MSN Health & Fitness, 28th July 2010

A new study about bartiatric surgery done in the state of Michigan shows that there is a relatively low risk of serious complications after the procedure.

The report published in the July 28 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association showed the findings of Nancy Birkmeyer of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. 15,275 patients took part in the research. They all underwent one of three common bariatric procedures between 2006 and 2009. The operations were performed by 62 surgeons at 25 hospitals in Michigan.

Seattle Times, 19th July 2010

A new weight-loss surgery technique is being developed by surgeons in North Carolina. The new technique, called vertical sleeve gastrectomy, requires only one incision and is operated through the belly button.

A new Spider surgical tool is required for this type of surgery. Vertical sleeve gastrectomy cuts the stomach down to 20% of its normal capacity. The name suggests the shape of the stomach that remains after the surgery.

How is it possible for the surgeon to operate through the belly button? The Spider tool contain working arms that unfold inside the patient so that the surgeon can access the areas he needs.

The Guardian, 15th July 2010

The new research shows how much joining a support group after the weight-loss surgery helps to lose and maintain weight. It is extremely important to remind the post-op patients about their routine: walking, eating fruit and veg, avoiding junk food.

250 women took part in the study. It showed that only four yearly group sessions plus phone reminders, helped them to lose weight after the surgery and maintain it. All women managed to lose 0.2 pounds of weight in average. Women who didn’t take part in the support groups, put on 1.8 pounds.

HealthNewsDigest.com, 7th July 2010

Weigh-loss is not easy nor quick. There are numerous factors that weight-loss depends on and that influence its success.

It’s especially difficult to come to the conclusion that one actually needs to lose weight. The very thought might not be that obvious for everyone. Once it’s done, though, everyone should invest in their well-being and make sure they lead a healthy life-style.

Omaha World-Herald, 30th June 2010

Researches show that patients undergoing weight-loss procedures meet better results if a member of their family has got such an operation in the same time.

The study was announces last Friday by the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery.

It seems quite obvious now that it is more likely to succeed in the exercise routine while having a buddy rather than exercising alone. It turns out that the same mechanism works for people undergoing weight-loss surgery.

The research was carried out by the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. 91 patients from 41 families had a surgery with a relative. They were then compared to the patients who underwent the surgery alone.

Metro, 24th June 2010

Most obese people would rather put on weight even more in order to qualify for the free weight-loss surgery than follow a diet and start a healthy life-style, recent studies show.

About 1200 British women took part in the survey. 32% of them admitted that they would put on weight deliberately to be eligible for the weight-loss surgery. 28% of the women said they were depressed as they couldn’t undergo the surgery.

60% of the women who took part in the survey said they would love to have a cosmetic surgery if it was funded by the government.

CBS 4, 15th June 2010

Not only adults have got serious problems with their weight. The obesity epidemic affects also children and teenagers.

Weight-loss surgery seems extreme but some doctors think it’s a viable solution for some patients. The first step in the weight-loss battle is obviously healthy diet and exercising but they are not always efficient.

Bertehenine Gonzalez is one of those patients who tried everything to lose weight. As it didn’t work, she had a surgery at the age of 16 and lost 92 pounds since. As an obese girl, Bertehenine had breathing problems, high blood pressure and sleep apnea. She couldn’t do things other teenagers do such as running or riding a bike.

KDKA, 8th June 2010

The latest study shows that the number of back surgeries has increased in the last few years. Those types of surgeries are very risky and complex. One of the causes of this situation is that patients don’t want to get back to control their lives. They only want instant improvement.

Dr. Don Whiting from the Allegheny General Hospital said: “What we’ll see is people coming in that don’t want to try physical therapy, don’t want to lose weight, don’t want to do exercise programs, but want to have something fixed and get back to their life.”

The Tribune-Democrat, 30th May 2010

Weight-loss surgery changes many people’s lives. They can buy clothes off the rack again, climb stairs, play with their children, lead a normal life.

The statistics are shocking: one in five people are estimated to be morbidly obese. Many of them have found help via weight-loss surgery. As they admit this was something they couldn’t do much about themselves. Having tried other ways, the surgery seemed to be the one that would give the right and long-lasting results.

EmpowHer, 26th May 2010

Donna was diagnosed with menopause in the summer last year. At this challenging period of her life, she put on weight but explained herself it was a common problem of many women.

It started bothering her when heath issues started. She was diagnosed with sleep apnea and high cholesterol. She also experienced breath shortness, joint pain and some other obesity-related complications.

When Donna relised how the quality of her life changed, she decided something had to be done about it. She had a meeting with a weight-loss surgery doctor in January, and she felt relieved that there was so much she could do about her health and body.