Countless research studies have demonstrated that obesity is associated with increased cardiovascular events (such as heart attacks) and death. Now, a large study has just provided evidence that weight loss surgery can provide increased protection against cardiovascular events. A new study of more than 4000 obese individuals showed that receiving weight loss surgery was associated with a reduced long-term occurrence of cardiovascular deaths, as well as fewer heart attacks and strokes. The study was published in the January 4 issue of JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association). The data is from The Swedish Obese Subjects (SOS) study, an ongoing, nonrandomized and controlled study conducted at 25 public surgical departments and 480 primary health care centers in Sweden. Researchers looked at patients enrolled from 1987 through 2001. Of the 4000 patients, approximately half were treated with bariatric surgery and the other half was treated through standard non-surgical care, which included advice on making healthy lifestyle changes. The findings were interesting; the data indicated that patients who had surgery were 30 percent less likely to suffer from a stroke or heart attack than patients in the control group, and half as likely to die from such an event. However, the findings did not demonstrate a statistically significant relationship between weight change and cardiovascular events in either of the groups, meaning the amount of weight loss itself did not show a role in the protection against cardiovascular events. The study authors said this could be because of a lack of statistical power to show this relationship, or because there’s something about bariatric surgery itself which has an affect. They concluded that these results ” joined with the previously discovered associations between weight loss surgery and favorable outcomes regarding long-term changes of body weight, cardiovascular risk factors, quality of life, diabetes, cancer, and mortality ”show that there are many benefits to bariatric surgery. Further, some of these benefits are independent of the degree of the surgically induced weight loss.” Deciding to have weight loss surgery is a big decision that should be carefully analyzed. You can learn more about the Gastric Band Institute’s surgical weight loss program on our website or view our upcoming educational seminars.

Could certain foods be as addictive as drugs like cocaine and nicotine? Growing research is suggesting that fatty and overly-processed foods affect the brain in a manner similar to addictive drugs. So yes, Twinkies might be addictive, just like drugs.

In the past year alone, twenty-eight scientific papers have been published on food addiction, adding to the growing body of evidence demonstrating that food can be addictive. The Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse said that the data is so overwhelming that the field is forced to accept it. One of the studies used magnetic resonance imaging to look at brain activity of obese women. Pictures of milkshakes lit up the same regions in the brain that become hyperactive in alcoholics anticipating a drink. Another study gave rats a spread of fatty and sugary products including bacon, pound cake, cheesecake and cake frosting. Rats that had access to these foods for only 1 hour per day began binge eating, although nutritious food was available all day long. Other rats had access to the sweets and fatty foods for 18-23 hours per day and they became obese. The researchers saw in the rats the same brain pattern that occurs with escalating intake of cocaine.

Obesity is a growing concern in the US, fueled in part by our overly-processed food environment. With 1/3 of adults and 17 percent of children obese today, the health costs of obesity to society is massive. A 2009 study found that moderate obesity reduces life expectancy by 2-4 years, and severe obesity by as much as 10 years. Obesity is also a risk factor for diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers, sleep apnea and stroke. At the Gastric Band Institute, we understand that changing eating behaviors is a lifetime commitment, and that changing lifetime habits require education, support, and commitment. We are here to assist in making the necessary changes that can lead to better health. You can learn more about our program here.

Today the 29th national meeting of The Obesity Society featured a debate about whether or nor the FDA’s decision to approve the Lap-Band for some patients with a BMI as low as 30, was a good decision. The debate featured Dr. John Dixon arguing that it was a good decision, and Dr. Edward Livingston arguing that it was not the right decision.

Dr. Dixon highlighted the fact that in the trial the FDA required before approving the band for lower BMI’s, over 80% of the participants lost more than 40% of their excess weight. The FDA had required a minimum threshold of 30% of the participants reach this threshold, so the trial well exceeded the minimum expectations. Dr. Dixon also highlighted the safety and ease of the band surgery, and the importance of having treatment options for individuals with lower BMI’s.

Dr. Livingston argued that although he agreed that the FDA trial participants had great weight loss with the band, that the follow up was not long term enough yet to make a decision. He believes that more data should be provided, including data on the improvement of co-morbidities, which the FDA trial did not focus on.

As a gastric band expert, Dr. Jaime Ponce was asked by Doctors of Weight Loss to weight-in on the debate. He told the group, “We have gastric band studies with high level of evidence, including two prospective randomized clinical trials showing extremely good weight loss and improvement in diabetes in these patients. Other studies have documented weight loss with the gastric band in the range of 42-87% EWL at 1-5 years follow-up. Obesity is a disease, with chronic medical consequences, the tipping point is a BMI of 30, and should be treated. Bariatric surgery should be one of the options.”

You can read more about the debate, and about Dr. Ponce’s opinion here.

According to a recent article, attorneys for the soda industry have filed document requests with several public agencies across the country, stating that they are defending their products from “baseless” attacks. They are asking the agencies for scientific documents related to how soda contributes to obesity. Last month, the American Beverage Association (ABA) sued the New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, which is a major contributor in the efforts to fight obesity.

Obesity-related diseases are now responsible for nearly ten percent of United States medical spending, an estimated $147 billion each year. This figure does not include the cost of lost worker productivity, which is estimated at more than $73 billion each year. With the growing proof of how high-calorie, low nutrient foods and beverages, such as soda, are adding to our obesity epidemic, it’s no surprise that soda-makers are feeling under pressure. However, it seems that the industry may be taking an extreme step by suing public awareness campaigns that are trying to educate citizens about the harms of over-indulging in sugary beverages.

Dr. RoseMarie Jones commented on the article: “Drinking soda has been a part of the American lifestyle for decades. Interestingly, the steep rise in consumption of soda parallels the same rise in dental caries as well as obesity percentage in the last 20 years. Quite a few of the beverages promoted as ‘healthy’ actually contain huge amounts of sugar. No wonder we are seeing a such an increase in diabetes in children and adolescents.”

Diabetes is a growing concern. Many children are drinking too much soda and sugary beverages, which is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. According to data from the National Youth Physical Activity and Nutrition Study, although teens are drinking healthy beverages including water and low fat milk, many of them are also consuming soda every day. The study consisted of 11,429 high school students and found that 24% of the teens drink soda each day, 16% drink a sports drink daily, and 17% drink another type of sugar-sweetened beverage each day. Most Americans diets contain more added sugar than is recommended, and drinking sugary beverages daily is increasing teens’ risk for obesity and its associated diseases.

You can learn more about pre and post-surgical nutrition here.

We Welcome You To Our Blog!

The surgeons at The Gastric Band Institute offer the gastric band and gastric sleeve procedures as comprehensive surgical treatments to help obese people lose weight and keep it off. In addition to losing weight, bariatric surgery assists some patients in reducing life-threatening co-morbidities such as high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis and GERD (reflux).

We understand that losing weight and maintaining the weight loss over an extended period of time is difficult, but we also recognize that each individual patient has special needs. Understanding those needs allows us to promote the strong motivation and long-term commitment that are crucial to modifying eating behaviors. Our staff recognizes that altering lifetime habits requires education, emotional support and commitment. We will help you to make a decision that will modify your eating behavior and assist you in making the necessary lifestyle changes that can lead you to better health.

Making the decision for the best surgical option is a difficult one. We invite you to explore our pages to decide whether you are a candidate for lap band surgery in Tennessee and whether we are the program for you. With our practice located in Chattanooga Tennessee, we have also performed lap band surgery for patients in Atlanta GA, Knoxville TN and all surrounding areas. More >>