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.
Okay, this title immediately stuck out at me. After reading the article, I think the theory makes perfect sense. It's similar to the studies that prove talking to a fetus or listening to classical music can make a profound impact on learning later in life. What do you think? The first few paragraphs are below and full text can be found by
clicking here.
When Kathy Perusse had weight-loss surgery and shed 120 pounds, she may have done more than make her own life easier.
She went on to have two daughters, and she may have boosted their chances of avoiding becoming obese, like her two older children are.
That's the implication of research suggesting that something in an obese woman's womb can program her fetus toward becoming a fat child and adult. It's not about simply passing along genes that promote obesity; it's some sort of still-mysterious signal.
The idea has only recently entered conversations between doctors and female patients, and scientists are scrambling to track down a biological explanation. That knowledge, in turn, may provide new ways to block obesity from crossing generations.
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.
I don't think this article is really "breaking news" but it shows that serious implications that being overweight can have on your overall health.
Obese patients taking medications to lower their blood pressure and cholesterol levels are less likely to reach recommended targets for these cardiovascular disease risk factors than their normal weight counterparts, according to new research presented at the 2009 Canadian Cardiovascular Congress hosted by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
Dr. Vineet Bhan, a resident at the University of Toronto, sought to determine whether there were differences in reaching guideline-recommended targets for blood pressure and cholesterol levels according to body mass index (BMI) in a large number of individuals deemed to be at high risk for heart disease and stroke.
"In Canada, these high risk patients frequently do not reach their blood pressure and cholesterol targets," says Dr. Bhan. "The goal of our study was to see if obesity could be a factor."
To learn more,
click here.
A very startling article that I found in the November issue of the Obesity Action Coalition's online newsletter. Childhood obesity is certainly something we need to focus even more attention on in the coming years...we need to stop the cycle!
More than one in five teenagers has at least one risk factor for heart disease such as obesity and high cholesterol, a jump from just six years earlier, suggests new research.
Researchers partnered with a group that has been following the heart health of thousands of teenagers in the Niagara region of Ontario for more than two decades. They found that between the years 2002 and 2008, the number of Grade nine students with one or more cardiovascular risk factors rose to 21 percent from 17 percent. The number of obese teens went from 11 percent to 13 percent, while those with elevated cholesterol almost doubled from 9 percent to 16 percent.
The only figure to buck the trend was the number of students with high blood pressure, which dropped slightly from 19 percent to 17 percent. The figures mirror what's going on in Canadian society overall, said Dr. Brian McCrindle, a pediatric cardiologist at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
To learn more,
click here.
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!
I know we are all guilty of reaching to our "comfort foods" when life gets hectic. Do you think it is true? That stress leads us to eat unhealthier foods? Full text of the article from USA Today can be found by
clicking here.
Many people say they eat more when they are under stress. Others eat less.
But people under chronic stress are more likely than others to say they eat fattening foods and feel that their eating is out of control, according to a study presented at a recent meeting of the Obesity Society.
In one of the largest surveys ever to examine the relationship between chronic stress and eating behaviors, researchers at the University of California-San Francisco questioned more than 600 women who were overweight or obese about their eating habits and life stressors.
Eating is a social activity - this can mean trouble for our waistlines. In fact, new research shows that women tend to eat more when feasting with other females, but not when they dine with men.
Guys, on the other hand, are unaffected by whether they dine with dudes or with the ladies. This doesn't mean men are impervious to buddy-inspired bloat, though. Past studies found that people eat more calories when someone else at the table orders seconds, and that people are more likely to be overweight or obese if they have overweight or obese friends.
The bottom line: Regardless of your gender, your dining companion can impact your weight.
The following is from WebMD the Magazine.
Nearly 800,000 new cases of diabetes are diagnosed in the United States each year. Yet many people with type 2 diabetes don’t realize they have it. Do you know if you’re at risk for getting diabetes? 5.7 million Americans have diabetes but don’t know it.
1. How old are you?
2. Are you overweight? Yes No
3. Do you have a family member with diabetes? Yes No
4. What is your ethnic background?
5. Do you exercise at least three times a week?
Answers: #1 Risk goes up with age: type 2 diabetes s more likely for people age 45 and older who are overweight. However, greater numbers of people younger than 40 – including teens and people in their 20’s are getting the disease because of rising U.S. obesity rates.
#2 Being overweight can hamper your body’s ability to use insulin properly, which can lead to type 2 diabetes.
#3 Having a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes raises your risk.
#4 Certain ethnic groups have a higher risk. Native Americans, Alaska Natives, African-Americans, Latinos, Asian-American, and Pacific Islanders are more prone to getting type 2 diabetes.
#5 Being inactive – for example, exercising fewer than three times a week – can increase your chances of developing type 2. Talk to your doctor about starting or increasing a fitness plan to get more exercise into your life.
Clarian Bariatrics can help. If you are, overweight with type 2 diabetes and have tried diet control without success call us at 317-275-7010 for more information.
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.
This operation is the most common and successful malabsorptive surgery. First, a small stomach pouch is created to restrict food intake. Next, a Y-shaped section of the small intestine is attached to the pouch to allow food to bypass the lower stomach, the duodenum (the first segment of the small intestine), and the first portion of the jejunum (the second segment of the small intestine). This bypass reduces the amount of calories and nutrients the body absorbs. It is the primary surgery performed by The Clarian Bariatric Center.
This operation can be performed either by a traditional open surgery or laparoscopically, a relatively new technology using a small video camera and a few customized instruments to perform surgery with minimal tissue damage. The Roux-en-Y technique is generally more effective in reversing health problems associated with severe obesity. Patients who have malabsorptive operations generally lose two-thirds of their excess weight within two years.
This article is just another reminder of how important it is to talk with your dietician to ensure that you are getting all the proper nutrients you need post-operatively. If you ever have a question about supplements, please call us at 317-275-7010.
Full text of this Reuters article can be found by
clicking here.
Weight loss surgery can help you lose weight, but it's also likely to leave you unable to absorb iron, a new study suggests: Iron deficiency is a common problem after stomach bypass surgery to treat severe obesity -- and standard iron supplements may not be enough to prevent it in some patients.
Researchers found that among 67 Chilean women who had undergone the most common form of weight-loss surgery, 39 percent developed low blood counts, also known as anemia, within 18 months of surgery. That anemia was most often due to a deficiency in iron, which the body needs to produce healthy red blood cells that carry oxygen.
In contrast, less than two percent of the women had been anemic before surgery, the researchers report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
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.
I'm sure we are only beginning to hear more about this special coalition of manufacturers. Some of the companies involved include General Mills, Kellogg, PepsiCo and United Supermarkets.
What do you think about this? Does it show social consciousness on the part of these businesses or are they just being reactive to negative press? It doesn't mention that they will stop selling unhealthy snacks, just that they are committed to reducing obesity...seems a bit like a Catch 22 to me.
A group of retailers, food and beverage manufacturers and nongovernmental organizations has formed a coalition to combat obesity.
The coalition announced the formation of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation Monday, with the goal of reducing obesity, especially childhood obesity, nationwide by 2015 by promoting ways to improve health in the marketplace, the workplace and schools.
The member companies and organizations – which include the Kellogg Co., PepsiCo, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and United Supermarkets – have set aside $20 million to promote programs encouraging healthy diet and physical activity among children aged 6 to 11, as well as their parents and caregivers.
Hi Everyone! I wanted to share a photo of the "Walk the Talk" group taken at the October 4 Walk from Obesity. It was a great morning, and our group had a nice time bonding in the fall sunshine. You can find more pictures on our Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/clarianbariatrics.
If you have thought about joining a "Walk the Talk" session, what are you waiting for? We meet every Friday at Clarian Bariatrics at 11:30 a.m. Remember to bring a sack lunch and comfortable clothes.
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.
I just saw this on Google News Alerts and thought it was interesting given all the recent press related to junk food and childhood obesity. Do you have school aged children? Do you think the school is now providing them with healthier options by taking away the "threat" or are they just going to get these snacks somewhere else?
A new government report finds that fewer U.S. high schools and middle schools are selling candy and salty snacks to students. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said its report was based on a survey of public schools in 34 states, comparing results from 2006 to 2008.
The study did not report the total number of schools that have changed. Instead, it looked at the proportion of schools in each state. The CDC found that the median proportion of high schools and middle schools that sell the sugary or salty snacks dropped from 54 percent to 36 percent.
The share of schools that sell soda and artificial fruit drinks dropped from 62 percent to 37 percent. The report marked a continued effort by health officials to combat childhood obesity.
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 read this article in the recent edition of the Obesity Action Coalition's e-newsletter. The first few paragraphs are below and you can view full text by
clicking here.
Alcohol abuse, obesity and depression seem to go hand in hand for many women, according to the first study to look at how the three relate to one another over time in young adults.
Dr. Carolyn A. McCarty of Seattle Children's Research Institute and her colleagues also found that almost half of the men and women in their study suffered from at least one of these problems between the ages of 21 and 30.
"That's big," McCarty told Reuters Health, and is likely only "the tip of the iceberg," because she and her colleagues used fairly stringent definitions of alcohol abuse, depression and obesity in their study.
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