I came across this article in the
New York Times and found some very startling statistics that worth repeating. The first few paragraphs are below and the full text can be found by clicking the link.
While Congress searches for ways to slow the growth of health care spending, a new study suggests that its efforts may be overwhelmed by the surging prevalence of obesity.
The report, to be issued Tuesday, projects that if current trends continue 103 million American adults will be considered obese by 2018. That would be 43 percent of adults, compared to 31 percent in 2008, according to the research by Kenneth E. Thorpe of Emory University, an authority on the cost of treating chronic disease.
Mr. Thorpe concluded that the prevalence of obesity is growing faster than that of any other public health condition in the country’s history. Health care costs related to obesity — which is associated with conditions like hypertension and diabetes — would total $344 billion in 2018, or more than one in five dollars spent on health care, if the trends continue. If the obesity rate were held to its current level, the country would save nearly $200 billion a year by 2018, according to the study.
Another article in the never ending debate about what's good for you and what's not. This one tackles juice and the "is it or isn't" debate about popular fruit drinks. The first few paragraphs are below and
full text can be found here. Remember, if you ever have a question about what you should or shouldn't be eating, please call one of our dieticians at 317-275-7010.
To many people, it's a health food. To others, it's simply soda in disguise.
That virtuous glass of juice is feeling the squeeze as doctors, scientists and public health authorities step up their efforts to reduce the nation's girth.
It's an awkward issue for the schools that peddle fruit juice in their cafeterias and vending machines. It's uncomfortable for advocates of a junk-food tax who say they can't afford to target juice and alienate its legions of fans. It's confusing for consumers who think they're doing something good when they chug their morning OJ, sip 22-ounce smoothies or pack apple juice in their children's lunches.
The inconvenient truth, many experts say, is that 100% fruit juice poses the same obesity-related health risks as Coke, Pepsi and other widely vilified beverages.
Cooking class is coming back! I hope you can join us on Tuesday, December 1 from 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. There is no cost to attend, but everyone must RSVP. Please e-mail me at achumble@clariannorth.com or call and leave a message at 317-275-7015 to save your space.
There WILL be liver-friendly dishes as well as things for those far out of surgery. We will be holding the class at Clarian Bariatrics' new outpatient clinic. Directions and maps can be found at www.clarian.org/bariatrics.
See you there!
Are you looking to gather more information on weight loss surgery? Have you wanted to ask questoins about bariatric surgery costs, types of weight loss surgery (including Lap Band and Gastric Bypass) and the Indiana insurance approval process?
Then consider joining us for a FREE informational weight loss seminar on Thursday October 29 at 6:30 pm in Cicero, Indiana at 1160 South Peru Street, State Road 19. You can register online at
ACallToChange.org.
Also, feel free to bring as many of your friends and loved ones along to hear our Indianapolis-based bariatric surgeons discuss the process. See you there!
It has been several months since I posted this video, but I have had some requests to re-run some of our "What to Expect" series. Look for a few this week and next, and remember to leave a comment if you have any questions about weight loss surgery procedures, bariatric surgery costs or Indianapolis surgeons.
Join us for an educational seminar to speak with our surgeons, nutritionists and past patients to learn how weight loss surgery can help you gain control of your weight, regain health and start a new life.
This Saturday, October 17 from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. you are invited to visit our outpatient clinic on the northwest side of Indianapolis and have your questions answered about bariatric surgery costs, causes of obesity and sustainable weight loss options at the hands of our skilled Indianapolis staff.
If you are interested in attending, please fill out our
online registration form or call 317-275-7010 or 877-275-2555 (toll free) to reserve your spot.
We recently received a blog comment asking about the cost of a typical procedure. While there are many variables as each patient is different, I thought I would re-run the posting as a way to answer some additional questions.
I am often asked by prospective patients the price of Bariatric surgery. I try to give a ball park figure, but it is a price that I cannot quote exactly. Prior to surgery we verify the benefits available to each patient with their insurance plan. If insurance is not an option, I offer the patient the cash pay rate. This is not one fee for all; you will receive a balance of approximately $26,000
A portion of this will be due before surgery (two weeks) the remaining balance will be in different bills. Pre-operative testing, anesthesia, surgeon fees, etc…I cannot give an exact figure as each patient has different mitigating factors affecting their procedures. Different co-morbidities require different tests for example. If you have any additional questions about bariatric surgery financing, gastric bypass costs and other fees related to weight loss surgyer, please do not hesitate to call us at 317-275-7010 or attend a
FREE seminar.
I thought this was an interesting study from the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Do you agree with the report findings?
Businesses can save money by creating obesity intervention programs in the workplace. That's the finding of a new study from North Carolina-based RTI International as well as the Centers for Disease Control.
The savings are modest, about $90-a year per employee across all overweight or obese workers, or up to $160-a year for workers in the highest obesity range. The study suggests the return on investment is higher if workplace environmental changes are considered.
Researchers say behavioral interventions are usually considered successful if they lead to a five percent weight loss over a sustained period of time. Individuals who aren't overweight tend to take fewer sick days and medical costs to the employer are reduced.
Join us for an educational seminar to speak with our surgeons, nutritionists and past patients to learn how weight loss surgery can help you gain control of your weight, regain health and start a new life.
At the seminar you can learn about bariatric surgery costs, Indianapolis weight loss surgery options and hear from Indiana Bariatric Surgeons about the ins and outs of surgery. Please feel free to bring as many support people with you as you like.
WHEN: Thursday, September 3 at 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Clarian Bariatrics (6625 Network Way, Suite 100 - Indianapolis)
Please click here to RSVP or call 317-275-7010 with questions.
Mind-blowing statistics in this article from the Obesity Action Coalition newsletter. Teaser below, with full text by following the link.
Obesity-related diseases account for nearly 10 percent of all medical spending in the United States or an estimated $147 billion a year, U.S. researchers said Monday.
They said obese people spend 40 percent more -- or $1,429 more per year -- in healthcare costs than people of normal weight.
"It is critical that we take effective steps to contain and reduce the enormous burden of obesity on our nation," Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told a news conference at a CDC obesity meeting where the study was presented.
"Reversing obesity is not going to be done successfully with individual effort," Frieden said. "It will be done successfully as a society."To view this article,
click here.
Whether you are a current/former patient or someone who is interested in learning more about Indiana weight loss surgery, there are tons of events happening at
Clarian Bariatrics this week!
Support GroupsWe will be having the following support groups this week!
- Clarian Health Cicero located at 1160 South Peru St., SR 19 in Cicero. Support group is held on the second Thursday of the month from 6 - 7 p.m.
- Pre-Surgery Coping Skills Group held each Thursday at the Clarian Bariatrics clinic from 4 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. This group is designed to explore changing family and friend relationships and social situations, including how to survive eating in social situations, how to respond to people who "push" food on you, and how to cope with people's reactions to your new weight loss and lifestyle. This group is free, but we ask that you please call 317-275-7010 or 877-275-2555 prior to attending.
Exercise ClassesWe will be holding the following exercise classes this week!
"Walk the Talk" Walking Group - Join us weekly for a walking program and support group that will help you burn calories, make friends and keep you on track with your goals. We meet every Friday from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the Clarian Bariatrics outpatient clinic. At these group we will walk, talk and get fit together! Feel free to bring a sack lunch and chat with us during a support group meeting after the walk. Make sure you bring a water bottle and wear your good tennis shoes! In addition to our weekly walks, we participate as a team in charity walks related to disease prevention and research. There is a small cost for to sign-up for the walks, but the experience is priceless. If you cannot make it to Clarian Bariatrics every week to walk with us, feel free to keep up with a walking program and join us for the charity walks as often as you can!
FREE Informational SeminarsIndividuals will have two opportunities to learn about bariatric surgery this week. On Wednesday, August 12 and Thursday, August 13 you are invited to hear Indianapolis bariatric surgeons discuss the benefits of weight loss surgery procedures including gastric bypass and the Lap Band. Learn more by
clicking here!
Another great article from the Advisory board regarding common questions/concerns individuals have prior to undergoing weight loss surgery. I have put the highlights below, but would welcome anyone interested in bariatric surgery to visit us at an upcoming FREE seminar to ask even more questions. Dates can be found at
ACallToChange.org.
Addressing earlier concerns about the safety of bariatric surgery, a study published yesterday in New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) finds that the overall risk of death and other adverse outcomes among patients who have the procedures is low, although the risks vary considerably depending on patient characteristics.
For the study, a researcher from the University of Washington in Seattle and colleagues conducted a prospective multicenter observational study involving 4,776 first-time bariatric surgery patients who had procedures at 10 U.S. hospitals.
...The researchers found that among the patients who had gastric-bypass or gastric-banding procedures, the 30-day mortality rate was 0.3% and a composite outcome consisting of mortality, deep vein thrombosis, venous thromboembolism, reintervention, or failure to be discharged within 30 days after surgery occurred in 4.1% of patients. None of the patients who underwent gastric banding procedures died, while 0.2% of patients who had laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass died and 2.1% of the patients who had open Roux-en-Y died.
...Commenting on the findings, the researchers suggest that providers discussing bariatric surgery with patients should examine the short-term risks of the procedure “in the context of the long-term health effects of surgically induced weight loss on coexisting health conditions, the long-term risks of the bariatric surgery itself, the competing risk of death from extreme obesity, and the relative benefits of the rate and durability of weight loss.” Meanwhile, in an accompanying editorial, a surgeon from Harvard Medical School notes that the rates of mortality and adverse outcomes seen in the study are “similar to those seen in other major operations,” adding that while the nation should strive to better treat obesity without the use of surgical interventions, “until we get to that point, the weight of the evidence indicates that bariatric surgery is safe, effective, and affordable”
Another interesting read from the Advisory Board. Highlights are below:
Total health care expenditures for the nation’s obese adult population increased by more than 80 percent between 2001 and 2006 to reach $303.1 billion, according to a statistical brief from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Based on data from the agency’s Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, the report also found that mean annual health care expenditures for obese adults increased from $3,458 in 2001 to $5,148 in 2006 and that the proportion of total health care expenditures attributed to obese adults increased from 28.1 percent to 35.3 percent, while the proportion of spending attributed to normal-weight adults decreased from 35 percent to 30.3 percent.
According to the report, the number of obese adults—defined as individuals with a body mass index of or above 30—grew by almost 11 million between 2001 and 2006, rising from 48.2 million to 58.9 million people. In addition, in both 2001 and 2006, the country’s adult obese population had the highest proportion of individuals reporting at least one chronic condition—including diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, ischemic heart disease, stroke, emphysema, and arthritis—at 57.1 percent and 59.7 percent, respectively.
...With the exception of Colorado—which had an obesity rate of 18.5 percent—all states in 2008 had obesity rates of at least 20 percent. Mississippi had the highest rate, at 32.8 percent, followed by Alabama, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia, which all had obesity rates of at least 30 percent. Illustrating the “dramatic increase” in the nation’s obese population, the CDC highlighted data from a 1990 survey indicating that at that time, no states had an obesity rate of 15 percent or higher.
Noting that obesity is a major risk factor for several chronic diseases, the director of the CDC’s division of nutrition, physical activity, and obesity says that “among all age groups, we are seeing chronic diseases in much younger adults compared to a few decades ago,” adding that some young adults now suffer from risk factors for heart disease and type 2 diabetes, conditions that were “unheard of in the past.”
Are you ready to break the cycle of failed weight loss plans and finally experience sustainable and effective weight loss through the use of bariatric surgery? Then join us at a FREE informational seminar in Indianapolis or at other locations throughout Indiana. We are here to help you. Click on the image at the right of this post to view upcoming dates and to get registered.
I found this article on the Advisory Board Web site and found the statistics very startling. Unfortunately, I cannot link you to the full article, but the highlights are below. Please feel free to leave me a comment if you have any questions about medically supervised weight loss for your and your family.
The number of hospitalizations among children between the ages of 2 and 19 with a primary or secondary diagnosis of obesity nearly doubled from 21,743 in 1999 to 42,429 in 2005, even though obesity prevalence held relatively steady across that timeframe, according to a study published on the Health Affairs website.
...Moreover, the data showed a statistically significant increase in the number of obesity-related hospitalizations for a number of conditions, among them asthma, diabetes, pneumonia, appendicitis, and skin and subcutaneous tissue infections. Examining the economic consequence of childhood obesity, the researchers found that total costs for children with obesity-related hospitalizations rose to $237.6 million in 2005—up from $125.9 million in 2001, measured in 2005 dollars.
...Commenting on their findings, the researchers advise interpreting the results “with caution,” given that the analysis relied on physician and provider diagnoses of obesity—which are “a product of clinical judgment and reimbursement by hospital payers and [are] subject to inaccuracy”—rather than a fixed definition of obesity.
In addition, they speculate that some of the increase in the number of hospitalizations involving a childhood obesity diagnosis could stem from increased recognition of the condition, rather than acceleration in obesity’s contribution to other medical conditions. Regardless, the authors write, the study “suggests that obesity has a much more immediate impact on the health of children, especially adolescents, than previously understood.” Saying that the findings reinforce the importance of obesity prevention efforts, the researchers call for additional federal support of anti-obesity programs to reduce the condition and its social and economic costs.
If you are considering weight loss surgery, there are a great many very important things to consider, such as which type of surgery, the lifetime commitment you have to make to taking care of yourself, the surgeon and so on.
I will not discuss those in this blog, but I do want to talk about two things that should NOT be a factor in the consideration for bariatric surgery. From the July 2009, issue of Obesity Action Coalition:
Loose Skin: Loose skin is a reflection of significant weight loss and it does not seem to matter if the weight-loss is slow or fast. If a gastric band patient, a sleeve patient and a gastric bypass patient all lose 150 pounds, they will ALL have some degree of loose skin.
Cost: In most markets, gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy are more expensive than adjustable gastric banding. While this is not important if insurance is paying for your surgery, it is important to those that have to pay for their surgery themselves. “Cash pay”
Patients should choose their operation FIRST and THEN figure out how they are going to pay for it. The decision of which type of surgery to have needs to be discussed with your surgeon as the two of you should make that choice together.
Want to learn more about Indianapolis weight loss surgery? Then join us at a FREE informational seminar, where you can hear Indiana bariatric surgeons and staff discuss the many aspects of sustainable weight loss. Click the image of the right of this page to get started.
The following factors will be considered in determining if you are a candidate for bariatric surgery:
- You have tried to lose weight by changing your eating habits and exercise and are still severely obese.
- You are unable to perform routine daily activities without being seriously affected.
- You understand the procedure and the lifestyle changes you will need to make after bariatric surgery.
- You are motivated to make a lifelong behavioral commitment that includes well-balanced meals and physical exercise.
- You understand that this surgery won't solve all your problems, but can make you healthier -- and probably much happier.
Before patients undergo surgery for morbid obesity, they must qualify for our bariatrics program. Our basic program guidelines are:
- Being 100 pounds or more over your "ideal body weight," according to the established weight charts.
- Having a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 40 with no co-morbidities or greater than 35 with serious co-morbidities.
- Being able and willing to make the necessary lifestyle changes.
Learn more by attending a FREE informational session. Sessions are held at Clarian Bariatrics' Indianapolis location and include discussions with surgeons and weight loss specialists about the types of bariatric surgery - including Lap Band and Gastric Bypass - and the costs associated with surgery. Visit our
Web site for more information and for dates and times.
Wow, this is a hot button issue! Regardless of how you feel about the topic, the article raises some very valid points. I don't agree with the statment from the author "that obesity is, at its core, a condition that individuals ought to be able to control themselves," however maybe regulating more strictly the type of food commercials that are shown at different times of the day could put a dent - even if small - in the childhood obesity epidemic.
Read full text of the article form
The Atlantic here. The first few paragraphs are below:
Major health problems associated with smoking account for about a tenth of our health care spending, about the same amount as illness and behaviors associated with obesity. Today, the Senate will vote to regulate tobacco like a drug and crack down on marketing. Costs associated with cigarette consumption will rise.
A lot of folks wonder why the government can't borrow the tobacco approach and apply it to obesity, which also seems to be -- seems to be, I say -- a condition that results from an addiction to food? Arguably, the long-term costs associated with being overweight exceed those of nicotine addiction. Trouble is, obesity belongs to a different category of conditions. There is a social and psychological element to the smoking contagion, but its origins, effects and treatments are much more defined.
Just a reminder that we are holding a FREE informational seminar at Clarian Bariatrics today at 10 a.m. Even if you didn't get a chance to pre-register, you can still stop by and meet our Indianapolis bariatric surgeons and staff.
At the seminar, you can also learn more about bariatric surgery costs, the bariatric surgery process and the different procedures including gastric bypass and Lap-Band. And, you can bring as many support people along as you like.
The seminar will be held at our Indianapolis location at 6625 Network Way, Suite 100. See you there!
Have you been wondering if weight loss surgery is right for you? Then consider joining us at a FREE informational seminar! At the session you can learn about bariatric weight loss options (gastric bypass or Lap Band among others) and about bariatric surgery costs.
Indianapolis bariatric surgeons and staff will be on hand to answer your questions and you are welcomed to bring as many support people along as you would like.
Visit this Web site to find a date that works well for you. We can't wait to meet you!
I just wanted to announce that our Thursday, May 21 informational seminar at Clarian Health Cicero has been cancelled.
If you were planning on attending this weight loss surgery informational session, don't worry! We have one planned at our Indianapolis location tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. At the session, you can learn about bariatric surgery costs and the different types of weight loss surgery options.
Click here to sign up for an upcoming date!
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