Healthy Eating Guidelines - The Lap Band

In a report from June of this year, USA Today reported that the average person undergoing weight loss surgery has tried at least 24 different "diets and exercise programs over the years before deciding to have the procedure". (USA Today, 2008) They go on to report that 205,000 people had bariatric surgery in 2007. This number includes a combination of gastric bypass and laparoscopic gastric banding. This article is dedicated to the latter and will discuss what lap bands are, the preparation procedure leading up to surgery, cost, advantages and disadvantages.

Laparoscopic gastric banding, more commonly referred to as "lap banding" is a common surgical procedure for persons needing to lose weight and possibly reverse obesity-related medical conditions. The procedure entails the formation of a small pouch in the upper part of the stomach using a surgically inserted "band". This pouch effectively limits the amount of food one can consume at one time.

"A gastric band device is introduced through tiny (1cm) incisions in the abdomen and is placed around the upper part of the stomach. The resulting pouch (or the "new stomach") dramatically reduces the functional capacity of the stomach. The band has a balloon from the inside that is adjustable and can reduce stoma size, thus prolonging the period of fullness." (International Laparoscopic Surgery Team, 2005)

Preparation for the procedure is extensive and includes blood tests, imaging
studies, and consultations with other specialists. Other pre-screening requirements include

· Attend an informational/educational seminar (usually free)
· Make sure you meet Lap Band surgical criteria
· Decide how you are going to pay for the Lap Band operation (self-pay/financing vs insurance coverage)
· Bariatric psychological screening
· Commitment to life-style modification
· Meet with Lap Band Surgeon (Have all diet and medical information available)
· Complete goals from Lap Band Surgeon (ie. cardiac testing)
· Start calorie restriction and complete 2 weeks of high protein liquid meal replacement to shrink liver and thin the intra-abdominal fat
· Meet again at surgeon's office to finalize questions and make sure all goals have been met
· Preop screening tests (ie. Chest X-ray, EKG, blood work, urinanalysis, lipid profile, thyroid panel, diabetic screening, pregnancy test) (eSynergy Concepts, 2007)

There is usually a 24 to 48 hour hospital stay after the surgery is performed.

According to several sources on lap band surgery, insurance payments for the procedure may cover part of the cost while Medicare may cover the rest. This is why it is important to decide on payment options before having the lap band procedure. Make sure that, if some money for the procedure is paid for out of pocket, it isn't an unexpected expense. If the procedure is recommended by specialists to reverse other medical conditions such as diabetes type II, Medicare will more than likely help with the bill.

Typically there is a two-year follow up after the lap band procedure. This time is spent monitoring the progress of the patient and how they are adhering to the lifestyle adjustments and dietary changes. "Check-ups with your doctor are a normal and very important part of the LAP-BAND® System follow-up. Many surgeons see their patients weekly or biweekly during the first month and every 4 to 12 weeks for the first year. Adjustments may be performed during some of these visits. It is typical for follow-up visits to be scheduled every 3 to 6 months during the second and third year, depending on the individual case." (Allergan, Inc., 2008).

Advantages of lap banding include:

· No cutting or stapling of the stomach
· Short hospital stay
· Adjustable
· Reversible
· Possible favorable outcomes by reversing obesity-related medical conditions
· Somewhat cheaper than gastric bypass

Disadvantages of gastric lap banding are:

· Foreign body - infection and erosion may occur
· Frequent adjustments of the band
· Actual weight loss may vary from person to person
· Up to 20 percent of patients need revision surgery after gastric banding

In conclusion, the gastric banding procedure can be lifesaving for many in the population that have tried other methods of weight loss and were not successful. It can effectively reverse obesity-related medical conditions in some patients such as diabetes type II, those with certain joint disorders, etc. The cost of gastric banding is cheaper than bypass surgery and has a shorter hospital stay. As with all surgeries, gastric banding is not without risks and benefits. In short, gastric lap banding can be beneficial to those in the population that need this type of surgery to stave off life-threatening illnesses and possibly reverse certain medical conditions. However, it is not for everyone.

Diabetes and Obesity - Why You Should Take Off That Pound of Flesh

Look! You better wake up and don't expect me to talk to you as a friend. You don't know the time bomb you carry around you until it explodes and hurts you. You have not realized the troubles you bring to yourself when you sit down there and do nothing about your obesity.

Hey! If you know anybody who is obese and love him very much, you better sit him down and make him read this article.

Obesity can cost you your life because it causes diabetes and diabetes kills. You don't want to suffer from that. Do you? Oh! You say? Don't you know that diabetes can kill? Well, if you don't know, know it now. Diabetes kills! It can make you go into coma then death. Medical people call it hypoglycemia and diabetic coma. So, if you think I'm just bringing this up, go and ask them (medical people). Diabetes kills!

Medical people might begin to say to themselves "...but it can be treated" but do you realize that when you get attacked by hypoglycemia in a place where medical treatment is not forth coming, you might die before treatment gets to you? Besides, nobody wants to live with a disease the rest of his life. You know what I think? Prevention is better than cure. Worst still, when there is no cure, prevention is best.

Enough said. the only thing you can do for me, my friend, is to wake up to reality and do something about your overweight. It can cost you your life.

You can begin to prevent diabetes by getting to know about it. just click on those words(links) in blue to learn more about diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus.

How Media Drives Obesity in Children and Simple Counter Tactics

One the most important indicators of the state of health of Americans today may be the ever increasing rate of overweight and obese children. The Institute of Medicine has found that one-third of American children are either obese or at risk for obesity. The Center of Disease Control has found that, since 1980, the proportion of overweight children ages 6-11 has doubled and the number of overweight adolescents has tripled.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the increase in childhood obesity represents and unprecedented burden on children's health. "If we don't deal with children, this could be the first generation that will live sicker and die younger than its parents," states Dr. James S. Marks, senior vice president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which recently announced an unprecedented effort to reverse childhood obesity epidemic by 2015.

Obesity or being overweight is not only harmful to the self-esteem and mental health of youngsters in a society that places such high value on thinness, but there are serious physical health concerns as well. According to Dr. Melissa A. Kalt, Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine/Pediatrics, overweight kids are set up for premature health risks such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and even poor behavior in school like inattentiveness, disruptiveness, truancy, and low grade scores.

Some of the environmental factors that are thought to contribute to obesity are: over consumption of fast food, simple carbohydrates, soda, or other high calorie, high fat foods; larger and larger portion sizes; lack of exercise and/or more sedentary lifestyles; under consumption of whole foods, fruits and vegetables. However, what may be underlying all of these factors or at the very least exacerbating the issue is children and media.

Facts:

According to the Task Force on Media and Childhood Obesity of the Federal Communications Commission, children today spend many hours each day watching television and are influenced by the programming and advertising they see.

The Kaiser Family Foundation states that young children cannot distinguish between programming content and advertising.

The U.S. Congress, Children's Television Act of 1990 reports, by the time the average child is 18 years hold, he or she has spent between 10,000 and 15,000 hours watching television and has been exposed to more than 200,000 commercials.

Once research study documents that obesity in children increases the more hours they watch television. (Crespo, 2001)

Another research study shows that children who watch more than three ours of television a day are 50 percent more likely to be obese than kids who watch fewer than two hours. (Tremblay, 2003)

Another researcher reports that children who use a lot of media have a lower activity level which is linked to a higher rate of obesity (Vandewater, 2004)

According to the 2004 report "The Role of Media in Childhood Obesity" by the Kaiser Family Foundation, "during the same period in which childhood obesity has increased so dramatically, there has also been an explosion in media targeted to children: TV shows and videos, specialized cable networks, video games, computer activities and Internet Web sites." And "much of the media targeted to children is laden with elaborate advertising campaigns, many of which promote foods such as candy, soda, and snacks."

The Advertising Coalition reports that $10-$15 billion is spent annually on kids' food advertising.

One study documented approximately 11 food commercials per hour during children's Saturday morning television programming, estimating that the average child viewer may be exposed to one food commercial every 5 minutes (Kotz, 1994)

Another study found that children's food choices were significantly impacted by which ads they saw, i.e. either an ad for fruit or an ad for candy (Gorn, 1982)

Other researchers found that for each additional hour of television viewed per day, daily servings of fruits and vegetables decreased among adolescents possibly due to television advertising (Boynton-Jarret, R, 2003)
...

While many researchers and studies are still establishing the role of media in child obesity and overweight issues, (the direct link between advertising and obesity has not been officially established), the advertisers certainly know that TV ads can influence children's and family consumer choices. For example, fast food outlets alone spend $3 billion in television ads targeted to children. And according to "Advertising, Marketing and the Media: Improving Messages from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, food and beverage advertisers collectively spend $10 billion to $12 billion a year to reach children and youth.

So, what's a parent to do to counteract unhealthy advertisements and the big dollars behind them? Here a few pointers on helping children be more healthy and fit:

First, educate them on the factors contributing to being overweight or obese:

1. Too much "fat foods" (fast foods, simple carbs, soda, energy drinks, cereal etc.)
2. Larger than life portion sizes
3. Not enough movement or exercise
4. Not enough whole foods (fruits, vegetables, whole wheat bread, whole grains etc.)

Second, reduce poor food choices in the home. Refuse to buy the sodas and sugar cereals or insist that these only be indulged in after a healthy meal.

Third, make whole food choices easy for them to prepare (i.e. pre washed, cut up fruits and veggies; oatmeal; smoothies; whole wheat bread; pre-cooked healthy snacks/meals like cubed chicken breast, string cheese, hard-boiled eggs, in single serving size containers. Make it tasty and easy (see green smoothie recipe below).

Fourth, encourage them to exercise (i.e. refuse to drive them to school; sign them up for sports; play with them outdoors; get a dog and go for daily walks). Make it fun.

Fifth, limit television hours per day. And teach them how they can mute the commercials or "tevo" the show and fast forward through the commercials.

And finally, teach them that being fit and healthy means eating healthy foods and exercising, in direct contrast to how television shows and advertisements portray super skinny people eating chips and drinking soda, it's just not true. And educate them on the fact that advertisers make their money by portraying beautiful people eating junk food.

Obesity - The 7 Surefire Don'ts You Must Know to Control Obesity!

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in most western countries, to the point where it is placing unsustainable pressure on the economy, our health systems and our health facilities. More than two-thirds of the population of the United States is either overweight or obese. The question is "what can be done to improve the health of our nation to reverse or control this situation?".

Below you will find seven DON'TS designed to help change your eating habits, improve your health and prevent heart disease:-

(1) Saturated Fats - DON'T eat foods high in saturated fats. Choose healthy fats and oils. Saturated fat will increase the risk of heart disease. It's found in meat, dairy products, even coconut oil. You should avoid them until your cholesterol levels are down and you are at a healthy weight.

(2) Soft drinks and Alcohol - DON'T drink to excess. Get out of the habit of drinking soft drinks and alcohol. Avoid a lot of sugar. Drinks that contain sugar are a major source of empty energy and generally do not contain any vitamins or minerals. Water, low fat milk and juice is the best to drink with a preference for eight or ten glasses of water per day.

(3) Skipping Meals - DON'T skip any meals. Eating three meals a day with healthy snacks in between is the ideal way to maintain energy and a healthy weight. When you skip meals and feel hungry you are more likely to choose the unhealthy fast foods. If you are eating away from home take some nutritious food with you.

(4) Dieting - DON'T use the word in your vocabulary. Change your mindset to think about what you are really doing when you decide you are going to fight your weight problem. You are simply changing your eating habits to become a healthier you. Don't rely on energy bars and drinks as they don't deliver the antioxidants your body needs. Fruit and vegetables are your best bet as they are loaded in vitamin, minerals, fluid and fiber.

(5) Exercise - DON'T think that changing your eating habits alone will set you on the path to weight loss. You must commence an exercise program to work in conjunction with your new eating regime. Any exercise or movement will be of benefit when you first start as the change will need to be gradual where you eventually are able to work out for a minimum of thirty minutes. A regular walking program should have you feeling more energetic in no time.

(6) Unrealisic Goals - DON'T set unrealistic goals when you are considering weight loss. Losing weight gradually at one or two pounds(1kg) a week maximum is fine but any more is thought to be unrealistic and unsustainable, which eventually leads to disappointment and an surrendering of the goals even though you started with the best intentions.

(6) Couch Potato - DON'T become one. There are many reasons why so many people are overweight or obese. One of the main reasons is that people have become less active, preferring to sit in front of the computer or television to watch sport rather than participating themselves. Next time you need a bottle of milk or a newspaper from the corner store try enjoying a walk rather than jumping in the car.

(7) Fiber - DON'T forget about fiber. Fiber can help you control cholesterol. You can find fiber in whole grain products to help you control sugar absorption although you must remember that fiber needs water to keep it moving through your digestive tract. Eight or more glasses a day is recommended. Fiber is one of the key ingredients to healthy eating. If you are not getting enough fiber into your digestive system you should do something about it rather than wait until it is too late.

Many vegetarian meals and recipes contain all the necessary food requirements to maintain a healthy lifestyle, especially when it comes to your heart and the prevention of heart disease.

Simple Solutions to Childhood Obesity

I am fortunate in living in a very beautiful part of Spain - right next door to Benidorm! For those of you unaware of the significance of that statement, let's just say that Benidorm has a bit of a reputation; it is seen to epitomise the very worse of "The Brits Abroad" syndrome! In reality it is a lively, fun, holiday resort which certainly doesn't deserve much of its bad press. As I drive through it though I can't help but notice the sheer size of so many of the holiday makers - mum, dad, and kids, all clones of each other, waddling along with stomachs leading the way! Of course, I know nothing about them as people and it is certainly not my place to judge; my comments are related to their physical size and the problems that are inherent in carrying too much weight.
If there were no health issues attached to being overweight then we would not be concerned about it. But there are - the research is quite conclusive about that. If you carry too much extra fat then your health is in danger. Recent figures painted an alarming picture of just how much of a problem this is becoming. If things go on as they are then within a few years some 12 million adults and 1 million children will be obese in the UK alone. Over the past 20 years levels of obesity have doubled in adults and tripled in children and adolescents. The problem is even more extreme in the US where the massive numbers of overweight and obese people are leading to serious public health problems.
As adults we are free to make certain choices as to what we do with our bodies. However, we rightly protect our children from making some of these choices until they are old enough to understand the consequences for themselves. We don't let them drink or smoke until they reach a certain legal age; which or course leads to that age old "game" that nearly all adolescents play where they "experiment" anyway! However, where food and exercise are concerned we are perhaps not quite so careful. It is quite legal for children to stuff themselves with foods of all kinds, and in quantities that would make our forefathers turn in their graves.
I believe there are some simple answers to a majority of the child obesity problems. Unfortunately, simple isn't always easy! Like so many of society's problems the solution may revolve around what goes on in the family itself!
In my work as a fitness professional I have always taught a very simple formula in dealing with weight loss. We need to move more and eat less; actually I encourage people to change their eating habits, very often this means eating less but just occasionally it can actually mean eating more or more regularly! Move more and eat less - not exactly rocket science is it?
If we look at the way children spend their time we can see that so much of their life now revolves around sitting down. Whether it is in lessons at school; watching TV; playing on computer consoles; or just staying indoors. The media has frightened us into keeping our children locked inside and it is a lot easier for them to entertain themselves in front of a screen. As parents we may not always approve of this strategy but at least our children are safe. Contrast this to when I was young - a few years ago I know! We were always outside playing, never at home.
So, one of our answers has to be to get our children moving again. If you are worried about their safety then find a supervised activity - there are so many to choose from, not just the traditional team sports either.
The second solution is a bit more delicate! One of my mentors told me that we cannot not teach! Excuse the double negative but he meant that we were always teaching something, often with our actions rather than our words. As parents we teach all the time - our children are very astute and they learn far more from our example than from our words! "Do as I say" is nowhere near as powerful as "Do as I do"! This means that if we are very much over weight as parents then it is very difficult to tell our children to lose weight!
So, for many families the solution to their children's obesity is right there - in the family. If it is tackled together as a family problem then the solution is much more likely to be accepted by the child. Lead from the front and by example and your children will generally follow you. Say one thing but do another and there is no chance!
There are several additional benefits to adopting this united approach. It can actually be a great bonding activity within the family unit as everyone works together and supports each other in tackling a shared issue. It also extends the health benefits to the whole family, not just the child. Finally of course, eating a healthy diet is often cheaper too!
Two simple things: Get your child moving again and change their eating habits. If you want more information on a diet plan that everyone can follow, is enjoyable, and gets outstanding results have a look at my website below.

Vegetarian - Beat Your Obesity Crisis With a Vegetarian Lifestyle!

majoAs obesity continues to rise alarmingly, it places extreme pressure on our health systems and medical facilities. In the United States alone nearly two-thirds of adults are now classed as being overweight and half of these (more than 72 million people) are considered obese. Obesity, once a disease of old age and high living is now affecting younger and younger slices of the population. For the first time in history we could see a whole generation of children develop diseases at an earlier rate when they become adults.
The reasons for this rise in obesity are many and varied but center largely on the fact that many people are now less active than they used to be, preferring to sit in front of the television and watch sport rather than participate in it. Of course, one of the otherr reasons is the availability of a huge variety of fast and convenient foods containing high levels of saturated fats, salt, sugar and cholesterol. This means that the we are not burning off the calories consumed each day, leading to weight acceleration.
Some experts on this subject argue that dieting is not the solution as most dieters set themselves unrealistic expectations and when they do not achieve their goals, tend to blame the diet and give up altogether. Losing weight gradually at one or two pounds a week (1kg) is fine but anything more than this is simply not realistic or sustainable in the long term.
A change of mindset is required to successfully lose weight and keep it off. The bottom line is, you have to make serious lifestyle changes that include include your eating habits and a regular exercise regime. Reduce the quantity of food you are eating and/or replace high calorie foods with low calorie alternatives. Combine this with regular exercise to burn off more calories and you will lose weight.
Starting this new lifestyle should be a gradual change, however as people become more motivated and have more energy, they tend to appreciate these new feelings that have been absent from their lives for a long time.
Many simple vegetarian recipes can be of value in controlling obesity. They are generally high in nutrition and energy, tasty, low in fat and calories.
You should now leave the word "diet" out of your vocabulary and think more about a "change in your lifestyle" in order to conquer your weight problem and look forward to a healthy and prolonged life.

Obesity Weight Loss Surgery - A Last Chance to Save Your Life

Obesity weight loss surgery is used to save people from the effects severe or morbid obesity and the ever-increasing damage to their bodies that results from continual overeating.
Stomach stapling used to be the go some years back. A gastric surgeon and his team would open up your abdominal cavity and take a surgical staple gun to your stomach, "sewing" it up with a line of staples so it could not hold half as much food as it could previously.
Today there is a quicker procedure known as laporoscopic stomach banding, where the surgical team uses a keyhole procedure to slip a rubber belt or band around your stomach so it cannot swell up so much as it is being filled with food.
Both of these techniques prevent you from being able to stuff as much food into your belly as before, and the result is that you begin to lose weight almost immediately.
But weight-loss surgery is only a temporary fix for the physical side of the compulsive overeating problem. It does nothing to control your food cravings, the desire for sweet snacks or fat-laden foods even when your body has far more food and calories than it needs.
Calories convert into sugars, which represent stored energy. They circulate through your body in the bloodstream, and when they're used up by muscular activity - i.e. physical exercise - then that same sugar gets converted to FAT and stored away in your body for future use.
Overeaters have so much "energy" stored away, that their body gets fat, fatter and obese. And we all know that the bigger you get, the less you want to move. It's all too much effort.
Many in the medical profession laud obesity weight loss surgery as the answer to food addiction and severe obesity. But I would argue that all these learned medical men and women are doing is treating the symptoms, and never the cause.
What the doctors don't tell you is that many overeaters will continue to try and force more food into their banded, stapled stomachs.
Over a period of years, those banded or stapled stomachs will become stretched and extended, so they gradually expand back more and more. Eventually some will be capable of holding just as much food as they could before the operation.
If or when this happens, you will be back to where you started and all that expensive obesity weight loss surgery will have cured nothing. But it does buy you some extra time. I urge you to start working on the root cause of your overeating problem by attending Overeaters Anonymous, Food Addicts Anonymous or other not-for-profit 12 Steps groups... or you may prefer professional (paid) counseling therapy.