Weight Loss Surgery Channel, 22nd 2009

Last research show that patients in Canada who underwent batriatic surgery feel good, happy and are more healthy.

386 patients between 21 and 68 years old were examined by the Weight Loss Benefits survey. Only part of them managed to lose weight by the time of the survey. Three quarters of them had not reached their goal weight.

Even those results, though, gave the patients better self-esteem. It’s very good news as it means that even small results give the patients good emotions and they are more willing to keep on going.

As much as seven out of ten patients said that after the weight-loss procedure their confidence and self-esteem increased. Six out of ten said their energy level increased whereas 30% of the patients reported improvements in their sex lives.

The benefits of the weight-loss surgery are not only psychological. 58% of the patients felt improvements in overall pains and aches, their heartburn were less frequent and hypertension and remission of type 2 diabetes reduced.

Examiner.com, 15th June 2009

Obesity, epidemic of XXI century, hits especially United States of America. About two-thirds of the American population is overweight or obese.
Weight-loss is not easy. Many people, having tried more conventional methods, turn to batriatic surgery. It helps them to lose serious weight as it restricts the amount of food that can be taken. In the USA about 100.000 batriatic surgeries are taking place. The vast majority of patients (80%) are women.

The very important point is that about 50% of the women having weight-loss surgery are those in their reproductive years. They need to be aware of the fact that the weight—loss procedures affects not only absorption of fat but also vitamins, minerals and some medications, such as oral contraceptives. In consequence, many unplanned pregnancies happen among those women. Studies show that unplanned pregnancies happen especially among teenagers who had weight—loss surgery (two times more in comparison to the adolescents who did not have the surgery).

The solution of the problem can be non-oral medications. The patients can choose between depo-provera or an IUD. Other options are the birth control and the ring. These, however, contain estrogen and should be stopped four weeks before the surgery and cannot re-start before four weeks afterwards. During this time another method should be used.

Women having batriatic surgery are recommended to delay pregnancy for 12-24 months after the procedure. The reason is stabilization of their weight.

Ottawa Citizen, 3rd June 2009

The newest reports show that some patients in Canada die waiting for the weight-loss surgery. This kind of treatment is much longer than any other surgery in the country. Patients have to wait for over five years.

In the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal 12 patients died while waiting for the treatment. The average age of the patients was 46.
Patients who died suffered from obesity-related issues, such as sleep apnea, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, blood clots in the veins or deep vein thrombosis.

“It is not surprising that prolonged waits of more than five years for bariatric surgery lead to deaths among patients on the waiting list, given the devastating obesity-associated diseases that afflict these patients,” said the report.

Dr. Nicolas Christou, director of the batriatic surgery at the McGill University said weight-loss surgery cures or at least improves these obesity-related health problems. He also added that lack of the surgery on time causes or contributes to the patients’ deaths.

The problem in Canada is not only endless waiting for the weight-loss procedure but also lack of lifelong follow up for patients.

One of the most common type of surgery is gastric bypass and gastric banding. Gastric band patients need to be looked after specialists, such as dietitians, psychologists and a batriatic physician who will adjust the bands with them and make sure they stay on a diet.

Specialists say that without a proper follow up, as studies from France show, many patients do not manage to lose weight and their conditions worsen. For gastric bypass patients vitamin deficiencies can lead to paralysis if they are not detected and treated.

Studies show that about 600.000 to 1.2 million Canadians might be eligible for the weight-loss surgery.

For the right patients surgery can save life. Unfortunately only one in four patients referred to the batriatic program is considered for the procedure. Some of them have mental health problems, addictions or can’t have the operation as they are considered too high a surgical risk.

Dr. Christou says “bariatric surgery is the only treatment that produces substantial and sustained long-term weight loss for the severely obese.�