Nicholson Clinic

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...