Sunday, June 10, 2007 12:13 AM CDT BY CHRISTINE KRALY

The handful of nickels, dimes and cash in Angie and Darryl Cobb’s plastic bank may not be worth much.

Just their lives.

Over the last year, the Lake Station couple have collected the change during their nightly walks around the neighborhood. The money was found on walks they never thought they’d take and will go toward a vacation they never imagined planning.

Last year, the Cobbs underwent bariatric, or weight-loss, surgeries. Angie, 45, had laparoscopic, or Lap-Band, surgery; 47-year-old Darryl had a gastric bypass.

According to the American Society for Bariatric Surgery, almost 178,000 morbidly obese people in the U.S. had procedures in 2006.

“I was killing myself,” Angie said.

For the couple, last year was time to stop the killing.

The tipping point

As a general contractor, Darryl would get a lot of confused looks from clients. You can’t be the one going up on my roof, they’d say.

For many people, walking five ladder steps carrying shingles might be easy. While out on a job in 2005, Darryl, who weighed 444 pounds, couldn’t do it.

“I just made up my mind,” he said. “I was going to do it. I was ready to pop.”

He had struggled with his weight since childhood. He remembers sixth grade, when he couldn’t climb trees like the other boys or wear the same cool clothes. He shopped in the husky section.

“I missed out on so much,” he said.

Angie never worried about weight in her youth. But after she got married, she began gaining, at one point weighing 305 pounds. She joined Darryl in a vicious, but common, cycle of yo-yo dieting.

“In my life, I’ve probably lost 1,000 pounds,” he said. “You lose 50, gain 60.”

The turmoil affects more than your body, Angie said.

“You feel like a failure,” she said.

They’ve found success in their surgeries.

Patients benefit most when they follow up regularly with doctors and nurses, said Dr. Paul Stanish, who performed the Cobbs’ surgeries at Methodist Hospitals.

Methodist doctors have performed more than 600 such surgeries, and officials stress with each patient the importance of getting “the best bang for their buck after surgery,” bariatric coordinator Donna Kettle said. “They need to make each bite count.”

Angie’s bites now come in three, smaller meals a day. Uncapping a new water bottle, the self-proclaimed “Diet Pepsi-holic” condemned soda carbonation and touted the elliptical at the gym.

She has whittled to 193 pounds.

“Holy cow, I’ve lost four of you!” she recalls telling her young, 20-pound nephew.

At his heaviest, Darryl’s tool belt was really two belts clipped together. He has since dropped one of them, as well as 240 pounds.

Healthier and closer

Pill bottles no longer litter Darryl’s truck. He no longer carries aspirin or the arthritis pain reliever Vioxx, which he popped to alleviate knee and ankle pain.

Now, he takes vitamins.

“I feel like a 20-year-old,” he said.

But he’s not 20, and his body knows it because he suffers from occasional joint pain.

“I’m reminded that I carried around an extra 300 pounds,” he said.

When you’ve lost that much weight, your mind and body play tricks on you, the couple says.

For Darryl, balance has been an issue, and his feet feel different. His nurses are helping him not slouch so much.

He still finds himself scooting over turnstiles, now needlessly. Angie is getting used to fitting into a restaurant booth.

As Angie and Darryl’s waistlines shrank, their bond grew.

Before their surgeries, shared entertainment for the couple — who have been married 25 years — was limited to watching television, reading or going out to dinner.

“Now, we’re doing things together,” he said.

Walking is a favorite pastime, even if it means something as simple as choosing the mall parking space farthest from the door. They had special jackets made with reflectors for dark, late-night strolls. Ballroom dancing could be next.

As they plan a vacation to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, they’ll look to include parasailing, something Darryl’s been itching to try.

“But when you’re a 5X, you don’t get a wet suit,” he said.

He sounds almost angry when he talks about his years of weight struggles. He and his 18-year-old son, Clif, were cheated, he said.

Clif likes seeing his parents happier and healthier. Their newfound focus on better eating has trickled to his own plate, he said. But he confesses, “I miss potatoes.”

The Cobbs now are excited for something Darryl never envisioned in his lifetime: grandchildren. Darryl was certain he would die by 58, like his father.

Years ago, a doctor told Angie she should worry more about a heart attack and less about the cancer that runs in her family.

“I missed out on a lot with my son,” Darryl said. “I want to play. I want to get on the floor and wrestle.

“We can be the fun grandparents,” he said. “We have a whole lot to look forward to.”

http://nwitimes.com

Business Wire

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c55891) has announced the addition of “Cosmetic Surgery Market Report 2007″ to their offering.

The UK cosmetic surgery industry is dynamic and growth levels are at a record high: the number of procedures, surgical and non-surgical, soared by 42.4% in 2005 and this report estimates that, in 2006, this increased by a further 53%. In 2006, the total UK cosmetic surgery was worth an estimated GBP 528.9m, a rise of 47.4% on 2005.

For the purposes of this Market Report, cosmetic surgery is divided into five sectors: procedures on the face/neck area; those on the breast area; procedures on the lower-abdomen area; other surgical procedures; and non-surgical procedures. In terms of value, face/neck area procedures accounted for the largest share of the market in 2006, although it is estimated that non-surgical procedures experienced the largest growth, closely followed by those on the breast area. In volume terms, non-surgical procedures were dominant.

Socio-economic factors are driving demand for cosmetic surgery. Low unemployment and increasing disposable incomes have led to a widening in the consumer base for procedures. In addition, easier access to borrowing has meant that consumers from social grades other than the AB group can see cosmetic surgery as a realisable investment. Demand is also coming from younger groups and breast augmentation, in particular, is increasingly an option for women in their 20s and 30s. In addition, more men are shifting their attitudes towards surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures: in 2005, 11% of all procedures were performed on men.

The cosmetic surgery market is also being driven by the astonishing speed of technological advancements, particularly in non-surgical procedures. Increased sophistication in laser technology is a strong trend and combined treatments involving the use of a number of different types of non-surgical treatment — injectables and peels, as well as the use of cosmeceuticals — is an increasing feature of the market. In terms of surgical procedures, demand in facial surgery, in particular, is being boosted by advancements in minimally invasive techniques, which are encouraging more women to opt for the so-called `lunch-time lifts’. Recovery times are shorter and consumers can often be back at work shortly after fairly major procedures.

The future looks strong for the cosmetic surgery industry. Major players have plans to expand, particularly in the area of non-surgical procedures, and, with the backing of strong regulation, the industry looks set to continue strong levels of growth. Although the market is not in the league of the US cosmetic surgery industry, attitudes towards self-improvement from across the Atlantic look set to pervade the culture in the UK for years to come.

 http://www.genengnews.com/news/bnitem.aspx?name=16710811

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) May 3, 2007 — A study published in a recent issue of the medical journal Surgical Endoscopy found that vertical sleeve gastrectomy is an effective surgical option in certain medical circumstances when compared to other laparoscopic procedures.

The study, conducted by Dr. Crystine M. Lee, Dr. Paul T. Cirangle, and Dr. Gregg H. Jossart, of the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, follows 216 patients who underwent vertical gastrectomy(also known as the sleeve gastrectomy). The mean patient age is 44.7 years, and 173 patients (80%) were female. The mean body preoperative weight and BMI (body mass index) was 302 lbs, and 49, respectively.

The results of the study indicate that vertical gastrectomy weight loss surgery achieves significant weight loss, comparable to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and duodenal switch and superior to the LapBand®. The advantage of vertical gastrectomy is that it does not present the technical surgical challenges of the duodenal switch or the significant morbidity rate, which has been reported in duodenal switch to be as high as 23%. Additionally, vertical gastrectomy operations were shorter in duration than the duodenal switch and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedures, and vertical gastrectomy patients had, on average, a shorter length of stay (1.9 days) versus the duodenal switch (3.2 days) and Roux-en-Y (2.8 days) patients.

Dr. Gregg Jossart, one of the study’s co-authors and a surgeon at the Laparoscopic Associates of San Francisco, indicated that while more research is needed, the initial findings on vertical gastrectomy are very encouraging. “Vertical gastrectomy is a reasonable solution to the problem of super-obesity. It can usually be done laparoscopically, even in patients weighing over 500 lbs. The gastric restriction can cause these patients to lose more than 200 lbs, allowing significant improvement in health and resolution of associated medical problems such as diabetes and sleep apnea. It is also emerging as an excellent option for lower weight individuals who are considering the LapBand®.”

http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2007/5/emw523493.htm

EASYBAND is a more advanced and telemetrically operated band that can be adjusted without the need of an access port or the use of needles. It is a mechanical gastric band in which the adjustment is achieved by means of an embedded micromotor controlled by an external control unit using telemetry. This new band is a remarkable development in band technology offering the following adjustment advantages : no port or needles required, no risk of access port infection, much more accurate, painless and with no risk of fluid leakage from the band.

However, in February this year the company responsible for its development, Swiss medical technology developer  EndoArt SA  was taken over by Allergan,  the U.S medical giant who also manufacture the traditional  gastric band system. Allergan anticipates seeking U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the device following completion of clinical studies that will be conducted in the United States, but meanwhile those European bariatric clinics who have been offering Easyband as a less painful and intrusive solution to the problem of band adjustment have been forced to withdraw this option to their patients, – certainly for the foreseeable future, – until Allergan makes the technology available again. Patients looking for effective bariatric surgery without the hassle of adjustment and hard to locate band ports may look to Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy as a more satisfactory solution.

http://www.endoart.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=category§ionid=5&id=20&Itemid=58

Morbidly obese undergoing the lesser known less invasive laparoscopic gastric banding surgery (LGBS) show improvements six months after surgery.

WASHINGTON -  A new study examining the overall and gender-related effects of laparoscopic gastric banding surgery (LGBS) on insulin resistance, body composition, and metabolic risk markers six months post-surgery has found significant improvements in insulin resistance.

he improvements occurred despite continuing obesity. 

The results are from the study entitled Insulin Resistance, Metabolic Risk Factors and Body Composition Six Months after Laparoscopic Gastric Banding Surgery.  Joan F. Carroll, Department of Integrative Physiology and Susan F. Franks, Departments of Family Medicine and Psychology, University of North Texas Health Science Center; Adam B. Smith, Laparoscopy, Bariatrics, and Surgery, and David R. Phelps, Radiology Associates of Tarrant County, Fort Worth, TX conducted the investigation. 

http://www.the-aps.org/press/journal/07/29.htm

Diabetes warningThe rising rates of child obesity could be creating a ‘ticking timebomb’ for teenage diabetes, experts warn.29-05-2007
In tests around the world, scientists found alarming levels of diabetic complications among adolescents.

The increasing prevalence of Type 2 diabetes among young people could lead to a ‘serious public health challenge’ in years to come, they wrote in The Lancet medical journal.

Read the full story at: – http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html

By Tan Ee Lyn

HONG KONG, May 29 (Reuters) – Babies who are born heavy and grow fast have a 150 percent chance of being overweight or obese by the time they are seven years old, a survey of more than 8,000 children in Hong Kong has shown.

Obesity has long been associated with a person’s lifestyle and dietary habits, but the study shows it might just as well be dependent on “epigenetics” — factors such as genes, and the eating habits and lifestyle of parents and grandparents, said researchers at the University of Hong Kong.

“You tend to assume it’s just your lifestyle, but what people are realising is it’s not just what you are doing now, but what people have done in your family in the past,” said Mary Schooling, assistant professor at the university’s School of Public Health.

New born infants would be considered heavy if they weigh 3.65 kg (8 pounds) and over.

Excess weight and obesity pose major risks for chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, stroke and some forms of cancer.

Globally, more than 1 billion adults are overweight, of which 300 million are obese, said the World Health Organisation.

And the problem is not confined to advanced nations in the west. In China, Japan, certain African nations, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong, childhood obesity is on the rise. In China, 10 million children aged between 7 and 18 were overweight in 2000, up 28 times from 1985.

Some experts explain this using the “thrifty gene” theory. Assuming a frugal environment from as recent as the 1950s and 1960s, the Asian constitution is programmed to store fat. But faced with sudden affluence, it is less able to cope and the person ends up obese and assailed with health problems.

The west, however, adapted to an environment of plenty over a far longer period, starting with the industrial revolution from the mid 18th century.

TRACKING A GENERATION OF CHILDREN

More than 8,300 children born in April and May 1997 in Hong Kong are involved in the long-term study and researchers plan to monitor them for the rest of their lives.

The scientists tracked their development at birth, 3 months, 9 months, 36 months and 7 years.

About 800 children in the study are now overweight or obese.

Boys at 7 years with a body mass index of more than 17.9 are considered overweight, while a BMI of over 20.6 would be obese. For girls, a BMI of over 17.53 would be overweight and more than 20.5 obese.

“What we have shown here is that babies who are born big and who have grown fast have a higher risk of being overweight or obese at age 7,” Schooling said.

“The key point is to make sure that babies grow at a reasonable rate. That can be achieved most effectively by ensuring they are breastfed.”

Experts say breastfeeding helps prevent overfeeding. Schooling and colleague Gabriel Leung said a child’s body size may well be dependent on a host of other factors. “It has to do with the mother’s diet, her lifestyle, even the grandmother’s living environment … it has to do with the life course of your parents, grandparents,” Leung said.

“Perhaps our grandparents lived in scarcity, they may have the biological imprint for the baby to prepare for scarcity. But there is excess now, and the human body has no time to prepare for this change … that’s why our diabetes rate is so high.”

The researchers plan to interview parents and grandparents of the group children to see if their body sizes are linked to dietary and lifestyle habits of the older generations.

Further ahead, these children would be monitored for health problems that tend to appear later in life, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. 

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/HKG48570.htm

There’s a study in this month’s journal ‘Plastic Surgery Nursing’ from the University of Florida reporting on several indices of patients’ self-image improvements after breast augmentation surgery.

The study included 84 women who were 21 to 57 years old, assessing their perceptions of self-esteem and sexuality before and several months after cosmetic breast augmentation. Responses were recorded with two widely accepted scientific scales to measure self-esteem and sexuality, which assess domains of sexual function, such as sexual arousal, satisfaction, experience and attitudes.

The average self-esteem score increased from 20.7 to 24.9 on a 30-point scale, and their average female sexual function score increased from 27.2 to 31.4 on a 36-point index. Of note, after the procedure, there were substantial increases in ratings of sexual desire (a 78.6 percent increase from initial scores), arousal (81 percent increase) and satisfaction (57 percent increase).

The study’s author is Dr. Cynthia Figueroa-Haas CRNP, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Florida’s College of Nursing

[23-01-2007] By Ilya Marritz

Now some economists say it’s time for the Czech Republic to fully cash in on the price advantage, and specialize in medical tourism. Tomas Sedlacek, is chief economic strategist CSOB bank, and a former advisor to President Havel.

Lately he’s been talking up the idea of medical tourism, and says there’s a great deal of interest – from people in government, from doctors, and from other economists.

“You can make a very nice deal for foreigners. You know if you want a hip replacement you can either wait for 60 days in your home country or we can fly you to the Czech Republic first class. You can spend two weeks after the operation at a spa. We’ve done in our heads calculations and rough estimates, even if you do this it’s still half price of what it would cost in Western Europe. So for local insurance this would be good thing especially at first while prices are still low and people are not used to coming here for their medical care.”

You might call it reverse exploitation. It’s not simply westerners taking advantage of the low prices in the east, it’s the Czech healthcare system taking advantage of how much Western Europe’s health insurers, and private clients, are willing to pay.

“If we instead of shipping doctors to foreign countries, ship foreign patients here, we gain in many respects. Firstly, the good doctors stay here, secondly, the economy will profit, not only healthcare but the whole economy – the tourist industry because there will be other services joined to this core business.

From Czech radio 23/1/07 http://www.radio.cz/en/article/87525