Nicholson Clinic

Losing weight is a common goal. Why do so many struggle to accomplish it? It’s almost time to start thinking about New Year’s Resolutions again. This is a time that many dread. Every year it seems there is one goal that appears on the list relentlessly: weight loss. It seems easy enough. YouTube videos will say to eat a certain amount of calories to maintain a certain weight, or they’ll say taking a specific workout class will change your life. If it were so easy, why does it seem impossible year after year? Mindset Usually, people will go into a weight loss plan wide-eyed and optimistic . They feel on top of the world, ready to get up at 6 A.M. every morning for a run. They write out meal plans and grocery lists, skipping the potato chip aisle like it could give them the plague. However, life begins to get in the way, and the rose-colored glasses break much quicker than anticipated. So, what’s the solution? Accountability Accountability is just as important as resilience wh...

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...

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 inv...

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...

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...

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...

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...