity Association to dub the Texas town “the fattest city in the U.S.” To remedy this troubling trend, doctors and health care professionals are attempting to treat obesity by focusing on the diet and exercise habits of San Antonio’s smallest citizens. They feel that instilling proper eating and exercise habits in children as early as 0-3 years old is vital in the fight against obesity. It is believed that enforcing these habits during the important formative years will increase their chances of staying fit and eating healthy as they grow, habits they hope will continue as they become adults. (more…)