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.

A year after the procedure, the family members lost about 30% more of the excess weight than other patients.

This is how the leader of the study, Dr. Gus J. Slotman explains the phenomenon: “Clearly the family dynamic, even a little sibling rivalry, can play an important role in patient success. Family members are a built-in support system that can help turn a good result into a great result, particularly the first year after surgery, when adjusting to a new lifestyle and dietary requirements can be challenging.â€�

Another research shows that women tend to have fewer complications and shorter hospital stays compared with male patients. Also, still another study carried out by University of Nebraska Medical Center, showed that Latinos and Caucasians have fewer complications than African-Americans, and that younger patients do better than older ones.

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.

Only 6% of women were happy with the way they looked and 14% said they would never consider any form of cosmetic surgery.

On the other hand, 22% of women would ask the NHS for a funded breast lift after breast feeding. 43% of mothers would request NHS surgery for their children if they were bullied because of their looks.

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.

Earvin Verona’s story is similar to Bertehenine’s. He was obese as well and it affected his whole life. His life-style before the surgery was very passive and full of unhealthy food. Earvin also underwent a weight-loss surgery at the age of 16 and lost 120 pounds since. He now plays football and goes to the gym, which was impossible a few months ago.

Apart from not being able to do usual things, the teenagers are also very often ridiculed and bullied because of their weight.

“Fat kids, obese kids get picked on and ostracized. It becomes a negative cycle. They eat more because that’s the only satisfaction they get. They do less. They go out less,” ‘said bariatric surgeon Dr. Jorge Sosa.

Dr. Sosa performed the surgery on patients as young as 15 years old. He says it always should be the last resort but he also thinks this is giving young people another chance.

“You’re essentially taking a child they’re dropping out of school through shame, inability to attend school because of their weight,” says Dr. Sosa “And they’re going to do what sit at home all day long, no schooling, they’re becoming ill, diabetic, pre-diabetic etc. Those are the children that it’s worth giving them the risk of the surgery.”

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.”

In order to improve the back condition, patients should lose weight, eat healthily and exercise. All this takes time but brings great results.

Doctors encourage patients to take care of their bodies. A wealthy weight and life-style will keep back pains away.

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.

Many patients try to diet and exercise to lose weight. Those work for some, whereas the others’ weight bounces back. The statistics say there is a 95 failure rate to maintain weight loss for patients with 100 pounds overweight.

Tammy Miller confirms those sad findings. She managed to lose 135 pounds on her own but it came back quickly. She was frustrated and didn’t want to go through the same way again.

Most hospitals accept patients with BMI 0f 40 or 35 and diabetes or other health issues for weight-loss surgery. The surgery is not only a tool to weight loss but also cures or, at least improves, diabetes. Patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes are sent home with no medication after the bariatric surgery. Also other weight-loss procedures cure diabetes within few months due to weight loss.

Apart from weight loss and diabetes also other health conditions such as sleep apnea and high blood pressure.

There is a choice of different weight-loss procedures. This should be chosen accordingly to individual needs. Gastric bypass, gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy are the major ones. They all differ but they all reduce the amount of the calories absorbed by the body. Patients can expect 80% loss of the excess weigth within the first year after the surgery.

The success of the procedure depends on numerous factors: patient’s determination, diet, life-style, post-op support.