Category Archives: Research

Basics About Childhood Obesity

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How is childhood overweight and obesity measured?

Problems with childhood obesity and overweight children's dietsBody mass index (BMI) is a measure used to determine childhood overweight and obesity. It is calculated using a child’s weight and height. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but it is a reasonable indicator of body fatness for most children and teens.

A child’s weight status is determined using an age- and sex-specific percentile for BMI rather than the BMI categories used for adults because children’s body composition varies as they age and varies between boys and girls.

CDC Growth Charts are used to determine the corresponding BMI-for-age and sex percentile. For children and adolescents (aged 2—19 years):

  • Overweight is defined as a BMI at or above the 85th percentile and lower than the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex.1
  • Obesity is defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex.1

What are the consequences of childhood obesity?

Health risks now

  • Childhood obesity can have a harmful effect on the body in a variety of ways. Obese children are more likely to have–
    • High blood pressure and high cholesterol, which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). In one study, 70% of obese children had at least one CVD risk factor, and 39% had two or more.2
    • Increased risk of impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.3
    • Breathing problems, such as sleep apnea, and asthma.4,5
    • Joint problems and musculoskeletal discomfort.4,6
    • Fatty liver disease, gallstones, and gastro-esophageal reflux (i.e., heartburn).3,4
    • Obese children and adolescents have a greater risk of social and psychological problems, such as discrimination and poor self-esteem, which can continue into adulthood.3,7,8

Health risks later

  • Obese children are more likely to become obese adults.9, 10, 11   Adult obesity is associated with a number of serious health conditions including heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers.12
  • If children are overweight, obesity in adulthood is likely to be more severe.13Y

You can help your children by helping yourself first!  If you need information about healthy weight loss contact Dr. Frank Felts Surgical Weight Loss Solutions, in Dallas,  for answers to your weight loss questions.  Dr. Frank Felts can provide you with the latest information on surgical weight loss procedures and help you on your weight loss journey, for you and your family.

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Weight loss surgery may cure obese diabetics: study

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(Reuters Life!) – Most obese people with diabetes will be cured of it by weight loss surgery, with gastric bypass surgery allowing more than 80 percent of patients to come off their diabetes medication, according to a study.

The report in Archives of Surgery concerned a review of earlier studies led by Rick Meijer, at the Institute for Cardiovascular Research at Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, who said the findings exceeded what was possible with more conventional diabetes treatments.

“In standard practice, only a very minor group of individuals with an iron will can lose enough weight to be cured from type 2 diabetes mellitus,” Meijer said in an email to Reuters Health, referring to the most common type of diabetes.

Meijer and his colleagues pooled data from nine studies of diabetics who underwent either a gastric bypass — which makes the stomach smaller and allows food to bypass part of the small intestine — or gastric band surgery, in which the capacity of the stomach is reduced by using an adjustable band.

Eight of the studies included between 23 and 177 patients, while the last one traced 82,000 people. Each followed patients for at least a year.

After gastric bypass, 83 percent of patients could stop taking their diabetes medications, some within days of the surgery. After gastric banding, 62 percent could stop.

“Surgery ought to be considered front line therapy for diabetes among obese people,” said Jon Gould, who heads the weight loss surgery program at the University of Wisconsin and was not involved in the study.

Meijer said about 90 percent of cases of diabetes are due to excessive weight, though not all diabetics would be eligible for the weight loss surgery.

It’s also unclear how long surgery’s impact on diabetes can last. One study included in the review found that 10 years after surgery, just one third of people whose diabetes had abated still had good control of their blood sugar.

Surgery of course has the potential for complications that wouldn’t occur with drugs.

One study followed patients up to a month after surgery found that 7 percent experienced some problems, mainly minor wound infections. But massive bleeding, kidney failure and other serious complications occurred in more than 2 percent of patients.

Other side effects include nausea and some food intolerance, with some patients also gaining weight back over time.

Gould said the initial cost of the surgery, compared to the extended costs of diabetes care and other health effects of being obese, can be recouped after 18 months to two years.

“It would be a huge upfront cost, but looking at this from the bigger picture, I think if we can cure instead of manage the complications, we will save money in the long run,” he told Reuters Health.

(Reporting by Kerry Grens at Reuters Health; editing by Elaine Lies)

Weight loss surgery can be overwhelming. But at Felts Surgical Weight Loss Solutions, we help you navigate through the entire process from start to finish, providing direction and support. Felts Surgical Weight Loss Solutions. Your way to weight loss.

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Bariatric surgery benefits outweigh risk for many

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For many severely obese Americans, bariatric surgery has proven to be an effective method of achieving health and wellness. With minimally invasive techniques becoming more prevalent, recent studies have determined that the benefits of weight-loss surgery outweigh the risks for many people. A study funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, published in the Archives of Surgery, stated that while not all patients are good outcome, bariatric surgery increases life expectancy for most patient.

This study, performed at the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center, concluded that a 42-year old woman with a body mass index (BMI) of 45, which is considered severely obese, would average an additional three years of life expectancy after having bariatric surgery, and a 44-year old man with a BMI of 45 could gain an average of 2.6 years in additional life expectancy.

A second study aimed at older patients focused on a recent Medicare rule regarding bariatric surgery. Surgical centers that perform at least 125 bariatric surgeries a year and meet other stringent qualifications can be certified by the American College of Surgeons or the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Under the new rule, Medicare will cover weight-loss surgery for its patients over the age of 65 if they have the surgery performed at one of these certified centers.

The study found that after Medicare began allowing surgeries at these specific medical centers, the number of surgeries performed increased, and the overall results improved as well. As a result, patients who have minimally invasive bariatric surgery at a high-volume center show better results, and it is logical, given that the risk is higher for elderly patients, to assume that these improvements would also be present in non-Medicare populations.

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Gastric Band Surgery Can Help Extend Lives of Obese People

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If you’re obese, bariatric surgery can help extend your life, according to research preformed at the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center. The study supported the belief that weight loss surgery can be instrumental in helping obese men and women with weight loss, which can lead to a longer, healthier life.

The positive aspects of bariatric surgery can be affected by many different factors such as the age, weight, and gender. It’s usually reserved for men and women who have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher, which indicates a high level of obesity.

One type of bariatric surgery involves a small band being placed around the top of a patient’s stomach, which causes the patient to feel full much quicker, reducing the amount of food they can and want to consume. The patient is very likely to experience weight loss, thereby reducing risk factors for heart disease, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes.

While it may seem that bariatric surgery is a solution for all obese patients, any type of surgery comes with risks like infection, complications, and even death. There must be a balance between the danger and the benefits.

The study weighed the risks vs. benefits and discovered that age is a significant variable. Younger bariatric surgery patients are less likely to develop complications or die during surgery. A 42-year old woman with a BMI of 45 could find her life extended by up to 3 years, while a 44-year old man might only see an increase of 2.6 years after undergoing bariatric surgery.

In the end, it’s important to weigh the risks with the potential to live a longer, healthier, more satisfying life.

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Metabolic Disorders and Risks for Fatty Liver Disorder

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Many people associate liver problems with alcoholism or hepatitis; however, some people may suffer from a fatty liver disorder because of underlying metabolic diseases that are unrelated to alcohol or hepatitis.

Metabolic disorders such as complications of cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, and refeeding syndrome can lead to fatty liver disorder. One of the dangers of metabolic-induced fatty liver disorders is that many sufferers are not aware the complication exists. If left untreated, a fatty liver can lead to artherosclerotic heart disease, a potentially fatal cardiac condition.

Could you be at risk for fatty liver complications?

If you’re overweight or suffer from diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol, you should have your liver-enzyme levels tested regularly. If you experience fatigue or abdominal pain, you should contact your doctor immediately, as these may be signs of a fatty liver. Early intervention is crucial for preventing cirrhosis of the liver and eventual liver failure.

What should you do if you have a fatty liver disorder?

Proper diet, exercise, and weight management will be an essential part of managing your liver enzymes. In addition, if your fatty liver is caused by a metabolic disorder, your doctor may need to address those complications with additional medications. Your doctor may also suggest high doses of vitamin E and vitamin C to improve the risks and liver enzymes associated with fatty liver disease.

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