Nicholson Clinic

Bariatric or weight loss surgery has been used to combat obesity, and a presentation at Obesity Week 2017 concluded that bariatric surgery can be performed on patients older than 60 and with similar results. The analysis showed that even at three years after follow up, 367 patients with an average body mass index of 46.9 had managed to shed 60 percent of their excess weight and within a year had reduced their number of daily prescriptions by 3.1 on an average. •    Complication rate: The studies show that the 90-day mortality rate was 0.3 percent and the major and minor complication rate was 5.6 percent and 16 percent, respectively, compared with those of younger patients. •    A go ahead: With the rise in obesity and health problems in America, the results of the study are encouraging for even older patients to opt for bariatric surgery and have a chance to improve their lives and without much fear. The study comprised of 190 patients who had laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, 11

Recent studies have revealed that bariatric surgery can have a positive, long-term impact on patients who take regular insulin and suffer from type 2 diabetes. Data of more the 250 patients were studied and represented the largest medical series with the longest follow-up date currently. The results were shared at Obesity Week 2017 by Ali Aminian, MD, associate professor of surgery at the Cleveland Clinicin Ohio. •    What do the reports say: The studies show that seven years after their bariatric surgery, around 44 per cent of the patients could discontinue using insulin with their glycemic numbers at the desired level. Discontinuing the use of insulin is a significant progress in a patient’s life and improves not only life quality but also saves in medical expenses. The patients who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy, were also seen to have improved their blood pressure and lipid profiles. Shanu N Kothari, MD,  director of the minimally invasive bariatric sur

Weight loss surgery is an excellent option to lose unwanted fat in the long run, but before you decide to go for weight loss surgery, you should learn more about it.Check on all the benefits you get after the surgery as well as the risks involved with it.There are many changes and adaptations you will have to make which may include a complete lifestyle change along with new eating habits. Types of Weight Loss Surgery There are three typical types of weight loss surgeries: •    Gastric Banding Surgery This is the simplest of all three types of surgeries. In a Gastric Banding surgery, doctors make your stomach smaller in size by putting a band on the top of the stomach, dividing it into two pouches. The contraction in theoverall size of the stomach creates a significant smaller size. This surgery is not recommended for people under 18 years of age. •    Gastric Bypass Surgery In a gastric bypass surgery, your stomach is divided into two pouches and connected with the small intestine. Th

You hear about it every other day. Gallbladder removal has become one of the most performed surgeries throughout the world. The gallbladder is an organ (looks like a pear), which is located beneath the liver. The purpose of this organ is to store a digestive fluid called bile. The bile breaks down the fats that get absorbed and secreted by the body. Some of the bile hardens and turns into little deposits of gallstones. Sometimes, these gallstones get stuck inside the pipe of the small intestine. Most of the time, we are clueless to the fact that we might have gallstones. Although, gallstones don’t need any such treatment, there are chances that they may cause a gallbladder attack. If someonesuffers from agallbladder attack, it might occur for a few painful minutes or last for a few hours. The sufferer might even be needed to be taken to the hospital. That’s why it is considered wise and sensible to be wary of the signs and indications as it canpotentially lead to a risky medical cond

Losing weight is a tough job and only a person who follows a strict diet year round knows the struggle of dealing with the cravings they have all day. A research study reveals that about ninety-five percent of the people who follow strict diet plans have the tendency to regain approximately 10 pounds after five years of quitting the diet. Why does that happen? It is true that your commitment and motivation towards losing weight really matters and it actually shows remarkable results if you work hard to get to your ideal body weight. However, in some cases, your metabolism and genes don’t let you meet your targets no matter how religiously you follow the diet plans or how regularly you hit the gym. Various diet plans don’t include the essential calories and nutrients that are needed to regulate our metabolism,which results in quick weight regains as soon as we discontinue the plan. Go for Weight Loss Surgery ! Weight loss surgery is a solution to get rid of unnecessary pounds to lead a

Unfortunately, Type 2 diabetes is a common lifelong disease that has affected millions of people worldwide. Besides trying to control diabetes with diet, prescribed medicines are used to keep the patient’s sugar levels in control. Unfortunately, many patients believe that the only way to deal with diabetes is by living on medicationfor the rest of their life. Recently, Lancet published a paper that stated a study showing that a cure for diabetes can be obtained through weight loss. “Time” reported that the researchers in theUK made the discovery that Type 2 diabetics who lost weight, had a period of temporary recovery. The study was undertaken by making half the patients, between the ages of 20 and 65, follow a strict 6-month diet and not the other half. Results showed that the group that followed the 6-month diet plan lost not only 30 pounds altogether, but also were no longer diabetic. None of them had taken their diabetic prescriptions during the course of this study.  The 6-month

With obesity at epidemic proportions across the United States and beyond, bariatric surgery is emerging as a very viable option for treating the concern. While there are many weight-loss procedures available, two in particular tend to be among the most popular: gastric bypass and the sleeve gastrectomy. Although both are identical in their goal to help people shed pounds and keep them off, there are some differences patients need to be aware of. The gastric bypass is considered the gold standard in bariatric surgery. This procedure involves the creation of a small pouch at the top of the stomach. This restricts the amount of food a person can consume. Once created, the pouch is connected directly to the small intestine, which allows food to bypass the lower stomach and the first segments of the small intestine. In doing so, the procedure limits the amount of calories the body will absorb from meals. The sleeve gastrectomy involves reducing the size of the stomach’s holding capacit

There have been many headlines recently about the benefits bariatric surgery may have for helping people control or eliminate certain health-related concerns. From diabetes and cardiovascular disease to hypertension, the potential improvements that may be realized after weight-loss surgery are promising. New research is shedding light on another condition weight loss surgery may have profound impacts on. It seems that surgery may not only help prevent osteoarthritis if obesity is a concern, but it can also improve symptoms if the condition is already present. The study in question involved more than 27,000 adults who underwent bariatric surgery between 2006 and 2015. Researchers found that people who were able to attain a body mass index of 30 or lower within a year of having surgery reported marked improvements in many conditions. Arthritis was one of the comorbidities tracked following surgery, but it was not the specific focus of research. Clinicians behind the study say the p

Bariatric surgery is a tremendous tool for helping people lose weight. It is meant, however, to help make dieting and exercise more effective. Procedures like the gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy do not stand in place of smart, healthy and carefully planned out diets. People who want to make sure the weight they’ve lost after such a procedure stays off will need to follow some rules of the road to enjoy lasting success. The results of a recently completed study provide great insights into what it takes to enjoy long-term success after weight loss surgery. The study followed patients over the course of 10 years after weight loss surgery to see what practices, if any, promoted greater long-term success with maintaining weight loss years after procedures were performed. The study’s results offer excellent insights into why it is some post-surgical patients regain as much as 25 percent of the weight they’ve lost within 10 years of a procedure. Researchers ultimately found patients wh

With an estimated third of the American population considered obese, it’s not surprising that weight loss is a very big industry. New devices, gadgets, diets and exercise plans all meant to help people lose weight seem to pop in and out of favor all the time. While fads come and go, bariatric surgery remains one of the only approaches that is proven to provide sustainable and significant weight loss support for people who are considered severely obese. Procedures such as the gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy have also been proven to help address such related concerns as heart disease and diabetes. While the benefits of bariatric surgery are very well-known and highly publicized both inside and outside of the medical profession, patients may wonder if doctors really do recommend these procedures to their patients. A recent survey of healthcare providers, including a diversity of specialties such as family medicine, found that answer to the question was a resounding yes. Of the mor

Obesity is a serious health concern that is estimated to impact about a third of the American population. Strongly linked to diabetes, some forms of cancer, heart disease and a long list of other serious illnesses, tackling obesity once and for all is a priority for many. While surgical weight loss procedures have shown tremendous results in helping those with obesity lose weight and keep it off, invasive interventions are not recommended in all cases. When they’re not, a relatively new non-surgical alternative may offer the assistance people require to jumpstart weight loss efforts. Called the Elipse Balloon, this procedure provides temporary weight loss assistance that can help put people on a path to long-term success. The balloon procedure is rather unique. It requires an outpatient visit to a doctor during which a little pill is swallowed. The pill has the balloon inside and a catheter attached to it. Once the pill is in the stomach, the catheter is used to fill the balloon wi

Type 2 diabetics seeking ways to bring their blood sugar numbers under control may find their doctors recommending gastric bypass procedures if obesity is also a concern. More studies are showing that this particular form of bariatric surgery can have a big impact on the symptoms of type 2 diabetes. In some cases, the procedure may promote a reversal in symptoms entirely. A recent study in the United States added to the growing body of evidence supporting the use of gastric bypass procedures in obese type 2 diabetics. The study found that people who underwent this procedure or the comparable gastric sleeve, were more likely to have their diabetes symptoms under tight control than patients who underwent intense medical therapy to address diabetes. Many, in fact, were found to be in remission at the five-year mark without the need to take medication or insulin to control blood sugar levels.  Although not a panacea, the disparity in control levels found in the surgical group versus

As obesity remains at epidemic levels across the United States and elsewhere, bariatric surgery has become a mainstay in helping those who are morbidly obese shed pounds effectively. While many new treatments, both surgical and not, have been introduced in recent years, two main procedures are still the most popular in the United States. The gastric bypass and the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy have been around for a while, but together account for more than 90 percent of all bariatric surgical procedures performed. Both operations are designed to help people who are deemed dangerously overweight lose pounds while offering long-term maintenance assistance. Although permanent in their effects on the body, the two procedures are favored because of the long track records of proven success they hold. The two procedures have the same basic aim, but do go about it in slightly different manners: •    Gastric bypass – This procedure involves a two-step process that is designed to alter the

Not everyone who might benefit from weight loss surgery can obtain it. Costs, side-effect concerns or the physical inability to endure a surgical procedure may simply take this option off the table for some. A relatively new alternative, may offer the help some people need to gain control of their weight once and for all. The endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty procedure is designed to mimic the sleeve gastrectomy without the invasiveness of surgery. This procedure is performed using an endoscope instead of a scalpel. Much like the gastrectomy, gastroplasty shrinks the stomach’s holding capacity. Instead of removing portions of the stomach to achieve the goal, the procedure involves cinching the stomach in order to reshape it. The end result is a stomach that is shorter and narrower, much like the outcome of the gastrectomy. Since it is performed using an endoscope and a special suturing device, there is no need for incisions. The gastroplasty procedure has been approved for use by the FD

It is estimated that nearly a third of American children are considered obese. Just under 10 percent of kids ages 12 to 19 are described as morbidly or extremely obese by their healthcare providers. With Body Mass Indexes of 40 or higher, these youngsters are at very high risk for developing serious medical complications generally associated with adults much earlier in life. Diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea and high cholesterol may all be dangers for the very young who are considered severely overweight. In addition, life expectancy for obese youth tends to be much lower as a result of those potential complications. Children with BMIs of 55 to 60, for example, may see their life expectancies fall by 13 years or more. As the obesity epidemic continues in America, more families are turning to weight loss surgery to assist their children in shedding pounds and keeping them off. Some procedures are available to assist teens in getting and keeping their weight in check. When exploring t

When it comes to weight-loss surgeries that are known to produce dramatic and often very lasting results, there are two major options: the gastric bypass and the sleeve gastrectomy. While the bypass has long been the gold standard for producing the results those considered morbidly obese need, the sleeve is fast gaining in popularity. Although similar in its aim and the results produced, the sleeve gastrectomy tends to be a little less involved. That fact is one of the driving forces behind this procedure being selected by patients and their doctors at a growing rate. The sleeve gastrectomy and bypass are both designed to shrink the stomach’s holding capacity. In doing so, these procedures make it very difficult for people to overeat. In the sleeve procedure, the shrinking involves the surgical removal of roughly 80 percent of the stomach. What is left behind is a small, banana-shaped pouch. It’s that pouch that gives the procedure its name. In addition to providing a way to promot

People who are obese, but aren’t ready to consider permanent surgical options may have a new avenue open to help them shed pounds. A relatively new procedure that is completely reversible, minimally invasive and requires no cutting or stitches is making very big waves in the weight-loss community. Known as the Orbera gastric balloon, this alternative to a gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy has been producing tremendous results for people committed to following through with major dietary and lifestyle changes. The gastric balloon is designed to essentially mimic the effects of more dramatic procedures by temporarily shrinking the size of a person’s stomach. To achieve this, the balloon is inserted into the mouth, through the esophagus and into the stomach. Once in place, the balloon is filled with a saline solution that enables it to expand to about the size of a grapefruit. The balloon is kept in place for about six months, providing portion control as it does. Rather than involve

Obesity in teenagers is becoming a rapidly growing problem in the United States. Just like their adult counterparts, teens who are obese face a long list of potential health complications. This is compounded by the fact that teens’ bodies are still growing, hormones are raging and social stigmas that might make adults cringe tend to be even more amplified at this age. Considering all the potential ramifications of obesity on younger people, it’s not uncommon for families to seek out safe, healthy ways for their teens to address obesity head on. Research is showing that weight loss procedures can help teenagers address serious obesity, but it’s important for parents and teens to understand the option isn’t a panacea. A number of studies have found that teens who lose weight using procedures like the gastric bypass can and do shed a tremendous amount of their excess body fat. Other studies have found that procedures can have long term benefits while also helping teens lower their risks

Each year thousands of people make the decision to address serious obesity head on by undergoing bariatric surgery. This decision can help people lose a dramatic amount of weight and keep it off while enabling them to potentially safeguard health. One common concern for those who have undergone surgery, however, involves gastrointestinal complaints. There are steps doctors say patients can take to avoid such complaints while enabling them to enjoy all the potential benefits that go along with surgery. To enjoy the best possible post-surgical experience without concerns such as gas, discomfort or problematic stools being issues, it is recommended that people: •    Work closely with a dietician pre- and post-surgery – To ensure proper nutrition, it is vital for patients who undergo procedures like the gastric bypass to work with dieticians to address dietary concerns both before and after surgery. Many bariatric surgeons will also have patients work with counselors in advance of surgery

Adults are not the only ones who struggle with weight. Obesity is estimated to impact about a third of the American population, including children and teenagers. For those who are young, obesity can set them up for a lifetime of health-related concerns in addition to the social stigmas they might face. Considering the potentially grave ramifications obesity may have for teens, researchers have been exploring the benefits bariatric surgery may hold for them.  Multiple studies have shown that bariatric surgery can help teens who are severely obese shed weight and keep it off. One long-term study was conducted that followed nearly 60 teens who underwent gastric bypass procedures. After eight years, the teens had lost on average about 30 percent of their initial weight. The teens in the study group also showed significant drops in such concerns as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.  While the benefits were clearly noted, researchers also uncovered points that show ba

When serious joint problems and concerns about obesity are both present, researchers say addressing one concern before the other can have a positive impact on the overall outcome. Studies have found that patients who are obese and require total joint arthroplasty tend to fare better following replacement surgery if they’ve undergone bariatric surgery first. One of the more recent studies that dove into the benefits of losing weight before undergoing joint replacement involved more than 5,000 morbidly obese patients who needed total joint replacement surgery. About half the group underwent bariatric surgery first while the other half did not. A small group of less than 2,000 patients who needed hip replacement surgery were also studied, as well. Researchers ultimately found that patients who addressed weight first had significantly lowered complication rates following replacement surgery. They also reported increased quality of life following both procedures while also enjoying incre

Getting weight under control isn’t always as easy as some make it out to be. When diet and exercise alone fail to provide the necessary results to address obesity and help improve overall health, bariatric surgery may be recommended. Often considered an option of last resort for helping those who are obese shed pounds and keep them off, bariatric surgical procedures have a long and proven history of producing results.  People who explore bariatric surgery and other medical interventions to address obesity will find there are a number of options available. The following three surgical procedures are among the most commonly performed for people who suffer from serious obesity: • Gastric bypass – This procedure is the most involved, but it is also the most popular because of the dramatic weight-loss results it procedures. It involves reducing the stomach’s holding capacity while also rerouting the digestive track to limit the body’s ability to absorb calories. • Sleeve gastrecto