A short read from the New York Times that I wanted to share with you all.
Children born to women who had bariatric surgery for obesity may face a lower risk of severe obesity themselves, a study suggests.
The study, of 111 children born to 49 mothers who had a type of weight-loss surgery called biliopancreatic diversion, found that babies born after the operation had lower birth weights than those born before, and their risk of becoming severely obese as children was one-third the risk of those born before. Only 11 percent of the children born after surgery were severely obese, compared with 35 percent of the others.
Children born after the operation also had better cholesterol levels and improved insulin sensitivity, indicating they might be less likely to develop heart disease and diabetes later in life, the researchers found.
Two notes of caution about the paper, to be published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism: The findings are based on observation of the children (the study was not randomized and controlled), and bariatric surgery can lead to complications like anemia, malnutrition, loss of bone density and, rarely, death.
An author of the paper, Dr. John Kral, a professor of surgery and medicine at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, said the benefits to the children might be due to metabolic and hormonal changes in the wombs of women who have had the operation.
I see post bariatric surgery patients several times a week at
Clarian Bariatrics as a physician assistant to Dr. Samer Mattar, and Dr. Don Selzer. During my visits, I have the privilege of hearing how we have changed our patients’ lives. I wanted to share with you a few of the things I hear from our weight loss patients all the time!
The most frequently made comment is about the increase in energy that almost all of our patients have. Prior to obesity surgery the majority of our patients’, complain about how fatigued they are. They have no energy to get through day-to-day life. Cooking, cleaning, chasing children all of it is more exhausting than their energy allows.
Post surgical patients are amazed, thrilled, and grateful for the change in their energy levels. Not only are they now able to do all the day-to-day chores of life but since they have had their bariatric surgery they have an abundance of energy for all of the fun and entertaining things they missed out on before.
Are you ready to reclaim your life with weight loss surgery? Then join us at a FREE informational session where you can learn about Indianapolis bariatric treatment options and meet with Indiana surgeons. Click on the image at the right of this post for more information.
A very important article for all post-operative patients and those individuals considering weight loss surgery. At Clarian Bariatrics our team of expert dieticians and Indianapolis bariatric surgeons will work closely with you to monitor your progress and ensure that you are getting all the necessary nutrients.
However, the most important part of this article is the last sentence:
"Don't skip checkups, where doctors monitor bone health, and aggressively treat nutrient deficiencies."
The few few paragraphs are below and full text of this
weight loss surgery related article from the
Associated Press can be found by clicking on the link.
It isn't just the thunder thighs that shrink after obesity surgery. Melting fat somehow thins bones, too.
Doctors don't yet know how likely patients' bones are to thin enough to break in the years after surgery. But one of the first attempts to tell suggests they might have twice the average person's risk, and be even more likely to break a hand or foot.
The Mayo Clinic's finding is surprising, and further research is under way to see if the link is real. But with bariatric surgery booming and even teenagers in their key bone-building years increasingly trying it, specialists say uncovering long-term side effects and how to counter them takes on new urgency.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
It doesn’t matter what time of the day, the rules don’t apply anymore. Just because it is breakfast time are we are supposed to consume “breakfast” type foods? What exactly does that mean?
Since my Indianapolis weight loss surgery, I find that it doesn’t matter what time of day it is but what I am consuming! My breakfast of champions may be my leftovers from dinner the night before.
The main focus is of nutrients for patients who have undergone morbid obesity surgery is protein! If your meal is full of protein the rules of eating it at a specific time of day no longer apply. There is nothing wrong with eating breakfast type food at dinner time or dinner type food at breakfast time. Be creative with your foods and try new things!
What types of foods are you consuming? Have any protein packed recipes you’d like to share?
If you have questions, please feel free to contact me confidentially and directly at bariatric@clarian.org or 317-275-7010/877-275-2555.
I get asked many times about post-surgical pain. Some weight loss surgery patients are amazed at how great they feel, while others ask me why nobody warned them they would be in so much pain.
Unfortunately, we have no way of predicting YOUR post-surgical pain. We give pain medication in the hospital including the On-Q pain relief ball attached to your upper most incision site through two catheters. Bariatric weight loss patients are also given a liquid pain medication for home use following discharge from the hospital.
Abdominal pain or tenderness, especially at the larger incisions, is common since these incisions have stitches through the muscle. Most morbid obesity surgery patients feel it especially while moving, bending or while turning in bed.
This is common and can last for about one to two weeks. It will, however, improve gradually on a daily basis. Most patients feel tired for up to four to six weeks due to residual anesthetic and the healing process. This is why we ask you not to exercise until after this period following surgery.
Many patients ask me what is a Physician Assistant?
Physician assistants, or PAs, are health care professionals licensed by the federal government. We are credentialed to practice medicine with physician supervision. As part of our comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery and write prescriptions.
Within the physician-PA relationship, physician assistants exercise autonomy in medical decision making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. A PA's practice may also include education, research and administrative services.
Do you have a question about bariatric weight loss, weight loss surgery, causes of obesity, morbid obesity surgery or obesity medical problems? Then leave me a comment below and I will be more than happy to answer them for you!
Where do I begin? The questions are always plenty. Do I feel different? You must feel like a new person? How did you deal with that weight loss? You have lost a whole person. Yes that is true, but honestly the only answer to give is one pound and one day at a time.
You cannot view your weight loss surgery success by the way other people view you. I often tell people that I am still the same person as before surgery. We all have different reasons for pursuing a bariatric weight loss solution to our causes of obesity and mine was very basic. I could no longer do the things I wanted to do with my children.
I wanted to be able to run, play and keep up with two very active preteens and now I can. Obesity surgery affects the entire household. You may be dropping the pounds, but are you dealing with the changes all around you.
Support groups are fantastic, a buddy system, reading and asking questions are great. Believe me, no one here at Clarian Bariatrics is surprised or taken aback by questions, and no question should go unanswered. When you fail to ask the staff the questions, you may not have a correct answer. For an overweight person the questions often draw attention to themselves and we have avoided attention for years.
I'm going to be posting bits and pieces of my story of the next few weeks, so check back to learn more about me and my journey. Also, do not hesitate to ask me any questions about health problems with obesity and morbid obesity surgery. I'd love to help.
I am posting part two of Jennifer's discussion on the importance of calcium post-operatively for bariatric weight loss surgery patients. If you have additional questions about nutrition after morbid obesity surgery, please do not hesitate to ask! Calcium citrate is the preferred form of calcium post-operatively. After surgery,
Clarian Bariatrics recommends 1500 mg calcium citrate with Vitamin D per day, which is to be taken after meals in 500 mg doses three times/day. The body can only absorb around 500 milligrams of calcium at one time thus taking the whole 1500 mg of calcium at one time is not an option.
In addition, multivitamins/prenatal vitamins can not be taken with the calcium supplements as iron and calcium compete for absorption in the body. A two hour window of time between taking the calcium and multivitamin is recommended to assure maximum absorption.
If you’re having difficulty taking the calcium pills there are chewable forms of calcium citrate available. However, chewable forms are not available in the store at this time but there are special order companies such as
Celebrate Vitamins or
Bariatric Advantage that offer chewable calcium citrate.
If you have questions regarding your calcium supplementation, please call the dietitians at the Clarian Bariatrics. We'd be more than happy to help!
How do you know if Indianapolis Gastric Bypass surgery is right for you? There are many non-surgical treatments for people suffering from Obesity Related Problems and only a physician from Indiana Bariatric Centers can properly determine the right course of action for you.
Bariatric surgery is often consider when a patient has a body mass index of 40 or more or if you have a BMI of 35 and other weight related health problems like diabetes or arthritis. Gastric Bypass weight loss leads to lower blood pressure and other obviously beneficial outcomes.
Keep in mind that one may still be obese or overweight after Gastric Bypass Surgery as it takes several months - or years - to achieve a healthy weight depending on the individuals weight before surgery.
Because you will only be eating a few ounces of food at a time, expect some dramatic changes to your lifestyle that will contribute to a healthier you. Nutrition for patients of morbid obesity surgery will need to take vitamins and supplements and of course avoid high calorie sugary drinks.
Our Indiana bariatric doctors offer consultations and advice to those seeking help. Attend one of our upcoming FREE informational seminars to learn more. Simply click on the image at the top right of this page. See you there!
Gastric bypass is typically the most common Indianapolis weight loss surgery. At Clarian Bariatrics we hold weekly seminars where you can meet Indiana Bariatric Surgeons and other prospective patients to discuss all of your weight loss options including gastric bypass surgery and bariatric surgery financing.
The procedure itself consists of dividing the stomach in two parts, then connecting the upper stomach directly to a section of the small intestine. Gastric Bypass is basically bypassing a large section of the stomach and small intestine fewer calories are absorbed into the body.
Come hear one of our Indiana Weight Loss Doctors speak about morbid obesity surgery during one of Clarian Bariatrics monthly information seminars. Check the upper right hand corner of this blog for more information.
Problems caused by obesity can include diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep apnea, and depression. Indiana weight loss doctors say that anyone 100 pounds or more overweight is morbidly obese.
For many in Indianapolis Gastric Bypass surgery might be a solution. The best weight loss programs are not fad diets but are programs that are professionally or medically supervised. In addition to Indianapolis Weight Loss Surgery, a program should help you establish healthy behaviors that change the lifestyle and helps you focus a lifetime of weight loss.
Talk to your family doctor if weight loss surgery is a good option for you or come hear one of our Indiana Weight Loss Doctors speak about morbid obesity surgery during one of
Clarian Bariatrics monthly information seminars. Check the upper right hand corner of this blog for more information.
I recently had someone ask me which weight loss surgery procedure is performed most often at Clarian Bariatrics. After doing some checking with Terri, she told me that about 85 percent of our cases are roux-en-y (RNY) gastric bypass surgeries. The remaining 15 percent is made up of Lap Band surgeries.
But, what's the difference between these two types of bariatric surgery? Well, besides differences in how the surgery is performed, the Lap Band has only been growing in popularity over the last five years once the FDA offered approval of this type of morbid obesity surgery.
While Indianapolis Bariatric Centers will choose the best surgery for the patient, the majority of physicians at Bariatric Surgery Centers are RNY surgeons. Recovery time is about the same for both procedures, but the patient expectations for each will be slightly different.
If you have additional questions about gastric bypass weight loss, gastric bypass surgery cost or Lap Band procedures, please consider attending one of our FREE informational sessions on Thursdays and Saturdays throughout the month. You can click on the icon on the top right of this page for dates!
A lot of people in our seminars ask Indiana weight loss doctors about Lap Band surgery as an option at Clarian Bariatrics.
Lap Band is a restrictive surgery that works by physically restricting the stomach size which then slows down digestion. Normally, a stomach can hold about three pints, after obesity surgery the stomach can hold as little as one ounce and eventually grow to two or three ounces. Indiana weight loss doctors can council you during one of our weekly Indianapolis Weight Loss Surgery seminars and help you determine which option is right for you.
Like anything there are pros and cons with Lap Band surgery versus other forms of morbid obesity surgery like stomach stapling. The pros of lab band (gastric banding) can be that it's a simpler procedure, recovery is often faster and it can be reversed unlike other weight loss surgery. The con's of Lap Band surgery can include lower weight loss and the potential to gain your weight back over the years.
The best bet for anyone considering weight loss surgery is to talk to our Indianapolis bariatric surgeons and other patients past and present at one of our FREE seminars. Look on the upper right of this weight loss blog for more information on Clarian Bariatrics FREE informational seminars.
This afternoon I was in a meeting with my marketing counterparts from all Clarian Health hospitals and it is exciting to see all the opportunities we will be able to offer the communities we serve in 2009!
With many free screening opportunities and fun-filled events on tap, 2009 will be a great year to take control of your health and focus on creating a new you! In a few weeks, I am going to post the story of John Barnes, CEO And co-owner of Panther Racing. John underwent morbid obesity surgery about a year ago and he has made remarkable progress.
John will be the focus of our upcoming advertising campaign and I cannot wait to share his story with you, as I think it will resonate. In the meantime, do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you have about Indianapolis bariatric centers, bariatric surgery centers or Indiana weight loss doctors.
Stay dry!
There is nothing better than good laugh on a cold, snowy Tuesday. I just shared a great laugh with Debbie Tibbs, one of my fellow bloggers. She was telling me a post she has been working on about her experience with gastric bypass surgery and how her Indiana weight loss story is progressing.
What I love about Debbie is she just tells things like they are and her enthusiasm and kindness is contagious. Tomorrow I will post her "musing" about the aftermath of morbid obesity surgery that had me laughing hysterically. Check back tomorrow!
Also, Debbie is looking great. I'll have to get her to share some pictures soon!
Often times when someone is preparing for morbid obesity surgery, they have a lot of questions related to risks and possible complications once the surgery is complete. Some weight loss blogs touch on these subjects, but it is crucial for people to be aware of everything that could possible happen and how they will be treated while under care at a bariatric surgery center.
One common question and concern for clinicians is the risk of a blood clot. Did you know that most everybody is at risk for getting a deep-vein thrombosis (otherwise known as DVT or simply a blood clot)? You have an increased risk for getting a blood clot if you are pregnant, obese, a smoker, traveling or just had surgery. A blood clot is concerning because if a blood clot travels to the lungs this can cause a pulmonary embolism, which can be a lethal event.
In everyday life the way to prevent blood clots is to walk frequently throughout the day. In the hospital we encourage our patients to do the same thing; walk frequently (every two hours). However we take this a couple of steps further by applying sequential compression devices to our patients legs while they are in bed so this will help with the circulation of blood in the lower extremities; we also give our patients an injectable form low molecular weight heparin to make the blood less sticky so blood clots will be less likely to occur.
If you have any questions related to blood clots or other questions about weight loss surgery, please do not hesitate to post a comment and I will get back to you.
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