Obesity is a disease most often caused by overeating. Yet despite years of scientific study, research has yet to reveal precisely why people overeat. Now, one group of doctors thinks they may have a clue. Read the full story

In the June 26, 2009 edition of WLS News, we’ll learn what scientists have discovered about why people overeat, and examine how weight loss surgery can weaken your skeleton. We’ll also detail new recommendations concerning pregnancy after weight loss surgery, and explain how junk food and laziness are speeding up the aging process for our kids. Plus, WLS Journeys host Yvonne McCarthy pops in with a recommendation for a great website that focuses on practicing self-care.

Read the full story

Now, for some more good news: it looks like physical activity after weight loss surgery may speed recovery.

That’s the word from researchers from The Miriam Hospital’s Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, who found that patients who began a program of regular physical activity after bariatric surgery had better postoperative outcomes than those who stayed inactive.

In the study, which was published online in the Journal of Obesity, more than two thirds of the weight loss surgery patients who went from being inactive before weight loss surgery to highly active a year after their procedure lost more weight than the ones who were still couch potatoes.

On average, the formerly-inactive patients reduced their BMI by two more points, and lost 8% more excess weight, than those who remained inactive after weight loss surgery.

And—here’s a shocker—the patients who became more active after surgery reported better overall health and vitality, and less depression and anxiety compared with those who remained inactive.

So, what is the difference between being “active” and “inactive”?

According to the study, “active” means putting in 200 minutes a week of walking or other physical activity of moderate or vigorous intensity. That breaks down to about 30 minutes a day.

Well, you all know what to do. Get moving, people! Off the couch! Get some physical activity, will ya?