Nicholson Clinic

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 ver...