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.

Los Angeles Times, 15th May 2010

As many as 17% of American children are considered obese. Prevention is obviously the best thing to do; unfortunately it is not always possible.

British journal published an article saying that, even though the rising obesity among children start to stabilise, we still do not know what works best to prevent or reverse obesity. One of the research done in 2006 states the amount of the calory intake for children. Nowadays, however, those data seem to be too conservative. Dr. Joan C. Han, from the National Institutes of Health, says new and better study has to take place in order to know how much kids’ energy needs to be burn.

Private Healthcare UK, 12th May 2010

Women who are overweight risk serious complications when they get pregnant. Weight-loss surgery is a procedure that could lower the risks, including high blood pressure and diabetes.

Researches show that women who lost weight before geting pregnant have less complication during this time and after giving birth.

585 women took part in the recent study in the United States. Most of them had gastric bypass surgery. The outcomes show 80% reduction in the risk of preeclampsia and eclampsia among women who had surgery before pregnancy as well as 74% reduction in the risk of gestational hypertension and a 61% reduction in the risk of chronic hypertension in pregnancy. All these are causes of pregnancy complications.

TVNZ, 5th May 2010

15-year old Sherri Atkin weighted over 190 kg in August last year. In preparation for the gastric band surgery, she lost 30 kg since then.

Sherri would love to start living normal life, without being bullied, not to mention health problems such as heart palpitations and breathing difficulties.

Her life will change dramatically after the surgery. It will control her apetite. The surgeon will put on her stomach through tiny incisions. The surgery will only take about 30 minutes.

“The way I put it to my patients is I am switching off your food addiction so that you can now eat the diet your body needs for rest of your life,” says Dr Schroeder who will be operating Sherri.