Nicholson Clinic

People cite many reasons for undergoing weight loss surgery. Perhaps the biggest, however, involves the overall health benefits that procedures like the gastric bypass can deliver. When severely obese people opt to undergo weight loss surgery, they are likely to notice health improvements that can have ripple effects throughout their entire lives. So, how does bariatric surgery address overall health? Here are just a few of the benefits people tend to enjoy as the pounds come off: • Improved cardiovascular health and endurance – Carrying around a lot of excess weight can take its toll on the heart and the entire cardiovascular system. Losing weight through bariatric surgery can reduce the pressure on the system and improve a person’s endurance in the process. People who undergo weight loss surgery generally find themselves at much lower risk for high blood pressure, heart attacks and heart disease. • Improved mobility – People who are severely obese tend to suffer from musculo

Each year thousands of people across the country make the decision to undergo bariatric surgery. While some choose this option to address the cosmetic and self-esteem issues so closely associated with obesity, the reality is most make the decision to help improve overall health. Bariatric surgery has been widely proven to help those who are obese prevent, treat and even reverse a diversity of potentially life-limiting conditions. The truth is procedures such as the gastric bypass are approved by insurance companies because they address serious medical issues that go well beyond cosmetics. While those not in the know might believe that bariatric surgery provides a way for people who aren’t motivated to diet and exercise to lose weight, these procedures can have serious health-related benefits. They include: • Improved cardiovascular health – Obesity and heart disease are tied very tightly together. When people lose weight through bariatric surgery, they are likely to witness a dr

Most people who seek out bariatric surgery do so in hopes of helping them shed a significant amount of weight with a strong likelihood of keeping it off. While procedures like the gastric bypass have been strongly proven to achieve the primary goal, researchers have uncovered a rather long list of side benefits that go beyond weight loss. People who are considered seriously obese may experience the following benefits from weight loss surgery aside from weight loss itself: • Remission or assistance with type 2 diabetes – Some people who suffer from obesity-related type 2 diabetes have experienced remissions after undergoing weight loss surgery. Studies have shown that even when remission doesn’t occur, dramatic improvements in symptoms are likely. • Improved cardiovascular health – Obesity takes a very strong toll on the cardiovascular system. Weight loss surgery can reduce the risk for coronary heart disease and stroke. Following surgery people tend to see big improvements in

People who are obese face a long list of potential health complications. From cancer and diabetes to heart disease and beyond, the connections to life-limiting conditions are many. Men may also face side effects from obesity that impact their ability to produce testosterone. This condition, known as hypogonadism, can create rather troubling symptoms for men. They include erectile dysfunction, infertility, a loss of muscle mass and other concerns. Researchers are finding that bariatric surgery meant to address obesity can ultimately result not only in weight loss, but also a reversal in hypogonadism in some cases. A recent study related to men who suffered from severe obesity and hypogonadism found very promising results following gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy procedures. Men in the study found their total testosterone levels rise as soon as one month after weight loss surgery. The reversal continued during follow-ups, as well. Bariatric surgery procedures , such as the byp

As America’s obesity problem spirals out of control, new options to help in the battle against the bulge are being introduced. An estimated third of the country’s population is currently considered obese, increasing risks for diabetes, heart disease, some forms of cancer and other complications. While obesity is a serious concern for adults, children are not immune. It is also estimated about a third of America’s young adults are considered obese. While weight loss programs and invasive surgical interventions can help some people shed pounds, that is not always the case. Diet and exercise alone simply does not help everyone. Surgical procedures like the gastric bypass are only recommended in cases where a person’s body mass index is especially high. People caught in the middle will find there are new options available to help them. One involves a much less invasive procedure that essentially mimics the effects of weight loss surgery for a measured period of time, using a balloon ins

Women of child-bearing age who happen to be obese are likely to hear their obstetricians say shedding pounds before conceiving is a very wise decision. After all, maternal obesity can increase the chances of having a high birth-weight baby while opening the door to a host of potential complications, including serious problems during delivery. Women who are eligible for bariatric surgery will find this option can help them shed pounds quickly and in a lasting way. In doing so, it also reduces the risk for many pregnancy-related complications. Researchers, however, say that it could open the door on a new one women should be mindful of: low birth weight babies. A recent study looked at babies born to women who had undergone gastric bypass procedures. The study included just under 60 newborns. A total of 23 percent were found to be small for their gestational age. Researchers also found that some of the mothers, despite the use of supplements, were deficient in such vital nutrients a

Bariatric surgery has long been proven to help those who are severely overweight shed pounds and keep them off. These procedures, including gastric bypasses and the sleeve gastrectomy, aren’t for everyone though. With strict body mass index requirements and a highly invasive nature, standard weight loss surgery is generally reserved as a last-resort option in serious cases where obesity may or already has interfered with overall health. The reality of the requirements involved for bariatric surgery leaves a lot of people who are overweight and could benefit from help out in the cold. Enter a new procedure that is mostly non-invasive and meant to target people with lower BMIs. Called the gastric balloon procedure, this new option mimics the effects of bariatric surgery without the surgery. It also happens to be a temporary measure, which means no permanent alterations of the body take place. The balloon procedure works much like the sleeve gastrectomy . It is designed to limit the

It’s well known that bariatric surgery can help people shed a tremendous amount of weight and reshape their bodies in the process. Researchers are finding this type of medical procedure may also be a fountain of youth of sorts, as well. Recent studies have shed light on changes at the molecular level that occur following surgery that may actually reverse premature aging in cells. To arrive at those findings, researchers looked at “telomeres.” These are structures that are found at the ends of every chromosome in the body. Their purpose is to protect DNA. As cells divide, a portion of the telomere’s length is lost. Once enough length is lost, cells stop dividing, which is a mark of aging. A number of lifestyle habits can increase the rate at which telomeres are lost, including smoking, poor diet and obesity. The recent study found that people who undergo bariatric surgery have noticeable changes in their telomeres. After surgery, the speed at which telomeres shorten is markedly re

Obesity has long been connected to problems related to cardiovascular health. Risks for heart disease, hypertension and high cholesterol are all known to rise right along with weight. New research indicates that people who undergo bariatric surgery to address obesity are likely to discover very good news on the cardiovascular front. Researchers have found that patient lipid profiles dramatically improve in the months following surgical intervention to address weight. That finding came out of an analysis of 178 other studies that included surgery’s impacts on lipid profiles. All told, records related to more than 25,000 patients were reviewed. Researchers found that overall patients undergoing any type of bariatric surgery benefited from significant reductions in total cholesterol levels, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides. Patients also showed a significant rise in high density lipoprotein cholesterol, which is considered the “good” cholesterol. Researchers did

As the benefits of bariatric surgery become more widely known, more people are considering this weight loss alternative. While it is quite true that weight loss surgery can help people obtain and maintain a healthy weight, this type of procedure shouldn’t be entered into lightly. Weight loss surgery requires a lifelong commitment in order for people to gain the full benefits. Some of the most commonly performed bariatric procedures involve rather invasive surgeries that alter the body permanently. The gastric bypass, for example, shrinks the stomach’s holding capacity while also rerouting digestion to reduce caloric absorption. Sleeve gastrectomy procedures, a popular alternative to bypasses, permanently shrink the stomach’s holding capacity. The end result of both of these procedures is dramatic weight loss, but that doesn’t mean patients don’t play an important role in the process. In order to gain the full benefits of weight loss surgery while also maintaining health in the pr

Doctors have a new weapon in their arsenal to fight obesity. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the use of a new and rather unique weight loss device. This device is designed to pump stomach contents into the toilet. The new weight loss device has been shown to help people lose on average more than 12 percent of their body weight. The weight loss pump involves a minimally invasive procedure. It works by inserting a tube from the stomach to a port on the outside of the abdomen. The pump is then attached to the outside port when it is needed to help emption about a third of the stomach’s contents. Clinical trials related to the pump showed that people who used it lost an average of 46 pounds in the first year. Over the second year, they lost a few more pounds to average about a 50-pound loss overall. It is estimated that about a third of all Americans are obese. This condition, if left unchecked, can lead to a wide variety of health complications. Obesity has be

People who struggle with their weight may find the lap band procedure provides them the boost they need to successfully shed pounds. This reversible option can dramatically reduce the stomach’s holding capacity. In doing so, the operation can entice people to eat a great deal less. This, in theory and practice, promotes weight loss. Lap bands, however, are not a diet in and of themselves. Those who wish to get the most from this operation will find they have to make some lifestyle and dietary changes along the way. Here are just a few tips that can help those who undergo lap band surgery get the most out of the option while maintaining good health: • Choose foods wisely – This operation shrinks the stomach’s ability to hold food. That means meals will be smaller and a feeling of fullness will come faster. To maintain health and energy, choose foods that are healthy and well balanced. Lean meats, fruits, vegetables and whole grains are great choices. • Avoid fried and overly d

There are few things more frustrating than trying to lose weight and finding out the desired results just won’t materialize no matter what steps are taken. Whether the motivation to shed pounds involves health-related concerns, appearance or other issues, making all the right moves and not seeing results can be simply infuriating. Weight loss surgery may offer the solution people need to shed weight and keep it off. Bariatric surgery is generally reserved for people who are considered severely obese, with a BMI of about 35 or higher. While some health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, may indicate surgical intervention to address weight is in order, most people will find surgeons stick with the recommendations in regard to BMI. For those who fit the qualifications for bariatric surgery, this type of procedure is considered beneficial because: • It has been proven to be very effective – While weight loss amounts may vary from person to person and based on the surgery performed

Anyone whose weight loss journey has taken them down the bariatric surgery road knows that exercise is a critical plank in postoperative care. After all, the surgery isn’t meant to be a replacement for diet and exercise. All it does is make it easier for these things to be effective. Exercise after surgery can be a real hard habit for some to develop, but it’s a critical one. Perhaps one of the best ways to work this into the routine is to make sure it’s fun and enjoyable. That means getting up, getting out and enjoying the great outdoors for many. There is simply no reason to resign to days spent indoors in a boring gym when outdoor activities do, in fact, count as exercise. Here are just a few of the benefits that can go along with incorporating outdoor exercise into the postsurgical routine: • Improved mental health – Taking exercise outdoors can still produce the positive benefits that go along with working out in the first place. Research has shown, however, that outdoor e

Thousands of people across the country have undergone bariatric surgery to help them get their weight in check and keep it that way. With the potential to lower risks for obesity related conditions and reverse symptoms in many cases should the conditions already be present, this option is growing in popularity. Some people, however, are not convinced that the risks of bariatric surgery itself are worth the rewards. Those contemplating weight loss surgery should speak directly with a bariatric surgeon to determine the best path in their unique case. Many bariatric surgery options are invasive and do come with standard surgical risks to be sure. That said, however, the potential benefits that go along with weight loss surgery often far outweigh any concerns. Here are just a few of them: • Dramatic weight loss – Weight loss doesn’t happen overnight with bariatric surgery, but it does progress on a slow and steady basis. Since many people find their effective stomach capacity is lowe

Weight loss surgery offers thousands of people each year a viable option for shedding pounds in a safe, healthy and effective manner. Although not recommended for everyone who is considered overweight, those who are severely obese may find surgical intervention offers them the most effective way to lose pounds and keep them off. While losing weight effectively is often the biggest wins for bariatric surgery patients, there are a number of other benefits that can go along with making the decision to seek out medical intervention. Here are just a few of the other wins weight loss surgery patients may enjoy : • Extra support – Weight loss is a difficult journey to take alone. Bariatric surgery patients do not stand on their own. Patients who undergo bariatric surgery will find they receive support from their healthcare team, support groups, dieticians and others involved in helping them attain their goals. The guidance, information, advice and encouragement needed to succeed in los

As obesity reaches epidemic proportions in the United States, medical scientists have been searching for new, effective and less invasive ways to help people safely shed pounds. A relatively new procedure that involves the placement of a balloon is offering a great deal of hope on this front. Called the Orbera gastric balloon, this procedure is meant to help promote weight loss in those who might not be candidates for more permanent procedures like gastric bypasses or the sleeve gastrectomy. Orbera involves an outpatient procedure that takes roughly about 45 minutes to perform. During this time, the balloon is inserted into the stomach through the mouth and then inflated once in place. The medical-grade balloon is filled with simple saline solution to take up some of the stomach’s holding capacity space. Intended to be fully reversible, the balloon remains in place for about six months and then is removed in the same fashion as it was inserted. Orbera is meant to be performed in c

Bariatric surgery has long proven extremely helpful in assisting people who are obese shed pounds safely and effectively in a lasting manner. Even so, myths about these procedures, their effectiveness and safety persist. When the facts about bariatric surgery are understood, it becomes clear why these procedures are so strongly recommended for those who are severely overweight and may be experiencing obesity-related comorbidities. Here are a few of the more common myths about bariatric surgery : • Patients only lose weight because they cannot eat normally after surgery – This is absolutely not correct. While stomach holding capacity is diminished after such procedures and patients will feel fuller faster, normal diets can be maintained. In most cases, patients work very closely with nutritionists after surgery to ensure healthy, proper eating. • Bariatric surgery is cosmetic – This is absolutely not so. This type of surgery is considered metabolic, not cosmetic. While it can p

When most people think of a serious weight loss plan to tackle obesity and prevent potentially serious, life-threatening complications, they imagine a highly active exercise routine and strict diet. While those two factors play a critical role, of course, a seemingly more passive practice can also give efforts a huge boost. Researchers are finding that meditation can serve as a critical component in an overall plan to lose weight and keep it off. Whether pounds are shed through diet and exercise alone or surgical intervention, such as a gastric bypass, has also been performed, meditation can prove very useful. The simple practice of mindfulness meditation, in fact, has been shown to deliver a number of benefits for those on a journey to lose weight and keep it off. Mindfulness meditation is a practice that involves clearing the mind of extraneous thoughts while focusing on a particular feeling or sensation, such as breathing. The practice is meant to help people develop the abilit

As an estimated third of all American adults struggle with their weight, many do so with the threat of serious health-related complications driving them forward. Obesity has been strongly linked to heart disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer, among other concerns. Those who undergo bariatric surgery to assist in weight loss may find their risk of mortality declines as pounds are shed. The mortality-related benefits of weight loss surgery were recently looked at by researchers. The goal was to determine if gastric bypass surgery had an impact on mortality rates. All told, researchers looked at nearly 8,000 patients who had gastric bypasses performed and nearly 8,000 obese patients who did not. The study found that patients age 35 to 44 were 46 percent less likely to die from any cause in the seven years following surgery than patients who did not have surgery. The numbers rose even higher for patients between the ages of 45 and 54. Of note, researchers found that younger patien

Making the choice to eat smarter, healthier and less to promote weight loss is fantastic. Carrying through on the plan, however, is often easier said than done. If it’s time to lose weight by making better choices at the table, mediation can help more than many people realize. Meditation doesn’t have to involve long sessions sitting on a floor with palm up to the air. It really is nothing more than focusing the mind on a singular point while enabling other thoughts to fleet away for a time. At the dinner table, mediation techniques can promote smarter eating while enabling some people to eat a great deal less than they normally might. Here are some tips to get started: •    Be mindful of the foods selected – Before even sitting down and digging a fork in, carefully consider the food options. Select leaner, healthier choices and only put appropriate serving sizes on a plate. •    Concentrate on eating – Once a healthy meal is served, employ mediation techniques to truly enjoy the food

Type 2 diabetics who are obese may find surgical intervention to reduce weight has a strong and positive impact on their blood sugar levels. For some, symptoms may even be reversed entirely. One of the mechanisms behind the reversal may involve the reduction of triacylglycerol evidenced in the pancreas following weight-loss surgery. Numerous studies have shown that surgical weight loss procedures can help type 2 diabetics shed pounds and better control symptoms. For some, the intervention results in the total reversal, especially if weight is shed during the first few years after onset. New studies are now shedding light on the role pancreatic triacyclglycerol may play. Researchers have found weight loss may reduce levels of this substance while improving insulin response in type 2 diabetics. Obesity is estimated to impact about a third of all adult Americans. For many, this condition gives rise to type 2 diabetes. This chronic condition is can become a progressive disease that may gi

Obesity is strongly linked to heart disease and other life-limiting conditions. Losing weight can help take stress off the heart, but researchers are finding one particular method for shedding pounds seems to have a greater impact on overall heart health than another common option. When it comes reducing levels of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I, bariatric surgery tops lifestyle interventions significantly. Those findings come from a study conducted at the University of Oslo in Norway. It was focused on learning which weigh loss method would more readily reduce troponin levels. Cardiac troponins are used to help diagnosed heart injury and to confirm if a heart attack has occurred. Its presence may also indicate low-grade damage in patients who have yet to fully develop cardiovascular disease. To uncover which method for weight loss might have a greater impact on troponin levels, researchers tracked troponin levels in a surgery group and a lifestyle intervention group. After 12 mon

Making the decision to undergo gastric bypass to address obesity is an excellent way to promote weight loss while potentially improving health in a number of ways. This surgical procedure is a major undertaking, however, that does require careful consideration and preparation. Before moving full-steam ahead for a bypass, it’s important to weigh the options for weight loss and seek out professional advice. A full medical assessment will be necessary and psychological clearance, as well, before surgery can be green lighted. Patients considering this route will also find that counseling in advance of surgery is part of the preparation process. This is required to ensure that patients fully understand the procedure, what to expect afterwards and to address any potential underlying causes for obesity, such as eating disorders. If a green light for gastric bypass is given, patients can help themselves get ready by: Making Lifestyle Changes in Advance Working in advance to address lifestyle