Gastric sleeve surgery soon may be covered by Medicare, following a review of public comments demonstrating evidence of the procedure’s effectiveness for the treatment of obesity. Read the full story

EndoBarrier may be a new alternative for those interested in gastric bypass surgery.  The device is designed to mimic the effects of gastric bypass without the need for a surgery the reroutes part of the intestine, a process that can be very dangerous for some patients. Read the full story

Weight loss surgery helped Annette Bulger lose 115 pounds. Read her story on the Weight Loss Surgery Channel. Read the full story

Weight loss surgery is usually performed on white women with higher incomes and private health insurance, research shows. But disparities among racial and socio-economic lines puts low income patients at greater risk. Read the full story

Even Moderate Obesity Shortens Life Expectancy

According to new analysis of 57 studies that involved a total of nearly a million subjects, researchers have found that being obese can shorten a person’s average lifespan by two to four years, and by up to eight to ten years for the very obese.

The study was primarily done to see how body mass index, or BMI, effects mortality.

BMI is calculated by multiplying a person’s weight in pounds times 703, and dividing that sum by their height in inches squared. A BMI between 30 to 35 is considered moderately obese and a BMI of 40-50 is considered morbidly obese.

Though there is controversy of the use of measuring one’s health with BMI – for example, some weightlifters have high BMIs due to their muscle mass – it is still a useful tool for assessing the extent that fat can cause health problems.

Study participants were 46 years old, with an average BMI of 25 when the study began in 1979, and were mostly from North America and Western Europe.

During the follow-up period, which averaged eight years, mortality was found to be lowest in the men and women who maintained a BMI between 22.5 and 25. However, with every additional 5 BMI points, the mortality risk rose by 30%. The highest BMI deaths were due to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney and liver disease, and even some cancers.

In presenting these findings, researchers hope that people may become more motivated to prevent weight gain or attempt to lose weight in efforts to extend their life.

DNA Forecasts Future Obesity

Researchers from Imperial College London, the French National Research Institute CNRS, and other medical institutions compiled the results of a decade-long European obesity study, which indicates that it may be possible to identify kids prone to obesity by looking at their DNA. This would allow parents and doctors to provide preventative treatment for children who show a high probability of becoming obese later in life.

The report identified three genetic variations in children that seem to be linked to weight problems. Researchers believe the first variant may be responsible for up to a THIRD of all childhood obesity, and the second may influence appetite. The THIRD variant controls the production of the hormones and certain amino acids that strongly affect the metabolism and a person’s ability to feel “full” after eating. Scientists believe this variant may account for 6 percent of early-onset obesity in children, and 16 percent of adult morbid obesity.

But, it’s still a little early to rush the kiddos to the lab for DNA testing. The researchers of the study point out that whatever impact DNA may have on your kids’ weight, it’s no excuse for allowing them to lead an unhealthy lifestyle. Feeding your kids an 800-calorie drive through mega-jiggly-meal four times a week is bad for them no matter what their genes say.

For many considering weight loss surgery, gastric banding–or Lap-Band surgery, as it’s more commonly known–is an appealing alternative to gastric bypass surgery.

In the past several years, Lap-Band procedures have gained tremendous popularity as a weight loss surgery treatment for morbidly obese patients. Although performed laparoscopically, it is a major bariatric procedure, and individuals considering the Lap-Band undergo extensive physical and psychological evaluations before undergoing the surgery. Patients who are morbidly obese (with a BMI of 40+) and who suffer from weight-related diseases, such as obstructive sleep apnea and Type II Diabetes, are the most viable candidates. Typical screenings before Lap-Band surgery include blood tests, imaging studies, and a consultation with a psychologist or psychiatrist.

How the Lap-Band Works

Like gastric bypass surgery and the vertical gastroplasty, the Lap-Band procedure promotes rapid and extreme weight loss by creating a small pouch in the top portion of the stomach. However, instead of creating the pouch with surgical staples, the bariatric surgeon fastens a gastric band around the top portion of the stomach like a belt.

Attached to the band is an adjustable balloon that controls the size of the stomach pouch. The surgeon can expand the balloon via a small access port located just under the skin. This allows the surgeon to optimize the size of the stomach for each unique patient, and also make additional adjustments during follow-up visits to promote continued weight loss. These follow-ups, or “fills”, are painless and non-invasive. The doctor injects saline solution into the Lap-Band balloon via the access port to increase the tightness of the band around the stomach pouch and restrict food consumption. A follow-up fill procedure generally takes only 15 minutes and can be done in the doctor’s office.

Benefits of Lap-Band Surgery
The pouch that is created with the Lap-Band procedure can generally hold about 30 ml. As the small pouch fills up quickly after just a few bites, the brain receives a message that the body is full. As a result of the procedure, patients feel fuller faster and get hungry less often, so they eat significantly less and lose weight quickly. On average, Lap-Band patients lose 1-2 pounds per week. Some patients may lose at an even faster rate initially. Although initial weight loss takes longer, current research indicates that over time, weight loss results are comparable to the results from gastric bypass surgery.

In addition, gastric banding is easily reversable–a doctor can remove the Lap-Band in a follow up surgery, if necessary. Many patients choose the Lap-Band procedure for this reason. Unlike the gastric bypass, Lap-Band surgery does not cut or reconnect any part of the stomach or intestine. Gastric banding patients also generally do not have the same issues with nutritional deficiency that can occur with a gastric bypass. On the flip side, however, Lap-Band patients require more frequent follow up visits for band adjustments. And, as with any major surgery, complications are possible. If you are considering weight loss surgery, consult with a bariatric specialist to determine whether the Lap-Band procedure is right for you.

Want to see the Lap-Band in action? Watch this two-minute video about the Lap-Band procedure to understand how adjustable gastric banding promotes rapid weight loss.

Lap-Band image courtesy of Allergan, Inc.

Weight loss surgery has gained immense popularity over the past several years, as advances in medical technology and research have made it a more viable option for thousands of patients suffering from morbid obesity. This article explores the risks and benefits of bariatric procedures, to help you determine whether weight loss surgery is right for you.

Obesity has become an epidemic in the United States and shows no sign of getting any better. Many people spend years trying every new fad diet and weight loss gimmick that hits the market. In fact, weight loss is a multi-billion dollar industry.

However, for the morbidly obese individual, the thought of “starving” for months or years on end is unthinkable, and the idea of exercising to lose hundreds of pounds is inconceivable. Enter weight loss surgery.

Is Weight Loss Surgery the Ultimate Cure?

At first blush, weight loss surgery seems like an easy way to fix the problem of obesity. Medical professionals agree that consuming less calories than you burn is the only real way to lose weight. For those who have difficulty managing their food intake, gastric bypass surgery can provide an effective solution by both restricting the amount of food that can be eaten and interrupting the digestive process so the body absorbs fewer calories. Gastric banding procedures, such as the Lap-band® system, are less invasive and easily reversable, and they still help constrict caloric intake. However, these procedures do not affect how the body processes food in the same way that gastric bypass surgery does.

Who Should Consider Weight Loss Surgery?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a normal Body Mass Index (BMI) is 18.5 – 25, while a BMI of 30 and above qualifies as obese. Anyone with a BMI over 40 should consider weight loss surgery. That means a man who is 100 pounds overweight or a women who is 80 pounds overweight is a potential candidate for weight loss surgery. Often, weight loss surgery candidates will also suffer from obesity-related health issues, such as sleep apnea, heart problems or diabetes, and may also experience lower back and knee problems directly related to being overweight.

While surgery carries many dangers, these may be less severe than the danger of remaining morbidly obese. However, surgery only changes the physical aspects of being overweight. It will not address the mental and emotional causes for excessive eating. Candidates for weight loss surgery should also consider getting the appropriate help to address these psychological issues, because there are no guarantees that any weight loss method, including surgery, will cause you to lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Total success is only possible if you fully commit yourself to making the necessary behavioral changes needed to assure you can maintain your desired weight for the rest of your life.

Several different surgical options are available today, but all essentially work the same way by restricting the amount of food that can enter the stomach. No matter which method you choose, undergoing weight loss surgery is a serious decision. You need to consider both the risks and the benefits.

Benefits of weight loss surgery:

• Most patients will begin to lose weight immediately and will lose anywhere from 50 to 75 percent of their excess weight within two years of surgery. Long-term studies show that, although most weight loss surgery patients do regain some weight, most have kept off 50 percent of the excess weight five to 15 years later.
• Most other obesity related problems, such as sleep apnea, high blood pressure, diabetes, and lower back or knee pain, improve considerably and in some cases disappear.

Risks of weight loss surgery:

• Up to 20 percent of the patients require follow-up surgery to correct a complication of the original weight loss procedure.
• More than one-third of weight loss surgery patients develop gallstones (although newer treatments can minimize this risk).
• Approximately 30 percent of patients develop severe nutritional deficiencies, such as anemia, osteoporosis, and metabolic bone disorders. Taking the correct combination of dietary supplements can prevent these problems.
• Women should not get pregnant for at least two years after surgery to prevent serious post-surgical complications. Women should consider pregnancy only after consultation with a health professional to make sure they are taking the correct nutritional supplements to protect both her and the baby from nutritional deficiencies.

Bottom Line: if you are considering weight loss surgery, talk to your doctor and follow his or her advice.

This article provides an overview of health issues related to gastric bypass surgery and is not intended to replace the advice of a medical practitioner. Please consult your doctor prior to making any major medical decisions.