Nicholson Clinic

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 gastr...

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...