October 29, 2008 at 6:58 am | Surgery News
What you do after bariatric surgery may be just as important as the surgery itself.
We have written about this before, but a new survey underscores the importance of proper follow-care after a bariatric weight-loss procedure.
The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive, a research company, on behalf of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). The group surveyed 208 patients who underwent gastric bypass and 201 who had some kind of gastric banding surgery.
The results should noted by anyone who is planning to have a bariatric procedure. The patients who followed the doctors guidelines after bariatric surgery lost 35 percent more weight during the first year following their procedure. They also tended to keep the weight off after a period of several years.
What does this mean? Well, according to this one particular survey, you will likely loose more weight after your bariatric procedure if you closely follow your surgeon’s advice. This includes follow-visits, your diet after surgery, proper exercise, etc.
Regular exercise and improved eating habits are two of the most important changes bariatric patients have to make after their weight-loss surgery procedures. These are also two of the areas surgeons say their patients struggle with. A lack of exercise and bad eating habits are typically what lead to the weight problems in the first place, so it can be difficult for some patients to change these habits — but it’s critical that they do.
One of the recommendations mentioned in the press release associated with this survey is to standardize the type of care given to patients after bariatric surgery. According to Alan Wittgrove, a former president of the aforementioned ASMBS: “[Patient] follow-up care tends to vary from bariatric program to bariatric program … there is a need to standardize follow-up care so patients achieve the best outcomes.” Sound like a good idea to me.
Related article: Life After Weight Loss Surgery
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October 8, 2008 at 6:40 am | Surgery News
We have been looking into a new, somewhat experimental form of weight loss surgery known as the Toga procedure. We first heard about it just a few days ago, through an article that appeared on NBC News affiliate websites across the country.
According to that article, doctors at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in California are performing the so-called Toga procedure as a form of non-invasive weight loss surgery. The goal of this procedure is similar to other bariatric — to staple off part of the stomach, thus creating a small “pouch.” This reduces the patients appetite and stomach capacity, which in turn leads to weight loss.
But the big difference with the Toga procedure is the entry point. Instead of making an incision in the abdomen, the surgeon goes in through the mouth. No incisions necessary. A flexible surgical tool is passed through the mouth and down into the stomach. Doctors use the tool to staple part of the stomach, creating the small pouch.
I would like to stress that the Toga procedure still appears to be in the experimental stage (at the time of this update), so there’s not a lot of information out there about it. After reading the news story, our research led us to the Cedars-Sinai website. There, we found some information about this clinical study. We wrote up a summary of our own, based on publicly available information, and have added it to the articles section of the website.
Learn more here: TOGA Procedure Weight Loss Surgery
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October 6, 2008 at 1:39 pm | Surgery News
Insurance coverage has long been an issue for those seeking bariatric weight-loss surgery. Traditionally, most insurance companies have viewed as bariatric surgical procedures as an elective surgery, and would therefore not cover the procedures.
Over the years, however, an increasing number of insurance companies have begun to cover weight loss surgery. According to new research released in September, companies could actually save money in the long run by insuring bariatric procedures.
The study was published last month in The American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC). A research team of economic experts and bariatric surgeons reviewed the insurance claims of nearly 4,000 patients of weight loss surgery, comparing them to the claims filed by obese patients who did not have surgery. The researchers claim that insurers save money in the long run by cover bariatric surgeries, because the overall health care costs of the patient decreases in the years following the surgery.
While the logic behind this study would seem to make sense, you must also consider that is was funded by Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., a Johnson and Johnson company that manufactures the Realize Band for bariatric surgeries. Hardly an unbiased study.
Related Articles:
Will Insurance Cover Weight Loss Surgery?
The Cost of Bariatric Surgery
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October 6, 2008 at 7:38 am | New Article
We have been working hard lately to improve this website. Many of the improvements are functional in nature, so you may not even notice them. Here are some of the things you will notice:
Improved Search Tool - We have updated the search tool that you see in the sidebar area to the right. It works better now, and it contains an index of every single page on this website. So if you’re looking for specific information on weight loss surgery, that’s the best place to start!
Article Organization - We reorganized the main articles page so that the content is grouped into categories. All articles are listed under general weight loss surgery info, gastric banding, bypass surgeries, etc. This way, you can skim down the page to find the type of content you’re after.
New Content - We will be posting weight loss surgery news on a more regular basis now. We have the people and tools in place to ensure that this website always offers the latest news, information, studies and breakthroughs on the subject of bariatric surgery. We are also adding new content to the articles section, such as this new piece about the risks of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
Do you have suggestions? We welcome your input. Send any questions or comments to webmaster@bariatriclearningcenter.com.
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October 5, 2008 at 3:31 pm | Surgery News
According to a story released through Reuters on Wednesday, there is new research to suggest that weight loss surgery might be bad for the bones of patients.
Specifically, the research shows that patients of weight loss surgery actually lose bone density after their procedure. The more weight the person loses, the more bone density is lost.
The research was conducted by members of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. It has long been known that weight loss surgery reduces the patient’s ability to absorb nutrients from food. The new evidence goes even further to suggest that weight loss surgery could reduce bone and mineral metabolism. This problem leads to the weakening of bones over time.
The study followed 23 patients (both men and women) who had the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure. After their weight loss surgery procedures, the patients took in 2.6 times more vitamin D than before the surgery. Despite the increased, the level of vitamin D in their blood remained low. The level of calcium in their blood actually dropped. The physical symptoms of this reduced calcium absorption began to show about three months later, symptoms that included a decrease in bone density.
Related article: Bariatric Vitamins - A Patient’s Guide
SOURCE: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, published online July 22, 2008
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