If you have been anxious to learn more about how bariatric weight loss surgery can change your life, then join Clarian Bariatrics' Indianapolis surgeons and staff on Saturday, November 7 for a FREE informational seminar.
You, and your family and friends, are invited to learn more about the different types of weight loss surgery procedures (Gastric Bypass and Lap Band), learn about the insurance process and ask questions about the health risks caused by obesity.
The seminar is from 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and we cannot wait to meet you! Learn more and RSVP,
by clicking here!
Walk the Talk will be getting together for the last charity walk of the season. Come join us as we participate in the St. Jude Children’s Research 5K on Saturday, November 21 at 9 a.m. The walk will be held at Northwestway Park located at 5253 W 62nd St, Indianapolis. This walk will be a paved path that is 1.6 miles long. It is a beautiful park that will make a great location during this time of year!
By walking in this 5K event, we can help the doctors and researchers at St. Jude find lifesaving cures for desperately ill children in communities everywhere. By walking, we can bring hope to the patients and families that walk through the doors of St. Jude everyday in search of a cure. If you would like to join us in this cause,
please sign up on our team page.
Everyone who joins the team will receive a free Walk the Talk T-Shirt! We hope to see you there!
If the entire morbidly obese population of the United States lived in one state, it would be the 12th hightest-populated state, with more people than the state of Virginia.
Just in case you're wondering, the state of Virginia has 7,769,089 folks living there.
Restrictive operations serve only to restrict food intake and do not interfere with the normal digestive process. To perform the surgery, doctors create a small pouch at the top of the stomach where food enters from the esophagus. Initially, the pouch holds about one ounce of food and later expands to hold more. The lower outlet of the pouch has a small opening to delay the emptying of food from the pouch and cause a feeling of fullness.
Restrictive operations for obesity include the Adjustable Gastric Ban (LAP-BAND), which restricts the size of the stomach using a band.
Although restrictive operations lead to weight loss in almost all patients, they are less successful than malabsorptive operations in achieving substantial, long-term weight loss. Some patients regain weight. Others are unable to adjust their eating habits and fail to lose the desired weight. Successful results depend on the patient's willingness to adopt a long-term plan of healthy eating and regular physical activity.
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.
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.
BMI Categories:
Underweight: less than18.5
Normal: 18.5-24.9
Overweight: 25.0-29.9
Obesity (Class 1): 30-34.9
Severe obesity (Class 2): 35-39.9
Severe obesity (Class 3): 40-49.9
Super-obesity: over 50
Learn more by joining us at a FREE informational seminar this week! Learn more at
ACallToChange.org.
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.
Another article from the OAC's e-newsletter. It is rather shocking that obesity has so quickly become such a serious health issue. You can read full text of the article by
clicking here.
Already up to one in twelve new cases of the disease are attributed to being overweight or obese and this proportion is set to increase as more quit smoking and stop hormone replacement therapy.
Dr Andrew Renehan, a cancer expert at the University of Manchester, told a medical conference: "Obesity is catching up at a rate that makes it possible it could become the biggest attributable cause of cancer in women within the next decade."
Last year, the number of cancer cases in Europe linked to weight jumped to at least 124,050, almost double the number in 2002.
I saw this editorial in the Pensacola News Journal and thought it was full of excellent information. The first few paragraphs are below and full text can be found by clicking on the
link.
Obesity causes all sorts of health-related problems ranging from high-blood pressure to diabetes to heart disease. New research now shows that being fat is quickly becoming the second-leading cause of cancer behind smoking.
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The news is especially bad for women in Western countries in coming years as the obesity epidemic continues to put them at higher risk. Colorectal cancer, breast cancer in menopausal women and endometrial cancer accounted for 65 percent of all cancers linked to being fat.
Scientists still aren't sure why being fat boosts cancer risks, but suspect it is connected to hormones. As people become fatter, they produce more hormones like estrogen that help tumors grow. People with big bellies also have more acid in their stomachs, which can lead to stomach, intestinal or esophageal cancer.
Bariatric surgery is recognized as the most effective and durable method for persons who are morbidly obese to lose their excess weight and keep it off for many years. It is NOT a quick fix. It is NOT taking the "easy way out."
The benefits of bariatric surgery are numerous:
Longer Life – Studies show that gastric bypass surgery can improve your life expectancy by as much as 89%.
Reduced Health Problems – Severe obesity is associated with at least 50 diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, fatty liver, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, gout and various skeletal and joint problems. Bariatric surgery has been proven extremely successful in eliminating or dramatically reducing most of these health problems. For example, 80% of non-insulin dependent diabetics are cured as a result of gastric bypass. Sleep apnea patients enjoy uninterrupted sleep within a year of surgery, and half of the patients with high blood pressure come of their medications within a few months of surgery.
Psychological Benefits – Bariatric surgery can also help reduce the stress and anxiety associated with obesity. With a new self-image, issues like depression and fear of social situations can be overcome. A new desire and ability to interact with family and friends is also a common benefit following bariatric treatment.
Want to learn more about how Indiana weight loss surgery can help you? Then join us at a FREE informational seminar where Indianapolis bariatric surgeons and staff will discuss treatment options. Learn more by
clicking here.
Are you considering bariatric weight loss surgery, but are not sure what to expect at one of our FREE seminars? Below is just a brief overview of how the process works.
From their very first visit at
Clarian Bariatrics, all patients receive extensive education about the health problems with obesity, the presumed causes of the epidemic rise in obesity in Indiana and the U.S., the medical, psychological, social and economic consequences of obesity, and the keys to maintained successful weight loss.
These educational sessions are conducted by Indianapolis weight loss surgeons, nurses, nutritionists, psychologists and other experts. The sessions are also attended by former patients who provide a personal perspective of their experience and describe the challenges they faced after weight loss. Attendees are also provided with a tour of the facility and are given numerous references for further research.
From there, individuals can decide whether or not the time is right for Indianapolis area bariatric surgery and will schedule a consultation. In future posts, I will discuss what happens after the initial consultation. In the meantime, if you have questions, please call us toll free at 877-275-2555.
This story is very personal as my grandmother has been battling this disease for the past two years. Although she was never obese during her lifetime, it shows that Alzheimer's is indiscriminate in whom it can affect. I simply want to share this article in the hopes that it can raise awareness of this horrible disease. The first few paragraphs are below, and the full text can be
found here.
Obesity is on a rampage, with the World Health Organization pegging the numbers at more than 300 million worldwide, with a billion more overweight. With obesity comes the increased risk for cardiovascular disease, Type II diabetes, and hypertension.
Now comes more discouraging news. In the current online edition of the journal Human Brain Mapping, Paul Thompson, senior author and a UCLA professor of neurology, and lead author Cyrus A. Raji, a medical student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and colleagues compared the brains of people who were obese, overweight, and of normal weight, to see if they had differences in brain structure; that is, did their brains look equally healthy. If you would like to learn more about Indiana weight loss surgery, causes of obesity and how bariatric surgery can change your life, please join us at a FREE informational seminar. Click on the image at the right of this post to learn more.
The weather has been great for refreshing and energizing walks! If walking has been one of your favorite activities or if you are just getting started, this entry will provide you with some resources to keep you moving forward.
Wondering how well your walks are fitting into your daily physical activity? I always suggest using a pedometer to see how far you are walking every time. You can convert your pedometer steps to miles by using this simple calculator in the link below. This will give you a good idea of how far you are traveling each day, and you can use this number to set goals for future distances. Use this
Web site for additional help.
Interested in seeing how “walkable” your community is compared to others? Check to see if your community supports your efforts to travel by foot. Share your walkability score with your local community (
www.healthbydesignonline.org) and maybe you can help make a
difference.
Check it out here! There are plenty of walk/run charity events still happening the rest of this year in Indianapolis and surrounding communities. Two local organizations host many of them and already have them planned and ready to go. Check out
Ken Long and Associates or
Tuxedo Brothers for information on upcoming events that will help you burn calories, visit with friends and fight for a cause that’s important to you.
If you haven’t already visited our new support group “Walk the Talk” on Fridays at 11:30am—we’d love to see you there! We spend 30 minutes walking the local trails (about 1 mile in distance) and the other 30 minutes eating lunch and having discussions. There is no need to sign up—just show up with your lunch packed and tennis shoes on!
This is part two of several on the questions that should be considered when looking into a weight loss program. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney lists the following questions they feel you should ask as you search for a weight loss program.
What are the staff qualifications?Because
Clarian Bariatrics is a surgical weight loss program, this is not as big an issue as it would be in a weight loss clinic. You can be sure here that you are followed by qualified, board certified medical doctors and nurses who are well trained and have a great deal of experience in surgical weigh loss.
Who supervises the program?Terri Hohlt, MSN, RN, is the Program Administrator. Terri has 30 years of nursing experience with Clarian Health. Her role is to keep an overview of the whole program. She hires the staff, keeps the program on budget, makes sure the physicians and staff have what they need provide top of the line care to our Indiana bariatric patients. Terri continually monitors all aspects of the program to assure we provide the quality care each person deserves.
The medical director of the program is Samer Mattar, MD, who is board certified surgeon. Dr. Mattar has received special training in advanced laparoscopy surgery at Emory University Hospital. He is also a member of the American College of Surgeons, the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons, and several other professional organizations. The medical director's role is to ensure that all patients receive the highest quality medical care available.
In addition to the above, the Clarian Bariatrics surgery program provides a “complete package” program with weight loss support provided by a full staff of highly trained, licensed, board certified Dietitians who specialize in weight loss and the health problems caused by obesity. We also have a Bariatrics Behavioral Medicine department headed up by Clinical Psychologist William Hilgendorf, PhD, HSPP. His staff helps to support your surgical weight loss effort with a variety of group sessions geared specifically to bariatric patients.
What type of weight-management training, experience, education, and certifications does the staff have? You can see from the list above that this program is serious about providing you top of the line quality care. In addition to the above highly trained staff, other members of the team are patients of this bariatric surgery center with the deepest understanding of the program, and patients concerns, and struggles. They have insights that only someone who has been there can provide, that adds to their qualifications for the position they have at this Indianapolis Weight loss clinic.
Want to learn more? Then join us at a FREE informational seminar. Dates can be found by clicking on the image at the right of this post.
Did you know that lack of sleep can be related to weight gain? According to the July/August 2009 issue of
WebMD magazine, women sleeping five or fewer hours per night are 32 percent more likely to gain weight. One study showed as much as 33 pounds over 16 years. They are also 15 percent more likely to become obese than women who sleep at least seven hour per night.
Although a study published by Columbia University and cited in "Sleeping off the Pounds" by
Holly F. Lofton, MD, in the Obesity Action Coalition’s quarterly magazine, shows those numbers as 73 percent more likely to become obese with five hours of sleep then those getting seven to nine hours a night. They found that even increasing to six hours there is still a 27 percent chance of becoming obese over the adults who receive seven or more hours of sleep a night.
In addition to being the cause of weight gain, a consistent lack of sleep raises the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, heart attack, and stroke. Michael Breus, PhD, WebMD Sleep Expert, has the following recommendations to help increase your nightly hours of sleep:
- Avoid any caffeine after 2:30 in the afternoon.
- Balance your life especially between career and family.
- Be sure family time includes quality time with them and some for yourself as well, you time should include physical activity and maybe some pampering as well. Avoid the computer and TV for at least an hour before bed, dim the lights, and relax.
- Avoid napping during the day, maintain a regular bedtime routine, and stick with the same waking and sleeping times seven days a week.
- Avoid nicotine, alcohol, and stimulant medications close to bedtime, along with the above-mentioned caffeine.
- Do your more vigorous exercise in the morning or late afternoon and more relaxing exercises at night.
- Avoid large meals at bedtime; keep evening snacks in the 100-200 calorie range.
- Try not to read, eat or watch television in bed, also keep your sleep environment comfortable, pleasant, and climate-controlled.
- For those on the night shift and the elderly be sure to get good light exposure during the “daytime” from indoor lighting, also close the blinds at least 1-2 hours before bedtime to help set the Circadian rhythm.
If you would like to learn more, a copy of this magazine is available at
Clarian Bariatrics clinic. Getting a good nights sleep should help you on your weight loss journey in keeping the pounds off and maybe even assist in losing a few.
Although this does not relate directly to weight loss surgery, as a Clarian Health entity, we wanted to take a minute to let everyone know about our annual Kids Dart. Drive Smart campaign led by Riley Hospital for Children. Pedestrian injury remains the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages five to 14. According to the National Centers for Injury Prevention and Control, approximately 42,000 children were injured as pedestrians in 2007, and from 1999-2006, there were 4,789 pedestrian fatalities among children 17 and younger in the United States. Indiana children accounted for 87 of these deaths. Additionally, more than 36 percent of these injuries occurred during the hours of 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Because any child hurt is one too many Riley Hospital for Children and Riley Hospital for Children at Clarian North initiated Kids Dart. Drive Smart., a grassroots, child safety campaign designed to reduce driving speeds during the summer and back-to-school months - a time of year when traffic patterns change and more children are injured while playing and bicycling.
During the inaugural campaign in 2007, more than 5,000 yard signs were distributed throughout the Indianapolis area, with demand exceeding supply. Due to the success of the 2007 campaign, Riley engaged hospital partners in eight Indiana cities, neighborhood coalitions and physician offices to expand the 2008 Kids Dart. Drive Smart. campaign across the state. In 2008, almost 19,000 yard signs were distributed statewide. The dedication of the local community to support pedestrian safety was unparalleled.
According to AAA, every two seconds a driver’s eyes are off the road, a motorist is twice as likely to be involved in a crash. To date, more than 20 states have banned, or partially banned texting while driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that 78 percent of crashes involved a driver distracted within three seconds before an accident.
This year’s campaign will officially launch at Family Day at the Indiana State Fair on Monday, August 10. After that date, more than 5,000 signs will be distributed by Riley Hospital for Children at Clarian North, and thousands more will be made available to Hoosiers throughout the state at various Clarian hospitals and affiliates and area AAA locations. Information on the Kids Dart campaign will be available at
www.kidsdart.org. This Web site will indicate locations to obtain a yard sign and numerous safety tips for kids and adults.
Did you know that blueberries contain phytochemical’s anthocyanin, proanthocyanidins, flavonols and tannins, which inhibit mechanisms of cancer cell development and inflammation? Other studies have found that blueberry consumption lowered blood cholesterol and total
blood lipid levels, which may decrease risk of heart disease.
Half a cup or 3 ½ ounces of blueberries contain 60 calories, a very small amount of fat and protein, 2.4 grams dietary fiber, and 10 mg vitamin C. Choose fresh blueberries over blueberry juice – juice is a concentrated sweet that may cause dumping in Roux-en-Y patients. Also, avoid the snack foods that contain blueberries (muffins, pie, etc) since those foods are high in calories.
Blueberries may not be a part of your meal plan depending on where you are at in the process of weight management. If you decide to incorporate fruit into your meal plan limit to ½ cup a day and discuss any questions or concerns with a dietitian.
A patient should be concerned of a nutritional problem after bariatric surgery if any of the following occurred:
- Hair loss continued more than one year after surgery
- Hair loss started more than six months after surgery
- Patient has had difficulty eating and/or has not complied with supplementation
- Patient has shown low values of ferritin, zinc or protein on lab results
- Patient has had more rapid then expected weight loss
Iron: Iron is the sing nutrient most highly correlated with hair loss. While new research is conflicted as to the significance of ferritin as a diagnostic tool in hair loss, it has still been found that a significant number of people with hair loss respond to iron therapy. Optimal iron levels for hair health have not been established.
Zinc: Zinc deficiency has been tied to hair loss in both animal studies and human cases. Based on studies done and their results, it can not be definitely said that zinc would prevent hair loss after weight loss surgery and further studies would be needed to make this connection. A note on zinc: The tolerable upper intake level for zinc is 40 mg in adults. These levels can cause gastrointestinal distress. Chronic toxicity can start at intakes of 60 mg/day. Some patients have heard on chat rooms and list serv forums that “high dose zinc will prevent hair loss after weight loss surgery.” Patients should be advised that high dose zinc therapy is unproven and should only be done under supervision due to the risks associated with toxicity. A lab test to check for zinc deficiency would be best before giving a high dose such as this.
Protein: Low protein intake is associated with hair loss. Limited studies suggest that patients with the most rapid or greatest amounts of weight loss are at greatest risk. Pancreatic enzymes that would help aid in protein digestion are redirected to a lower part of the small intestine. Based on this, it is likely that maldigestion, rather than malabsorption, is responsible for many hair loss cases.
Biotin: To date, there is no science that would support supplementing with, or topically applying biotin will prevent hair loss or improve hair regrowth. While biotin deficiency can cause dermatitis, hair loss is only known to occur in experimentally induced states in animal models or in extreme cases of prolonged diets composed exclusively of egg whites.
Hair loss can be distressing to bariatric surgery patients and many will try to nutrition themselves to see if they can prevent it. Unfortunately, there is little evidence that early hair loss is preventable because it is most likely caused by surgery and rapid weight loss. However, later hair loss can be indicative of a nutritional problem.
Reference: Bariatric Times. “The Latest on Nutrition and Hair Loss in the Bariatric Patient” by Jacqueline Jacques, ND. 9/08
A common fear for patient’s who have undergone bariatric surgery is hair loss. For most of us, our hair is important as part of our self-image but is not very important to our bodies. After surgery, the body is forced to make a choice on where to send the nutrition that is going into the body. After surgery, the body will shift nutritional stores to vital organs like the brain and heart and away from hair thus resulting in hair loss.
Hair loss has many causes. The most common type of hair loss after weight loss surgery is a loss known medically as telogen effluvium, which can have both nutritional and non-nutritional causes.
For most of our life, we are always in the process of growing and losing hair. Human hair follicles have two states: a growth state and a dormant state. All hairs begin in the growth state and then shift to the dormant state, which lasts 100-120 days. After this many days, the hair will fall out. At any given time, about 90 percent of hairs are in growth state and 10 percent are in a dormant state.
Specific types of stress can result in a shift of a higher percentage to the dormant state. These stresses include: high fever, severe infection, major surgery, acute physical trauma, chronic debilitating illness (such as cancer or end stage liver disease), acute weight loss, crash dieting, hormonal disruption, anorexia, low protein intake, iron or zinc deficiency, heavy metal toxicity and some medications.
Bariatric surgery patients have two major risks for hair loss: major surgery and rapid weight loss. These two are likely to account for much of the hair loss after surgery. In the absence of a nutritional issue, hair loss will continue until all hairs that shifted into the dormant phase have fallen out. Hair loss will rarely last for more than 6 months in the absence of a dietary cause. Patients can be reassured that with time, patience and keeping up good nutritional intake, hair will grow back.
Hi everyone, it’s Lorie. You know we all have good and bad days and wonder if it is all worth it. I know myself I have had a rough couple of weeks, and today I read this inspirational story that was sent to me in an e-mail by Mike Kramer. It was perfect for me and I thought I would share it with all of you. I hope you get something out of like I did. Enjoy.
The world can be a beautiful place, full of possibilities and life. You can feel invincible and in control. But it’s not always like that, is it? The world can also be a stressful, upsetting, confidence-crushing place. At times, it seems like even something as clear-cut as weight loss is harder than it really needs to be. Is it worth the trouble, you ask. Why am I banging my head against the wall? Is it really doing any good?
You’re darned right it is!
When life and your mind are full of troubles, when things seem out of control, you’ve got to take control of what you can. When confidence is low, that’s exactly when you need to be at your healthiest, your strongest, your most energetic. There’s no better time to create your own little corner of sanity and positive feeling. The best way you can do that is to stick with those small daily weight loss goals.
You can be the hammer, making things happen, or you can be the nail that sits there and gets pummeled over and over. If you’re starting to feel like a nail, it’s up to you to keep your program moving forward. Gather yourself together, draw a line in the sand and refuse to give in to the doubts and temptation to give in or quit.
You’ve probably heard this story before, but since you’re here, it’s worth retelling: A frog, hopping around the farm, minding his own business, fell right into a pail half-filled with cream. Swimming frantically, he found the sides too steep and too high. Determined not to give up, he continued to struggle. He kicked and squirmed, kicked and squirmed until at last his churning had turned the cream into a block of butter – allowing him to hop right out. He never gave up!
Here’s how your story and his intersect. If he only saw the hopelessness of his situation and started feeling sorry for himself, he would have sunk to the bottom. But instead he kept kicking. He kicked not because he knew it would help him escape, but because he was compelled to, he had no choice. He kicked because the alternative was no alternative at all.
From the frog’s point of view, all he was doing was treading water (or cream), doing what he could in a bad situation. If you keep kicking, even if it just seems like you’re treading water, you’re actually causing real change that will make a huge difference later on. There will be good days; there will be bad days – sometimes several in a row. There will be lazy days and discouraging days. But there will also be days of revelation, days of making a breakthrough, days of being proud of whom you are becoming, days of wanting to climb on top of your success and reach for the stars, because you just know that anything is possible.
These are the days that make it all worthwhile. These are the days that let you deal with those other, not-so-great days. Once you know those bad days will be there, it’s easier to accept them at face value and deal with them. But you have to keep kicking on those bad days to get to the good ones. If you’re not kicking, you’re sinking.
Don’t let the world or your own doubts take away one of the most positive things you have going for yourself – your determination to create a healthier, more energetic, more vibrant, more wonderful YOU.
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