Nicholson Clinic Blog

As if anyone needed yet another reason to lose weight, significant evidence suggests that obesity and overweight play an important role in cancer. Research has clearly established an increased risk for kidney cancer in both men and women and endometrial cancer and postmenopausal breast cancer in women. In addition, evidence is suggesting that excessive weight can contribute to an increased risk of colorectal cancer, gall bladder cancer, and even thyroid cancer. Links to esophageal cancer and prostate cancer are being reviewed, but there are no known conclusive results. Too few studies have been conducted for other types of cancer at this time.

The news isn’t all bad, however. Being overweight may be somewhat protective against some cancers, although studies appear inconclusive as well. Why does weight affect cancer risks? Many trials are being conducted to determine those answers, and the mechanisms underlying the obesity-cancer relationship isn’t fully understood.

According to the American Cancer Society, however, cancers linked to obesity among women comprise about half of all new cancers diagnosed and about 14 percent of new cancers in men. Studies also point out that normal-weight individuals have an overall higher recovery rate without complications and a lower mortality rate. Of course, many other reasons can be contributing factors and weight alone isn’t a reason unto itself. But what can’t be debated is that being at your recommended body weight and maintaining an active lifestyle tips the scale in favor of a healthier and happy life for the long term.

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Anyone could guess that obesity causes an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes, but according to a recent study described on HealthDay, rapid loss of knee cartilage can be directly linked to being overweight, which can then lead to Osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is not something that is only present in elderly people. The fact that it is not common in younger people merely points to the fact that it takes time to develop. Being overweight can speed up one’s risk of developing the disease.

The study was lead by Dr. Frank W. Roemer, an adjunct associate professor at Boston University and co-director of the quantitative imaging center in the department of radiology at Boston University School of Medicine. Being overweight was associated with rapid cartilage loss, Roemer’s team found. In fact, for every one-unit increase in body mass index, the chances of rapid cartilage loss increased 11 percent.

The association between obesity and rapid cartilage loss remained even after taking into account age, gender and ethnic background.

“We know that weight loss is probably the most important factor to slow disease progression,” Roemer said. “Additional studies will have to show if other measures, such as vitamins or targeted treatment of bone marrow lesions, will help to slow progression,” he said.

“Don’t let yourself get heavy,” Scully said. “This study shows a direct correlation — people who are heavy are the ones that are getting worse,” he said.

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While weight-loss surgery has typically been targeted to obese adults who have not been able to lose weight through dieting or exercise, a growing number of teenagers are having lap band surgery to overcome obesity.

In addition to helping teenagers overcome problems associated with obesity such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and sleep apnea, the surgery also helps teens develop an improved self esteem. In recognition that solving problems related to obesity when a person is young improves health and lessens medical needs in the long run, more and more insurance companies are covering the procedure.

Having weight-loss surgery is still considered an option of last resort for teenager. The first recommendation is dieting combined with increased exercise. Certain medications can also be considered. But when weight-loss surgery is agreed to, the result can be life-altering for a teenager or young adult physically as well as emotionally, and start a path toward healthy eating and living.

Teens considering weight-loss surgery should receive counseling as well as nutritional guidance about eating choices and how their food consumption and sedentary lifestyle will need to change after a surgery in order to keep the weight off for the rest of their lifetime.

Teens and their parents are invited to attend one of our upcoming free seminars to learn more about the procedures and whether weight-loss surgery is something worth considering.

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13% of American adults have it, and 40% of them don’t know it.

Diabetes is sometimes called the gateway disease because it can lead to so many other health complications. Here’s a look at the effect diabetes, left unchecked, can have on your body:

• Brain – Depression strikes 15% to 20% of people with diabetes, making it difficult to follow the healthy-living recommendations that help keep the condition well-managed.
• Eyes – High blood glucose levels (and high blood pressure, common in people with diabetes) can damage the tiny sensitive blood vessels in the eyes, leading to vision loss and blindness.
• Heart – People with diabetes are twice as likely to develop heart disease and stroke than those without diabetes. They also tend to develop these problems at younger ages than other people.
• Stomach – Poorly controlled diabetes can lead to damage in the nerves that help control digestion. Gastroparesis occurs when food lingers in the stomach longer than it should, causing heartburn, bloating, nausea, and vomiting.
• Digestive System – Nerve problems caused by diabetes can cause changes in digestion, bowel and bladder function, as well as urinary tract infections.
• Kidneys – Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney failure, responsible for 44% of cases. With kidney failure, the body can not rid itself of waste. While kidney failure builds gradually over many years, ultimately people need either dialysis or a kidney transplant to treat it.
• Sexual Organs – Both men and women with diabetes may see changes in their sexual response, and between 35% and 50% of men with diabetes develop erectile dysfunction.
• Legs – Diabetic nerve damage can lead to pain in the thighs, hips, and buttocks and cause weakness in the legs.
• Hands and Feet – About 60% to 70% of people with diabetes develop nerve damage, most commonly in the hands and feet, causing pain or loss of sensation, the latter of which can result in open sores, ulcers and infections of which the patient is unaware.

Dr. Nick Nicholson says that “it’s not uncommon for people to be off all diabetes medications within three months after weight loss surgery. Some people don’t need medication less than a week after bypass surgery.” He goes on to say that “The bottom line is, as things stand right now, the only effective treatment we have for diabetes in obese patients is weight loss surgery.”

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Sleep apnea describes episodes of not breathing for a period of time that can last more than 10 seconds while sleeping. For some individuals, sleep apnea episodes can occur hundreds of times per night, which results in a greatly diminished and profoundly affected sleep cycle. During these periods of not breathing, levels of oxygen can plummet to dangerously low levels and result in irregular heartbeats and even death. Individuals with sleep apnea are also more prone to heart attacks and strokes. Since studies often estimate that more than 20 million Americans suffer from some degree of sleep apnea, it is a concern that should not be dismissed.

There are two basic types of sleep apnea: central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea occurs in about 10 percent of patients and is due to the brain failing to cause muscles used in breathing to respond properly while sleeping. When reaching dangerously low oxygen levels, your brain causes you to wake up and breathe, which is a cycle repeated throughout the night.

The more common type of sleep apnea is called obstructive sleep apnea. This refers to the airway becoming obstructed by the tongue, tonsils, uvula, or even fat tissue in the neck, which can result in the cutting off of airflow and the resulting snoring.

Not surprising then that about 95 percent of individuals who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea or overweight or obese. Many have large necks. The cycle of snoring and awakening can lead to exhaustion, morning headaches, low energy, shortness of breath, and body pains — not even referencing the sleep disruption it causes to a spouse or anyone living in the same house as the person with the affliction.

Weight loss is the single most effective solution to treating sleep apnea. Getting your body back to a healthy weight through proper food consumption and exercise can allow you to sleep more effectively and as a result feel and look better throughout the awakening hours. Other solutions can be to avoid alcohol, sedatives, and certain medications (although you should consult with your doctor before making any change to your prescriptions).

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If you need yet another reason for considering weight loss surgery to lose weight and achieve a healthier lifestyle , how about avoiding type 2 diabetes, a potentially-devastating disease?

There are two major types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Type 2 is a form of diabetes that usually develops in children or young adults but can occur at any age and is insulin-dependent and type 2 usually occurs in people over 40 who are overweight, although it is increasingly occurring in younger people – particularly adolescents – due to a national obesity epidemic. It is non insulin-dependent. While genetics can play a role in getting diabetes, type 2 diabetes is the type that can best be prevented and controlled.

In an article that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, a study was conducted on 522 individuals considered prime candidates for developing diabetes because they were overweight, middle-aged and had elevated blood sugar. Of the 522 who reduced their weight by limiting their intake of fat, increasing fiber in their diet and adding physical activity to their routine, 58 percent had a reduction in the development of diabetes. Medically, those percentages are astounding!

These simple lifestyle changes can help you to avoid diabetes and were recommended by the American Academy of Family Physicians:

• If you’re overweight, losing weight not only prevents or controls type 2 diabetes, but can lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
• Exercise of any kind helps lower the risk of developing diabetes.
• Eating food such as salads, vegetables, fruits, fish, whole grains, poultry and low fat meats, and beans and avoiding white sugar, honey and molasses. Consider food choices made with whole grains instead of white flour.
• Less than 30 percent of your total calories to come from fat.
• Less than 10 percent of your daily calories should come from saturated fat.
• Include at least 20 grams of fiber each day.

A weight loss surgery is one way to achieve the path to improved health. We’ll be glad to talk to you about your overall lifestyle goals and how we can help you to achieve them. Visit NicholsonClinic.com, find us on Facebook, MySpace, or follow us on Twitter.

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Men who lose weight following gastric bypass surgery may have more satisfying sex lives than overweight or obese peers who do not have the surgery, according to the April issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. According to researchers who conducted the study, obese men often experience sexual problems that can include erectile dysfunction and shortness of breath during sex. The study shows that weight loss surgery and the dramatic weight loss that follows helps to increase levels of the male sex hormone testosterone, which may mean an improved sex life.

Researchers came to their conclusions by first measuring the men’s hormone levels at the beginning and end of the study. Participants were also asked about their quality of life, including sex life and sexual performance, during these two periods. On average, male participates weighed about 333 pounds and had a body mass index (BMI) of 46. (Note: we consider men to be a candidate for weight-loss surgery with a BMI of 40 or more for men or between 35 and 39.9 with a serious obesity-related health problem.) Weight loss and a decreased BMI were directly linked with increases in testosterone levels, decreases in the female sex hormone estradiol and improvements in self-reported sexual quality of life.

What does bariatric weight-loss surgery do for a woman’s sex life? A study hasn’t yet been conducted on women, although weight loss and typically resulting better body image and more positive self-esteem would seemingly contribute to increased satisfaction. Becoming more physically active after surgery also should help increase stamina and self confidence. Researchers point out that a woman’s sex drive is not as strongly linked to hormone levels, however.

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Undergoing weight loss surgery before deciding to become pregnant is a sound decision that can lead to a healthier pregnancy and safer delivery overall. We’re frequently asked about the best time to consider a weight loss surgery when planning to become pregnant or to have another child.

Women are sometimes worried that having a weight loss surgery could be harmful to a healthy pregnancy or to their baby. However, depending on your timetable, losing the weight first before becoming pregnant is not only safe, but can lead to an easier pregnancy experience overall.

We suggest that you first decide what your timetable is for pregnancy and then determine whether pregnancy will fit into your personal health and family plans before making a decision to have weight loss surgery. First and foremost, know that pregnancy is not affected by having a surgery. However, women should avoid pregnancy for at least one year after weight loss surgery. Why? Rapid weight loss and nutritional deficiencies can be harmful to a developing fetus. Immediately following surgery, you will most likely be losing rapid weight and adjusting to your new eating habits. During this transition period to a newer, slimmer you, a pregnancy is not recommended. Once a year has passed and you have returned to a regular diet that is imperative while pregnant, you should be able to have a healthy and typical pregnancy.

When to become pregnant and when to have a weight loss surgery is something that will require careful thought and we welcome discussing your considerations and concerns with you to help you reach your decision. You may also wish to visit with your ob/gyn as well. But you certainly don’t have to wait until having children before having a weight loss surgery. But do consider these facts from pregnancy-info.net:

• Obesity and overall health is a contributing factor to difficulty in becoming pregnant. Having an active lifestyle and maintaining a proper weight helps increase the likelihood of becoming – and staying – pregnant. That’s because fat stores change the levels of hormones your body produces and makes it more difficult to become pregnant.
• Obesity has many health risks associated with pregnancy for the mother, including high blood pressure, fluid retention and swelling, gestational diabetes, and an increased likelihood of a Cesarean section delivery.
• Obesity also puts your developing baby at risk, including neural tube defects, and Macrosoma, which is a condition in which your baby puts on too much weight during development.

Let us know if we can answer any additional questions about this very important decision in your life!

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An encouraging article from MSNBC about how gastric bypass surgery can help cure diabetes.

Thirty minutes of daily exercise and a 5 to 10 percent loss in body weight can lower the odds of diabetes by nearly 60 percent and is more effective than medicine in delaying its onset, according to a diabetes prevention study.

Still, such lifestyle changes are often difficult.

“It sounds like such a nonmedical recommendation, and yet it’s the thing people say is the toughest to implement,” said McLaughlin, the diabetes association official.

For Wagner, it meant changing not just her diet, but her lifestyle. A teacher, she now cooks most of her meals at home and avoids the sweets in the school lounge. She also tries not to stay late at work, using the extra time to exercise and make healthy meals.

Lucy Cain, 61, of Dallas tried to control her diabetes through diet and exercise after she was diagnosed in 2004. But she found it difficult, and two years later had gastric bypass surgery. The 5-foot-7 Cain, who once weighed over 300 pounds, is down to about 185, still losing weight and is off diabetes medication.

They briefly mention Lucy Cain’s weight loss surgery, but I think it’s an important part of the story. Earlier in the article they say that daily exercise can lower your odds of deabetes, but for Lucy the real difference was the gastric bypass surgery. For two years she was having trouble losing weight through diet and exercise alone, but with the help of weight loss surgery she was able to overcome diabetes!

Beating diabetes via MSNBC

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On Tuesday we shared an article about 5 Ways Weight Loss Surgery Can Improve your Health. The article featured a quote from Dr. Nick stating that “improved quality of life, the medical benefits of weight-loss surgery can’t be taken lightly.”

With that in mind, take a look at a study posted on the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) website. It gives a list of health conditions that can also be improved with bariatric surgery.

Bariatric Surgery is known to be the most effective and long lasting treatment for morbid obesity and many related conditions, but it may also be among the most effective treatments for metabolic diseases and conditions including type 2 Diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and obstructive sleep apnea.

Here’s a list of some of the obesity related conditions that can be resolved with weight loss surgery.

• Migraines – 57% resolved
• Depression – 55% resolved
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea – 74-98% resolved
• Asthma – 82% improved or resolved
• Cardiovascular Disease – 82% risk reduction
• Metabolic Syndrome – 80% resolved
• Type II Diabetes Mellitus – 83% resolved
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome – 79% resolution of hirsutism, 100% resolution of menstrual dysfunction
• Degenerative Join Disease – 41-76% resolved
• Gout – 77% resolved
• Venous Stasis Disease – 95% resolved
• Quality of Life – improved in 95% of patients

From The Cleveland Clinic Center for Medical Art & Photography comes a graphical representation of the many benefits of bariatric surgery.

via ASMBS website

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