Tag Archives: gastric bypass surgery

Everything You Need to Know About Probiotics

There’s been a lot of buzz about probiotics lately, and they seem to be showing up everywhere whether it’s in supplements, yogurt, smoothies or even ice cream! So what’s the big benefit and what do you need to know about them? We put together a question-and-answer guide to give you the 411 on probiotics!

What Are Probiotics?

Probiotics are live organisms, such as bacteria and yeast, most of which are similar to the healthy flora that we naturally have in our guts. Probiotics are naturally found in some foods like yogurt and kefir, along with other foods that are fermented such as miso, tempeh and sauerkraut. You can also buy probiotic supplements.

Why Are Probiotics Helpful?

Although there isn’t a lot of concrete research on this, doctors believe that having the right — or wrong — balance of bacteria in your stomach may play a role in digestive issues, obesity, immunity, eczema, and possibly even help with common childhood ailments such as strep throat, ear infections, colds and diarrhea, along with helping with food allergies.

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Posted on June 13, 2023 by Jennipher

Oprah Inspires 100 Viewers to Lose Over 100 Pounds

Oprah's Ultimate Weight Loss Challengers shared their weight loss progress along with many other inspired Oprah guests on the May 10, 2024 episode

It is possibly one of the most famous moments in Oprah history. What am I talking about? I’m referring to the time when Oprah wheeled out 67 pounds of fat to represent the amount of weight that she had lost. Now, in her final season, Oprah dedicated her entire May 10 episode to weight loss, food addiction, emotional eating, and the 100 Oprah viewers who have each lost at least 100 pounds.

The first viewer whose story we saw was Sandra, a 5’2″ mother who weighed 240 pounds at her heaviest. Sandra admits to being an emotional eater who used food to comfort her in moments of sadness, frustration, or doubt. When she was 40-years old, she thought she was having a heart attack. The episode turned out to be a panic attack, but her doctor told her that a heart attack was in her near future. Sandra was afraid of working out, but when she saw a sports bra on the Oprah show, she was motivated to try ice-skating as a form of exercise. She has lost 106 pounds since then. Sandra placed third in a skating competition and is much happier and healthier now.

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Posted on May 11, 2023 by Health Buzz

Gastric Bypass Superior to Lap-Band

A new study examined the two of the most popular weight loss surgeries, Lap-Band and gastric bypass, has come to the conclusion that gastric bypass is the better option. While the rate of complications in both procedures was about the same, gastric bypass surgery patients lost 64 percent of their excess weight after a year, while those who had the Lap-Band device placed only lost 36 percent of their excess weight.

“It’s a dramatic difference,” said Dr. Guilherme Campos of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine in Madison.

Interestingly, previous studies have shown that gastric banding was safer than gastric bypass surgery. (more…)

Posted on March 1, 2024 by Jason

Body Contouring After Weight Loss

By Alicia Rose

The body contouring procedure normally follows extreme weight loss due to diet and exercise over the course of one to two years or gastric bypass surgery. Body contouring after weight loss is the combination of a lower body lift around the buttocks, groin, hips and thighs, mastopexy (breast), brachioplasty (arms) and adominoplasty (abdomen), and all of the surgeries are normally undergone in stages. Each of the individual procedures accounts for a anesthesia, facility or hospital, and surgeon’s fee, in addition to post-surgery garments, prescriptions and pre-surgical medical lab testing.

Throughout these procedures, the patient’s loose and sagging skin will be removed and the surgical areas will be cosmetically restructured and contoured. The skin is surgically cut away and remaining skin is connected and closed with dissolvable internal sutures and external stitches that are removed about a week or two after your surgery, or skin adhesives and surgical tape. Often, a drain is applied by inserting a tiny tube under the skin to collect excess fluid. Following the procedure, bandages are applied to the incision sites. Surgical areas are normally also wrapped to minimize swelling in compression garments.

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Posted on January 17, 2024 by GuestBlogger

Gastric Bypass in Women Increases Risk of Birth Defects

U.S. mothers give birth to more than four million babies a year. Approximately 2,500 of those infants are born with neural tube defects, such as spina bifida.

Dr. Diana Farmer from Benioff Children’s Hospital in San Francisco is cautioning young women from undergoing gastric bypass surgery. Besides the obvious risks and side effects, a new study has shown a possible link between the surgical procedure and spina bifida in babies.

Often times, patients who have gastric bypass have difficulty absorbing nutrients. This could be a very dangerous side effect if the woman ever plans to have children. While in utero, the fetus gathers all nutrition from its mother. If the mother is malnourished, the fetus will be as well. Malnutrition greatly increases the risk of birth defects. (more…)

Posted on October 22, 2023 by Theresa

More Obese Teens Turn to Gastric Band Surgery

Update: Our resident mental health expert, Brooke Randolph, LMHC, weighs in on the topic in a featured story at Yahoo Shine: Teen Weight Loss Surgery Unhealthy for Many Reasons.

There is some alarming news coming from a new study: Overweight teenagers are undergoing laparoscopic gastric band surgery in increasing numbers, even though the procedure is not approved for anyone under 18 years old.

Researchers examined a database of bariatric surgeries in California, and found that gastric band operations increased seven-fold from 2005 to 2024. They also found that 590 people between 13- and 20-years-old underwent gastric band or gastric bypass surgery during the study period.

Another point noted was that 93 percent of the weight-reduction surgeries were performed in hospitals that are not affiliated with nationally recognized children’s hospitals.

While “manufacturers have touted the banding procedure as less invasive, many [medical] centers have abandoned gastric banding because of poor long-term results,” say the study’s authors. (more…)

Posted on October 1, 2023 by Jason

Allie Ishcomer Puts Herself First After Biggest Loser Elimination

Before Biggest Loser, Allie Ishcomer was not her number-one priority. Everything else that surrounded her was. These days, Allie says she “put myself first and fight for my own self.” Down more than 60 pounds, primarily on her own at home, she says she doesn’t concern herself with the scale number. Instead, she’s more occupied with how she feels and looks, and right now, it’s pretty good!

Having only spent one week on the Biggest Loser ranch, after earning her spot in a challenge in Oklahoma City, she was eliminated in what could be called the first sign of game play in season 10. She says her fellow contestants saw her as a threat and being below the yellow line with Tina presented a good opportunity for them to get rid of her. “It is what it is,” she says about the fact that she had the highest body fat percentage in the house, a factor that likely swayed votes against her.

Allie talked to us after her elimination about putting school and work aside for the moment and making her health her full-time job. She also told us what her diet and fitness regimen look like now, which includes a favorite apple and peanut butter snack. Listen now!

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Posted on September 29, 2023 by Natalie K

South Carolina to Cover 100 Employees’ Weight Loss Surgeries

Starting in January, 100 obese South Carolina government workers will have a chance to get their weight loss surgery completely paid for.

Yahoo News reports that under the pilot program, South Carolina’s state employee insurance plan will cover weight loss surgery for 100 workers on a first come, first serve basis.

The test program was put in the 2024-11 budget to address the state’s growing obesity problem. The obesity rate in South Carolina has doubled since 1990, with an alarming 30 percent of adults classified as obese. According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly two out three adults in South Carolina are overweight or obese. (more…)

Posted on August 24, 2023 by Kelly

Al Roker to Speak About Weight Loss on Today Show

**UPDATE: Al Roker talks about his diet and 10-year weight loss and maintenance on the January 3, 2024 episode of the Today Show. Watch the video to learn more and hear about his new book, Never Goin’ Back.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Al Roker is probably the most famous meteorologists in the U.S. He has been a part of the MSNBC Today Show family since 1996 and with the NBC family since 1978 when he was part of a local station in Cleveland.

Having watched Al Roker over the years, he has certainly made quite a drastic change in his appearance with his substantial weight loss. Having tried and failed at numerous diets to lose weight, which at 5’5” and 320 pounds was a huge health risk, Roker decided to undergo gastric bypass surgery in 2002. Through the weight loss surgery, which essentially reduces your stomach to the size of an egg, he netted out with nearly a 100 pound weight loss. Like many celebrities, he was featured on the cover of People magazine, showcasing his weight loss story.

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Posted on June 2, 2023 by Amy

C.H.O.I.C.E. Campaign Takes Weight Loss to Washington

Is obesity a choice or a disease? Can it be both? Proponents of designating obesity as a disease say that it is a result of genetics and biological factors. On top of that, some diseases cause obesity.

But, opponents say that obesity is not a disease because it is the result of a person’s environment, lifestyle and eating habits.

Disease or not, one thing is sure: obesity is an epidemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that there were 72 million obese people in the United States, and 34.3 percent of adults considered obese.

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Posted on May 30, 2023 by Jason

Carnie Wilson Partners with The Fresh Diet and Dr. Oz

UPDATE 12/02/10: Carnie Wilson was fired as spokesperson for The Fresh Diet due to weight gain and promoting her own cheesecake business.

Carnie Wilson, daughter of beloved Beach Boys singer Brian Wilson, is a mom of two daughters. In the spotlight from a young age, her weight has been a much commented upon subject. The star of the GSN show Carnie Wilson: Unstapled, Wilson had gastric bypass in the 1990s when she was over 300 pounds. Her weight fluctuated since, hindered by a 70-pound weight gain in her first pregnancy and 60 pounds in her second. Describing herself as a life-long sugar addict, she says that she never learned to eat correctly and used her pregnancies as a convenient excuse to eat the foods she wanted.

Now she’s partnering with Dr. Oz and Fresh Diet, a food delivery company, to lose the extra weight in a healthy manner. Wilson says that she’s struggled her entire life with good diet choices. (more…)

Posted on March 2, 2024 by Carmen