Body Positive

There's a very incorrect idea out there that weight loss surgeries such as gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy are primarily obtained for cosmetic reasons. While there's no getting around the fact that weight has an enormous impact on how people are perceived in our culture, and that losing weight can definitely help people socially, at University Bariatrics we're committed to reminding the public this is serious surgery that is nearly always obtained for solid medical reasons.

We were reminded of the public's misconception of bariatric medicine while reading a post that appeared last week at the Time web site. Writer Trish Harms describes herself as a "body positive feminist." That meant that she had intellectually and emotionally accepted her weight and size as being perfectly okay for her. We don't doubt that the emotional and psychological benefits of this were very real for her.

However, what Ms. Harms found was what those of us in the medical community have long known. Obesity is not just a social issue, it is a medical condition that produces real medical harms. From a doctor's point of view, it's truly immaterial whether larger bodies are attractive or unattractive -- that is truly in the eye of the beholder. What we see are the very real medical harms that obesity causes both to the length and quality of life.

If you come to us for bariatric surgery in Thousand Oaks, you'll find that aesthetic or moral judgments about obesity are the furthest things from our mind. We like to think of ourselves as extremely body positive and we want people to be happy with themselves as they are -- it's just that we also want our patients to be as healthy as possible, also.

Your Health is the Ultimate Christmas Present

It’s a well-known medical fact that severe obesity takes a heavy toll on the body with very serious, often life threating risks. Heart attack and stroke are just a few of the conditions that an obesity individual faces every single day. Though the desire to feel better about how you look is a great motivator for losing weight, the truth is that your health is the most important factor. 

At University Bariatrics we care about your health, and we utilize bariatric surgery to help the severely obese obtain a healthy weight because it’s the only method of weight loss that is proven to yield consistent, effective, and long term results. The sleeve gastrectomy procedure, for example, is proven to be a safe operation that offers results that can dramatically increase one's lifespan and improve the quality of life of someone living with severe obesity. In addition to being able to live longer, that life will be more enjoyable without the many ailments associated with severe obesity. These issues affect every area of the body and can make for a truly debilitated daily routine. Consider bariatric surgery in Thousand Oaks to give yourself the best holiday gift possible by investing in your future and a healthier existence. 

Always Consider Every Option!

Many bariatric surgeons, looking to make a name for themselves, brand their practice as the place to go for one specific bariatric procedure. They put forward a single surgery as the best, most "cutting edge" option for their patients, when in reality, every patient is different. At University Bariatrics, we objectively examine every case to determine what is best for the patient, not the doctor. Here are the three major types of bariatric surgery, and depending on your case, any one of them may be right for you.

1. Lap Band - Perhaps the most discussed procedure, the Lap Band involves placing an adjustable band around the entrance to the stomach that limits the amount and speed at which patients eat. While this is the least invasive procedure and is reversible, it does not usually result in as much weight lost as other options.
2. Sleeve Gastrectomy - The gastric sleeve surgery involves removing a portion of the stomach so the patient gets full much faster. This surgery results in moderate weight loss but has a very slight increase in complication risk.
3. Gastric Bypass - The oldest and most documented of the procedures, the gastric bypass involves rerouting the way food is digested away from the stomach so the patient can only eat very small amounts of food at a time. Although this results in the largest amount of weight lost, it is the most invasive. Yet, because it is the oldest, doctors know more about it's risks and benefits than any of the other procedures

If you are considering bariatric surgery in Thousand Oaks, the key to selecting a procedure is talking to your bariatric surgeon to balance the risks and rewards depending on the severity of your obesity.

Research Round-up: Recent Data on Bariatric Surgery

Over the past several months, various studies have come out shining a light on the benefits of bariatric surgery. Here are just a few of the recent developments that illustrate the positive impact that bariatric surgery in Thousand Oaks can have for patients.

1.       Diabetes Remission – A study presented during the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery revealed that sleeve gastrectomy weight loss surgery can help Type 2 diabetes patients become disease-free. Patients with less severe diabetes were found to be more likely to see these benefits.

2.       Diabetes Prevention – According to a study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal, weight-loss surgery reduced the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 80% for pre-diabetic patients over a seven year period.

3.       Systemic Financial Benefits – The UK’s National Health Service wants to promote weight loss surgery after concluding that it’s positive effects on long-term health problems will save the nation billions of dollars in years to come. This financial benefit is not just a cold statistic either. Having to spend less on care is a direct result of happier and healthier nation.

University Bariatrics always recommends that patients do their research before electing any surgical procedure, but it can’t be denied that the facts about weight loss surgery are exceedingly in favor of its benefits.

Obesity is Costing Serious Money Worldwide

Many doctors have noticed that if, if they warn their patient that a particular bad health habit might cause an early death, patients tend to shrug it off. If, however, a doctor warns his patients that their poor health might cost them an exorbitant amount of money, people tend to take notice. That's why we at  University Bariatrics were especially intrigued by recent reports at the BBC News web site about a McKinsey Global Institute study that explored the actual cash cost of obesity around the world.

It's pretty clear that whether you're considering a bariatric surgery in Thousand Oaks or Liverpool, you're dealing with a major worldwide problem. Indeed, the study found that about 2.1 billion people, roughly 30 percent of the worldwide population are impacted by obesity. However, in cash terms, the worldwide cost is simply stunning, costing the equivalent of 2.8% of economic activity around the world on a yearly basis.

The BBC put it even more dramatically.

The worldwide cost of obesity is about the same as smoking or armed conflict and greater than both alcoholism and climate change, research has suggested.

If misery loves company, then clearly those of us who are dealing with obesity in the United States have plenty to love. Of course, the better answer is to do whatever you can to avoid the life-shortening and debilitating effects of obesity by taking advantage of such procedures as gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy in Westlake Village/Thousand Oaks with University Bariatrics. We're doing what we can to fight the worldwide war against obesity right here at home.

An International Problem

At University Bariatrics, we're obviously very concerned about the obesity epidemic in the United States. However, while the stereotype of the overweight American has never been more widespread, the fact of the  matter is that the problem of severe obesity is spreading around the world. While some of the blame might fall on the worldwide popularity of U.S.-made junk food and sugary sodas from such purveyors as McDonald's and Coca-Cola, it's clear that something more is going on.

While it's probably not too surprising that, along with the growing issue of obesity, the popularity of such procedures as sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypasses in such nations as Saudi Arabia and the UK is increasing, it might be time to consider the possibility that this is not so much an American problem as a side-effect of the combined phenenom of relative prosperity and the wide availability of inexpensive empty calories in more well-off nations.

The good news, we suppose, is that weight loss procedures in London and Riyadh are proving to be as successful as bariatric surgery in Simi Valley. In fact, England's National Health Service has noted that the procedures are saving money over the long term by preventing the need for more serious and expensive interventions later on.

Of course, we're concerned with fighting the war on at obesity here at home. If you or a loved one is suffering from severe obesity and is considering a surgical approach to dealing with this potentially deadly and debilitating problem, we are here to help.

Stay Motivated Through the Holidays

Weight loss is an important goal, particularly if you’re suffering with severe obesity and the major associated health risks like heart attack, diabetes, and stroke. For all of us, there is one time of year where it seems to be more difficult than other times to lose weight, and that’s the holiday season. Here at University Bariatrics we want to help both potential patients and anyone who may experience difficulties with weight loss avoid the holiday pitfalls.

The most important thing to realize about the holidays is that you’re going to be surrounded by temptation; even more so than usual. The holiday season is a time to feast with big family meals like Thanksgiving and Christmas to look out for. It might seem like torture to avoid indulging a little, but it doesn’t have to be as bad as you think. Go ahead and help yourself to all those delicious sides and main courses. Just don’t overdo it. A holiday meal is actually a great time to practice self-control because you can eat a little of a lot, instead of a lot of a little, which will trick your mind into feeling fuller quicker. 

Don’t forget to control your serving sizes! Try using a smaller plate, and feel free to load that plate up as much as possible. You’ll eat less, but it will feel like more. Just don’t allow yourself to fall into the trap of putting off weight loss any further. It can be easy to delay it until after the holidays, but don’t do it. Every day suffering with severe obesity is another day risking serious health issues. For patients who begin their journey into weight loss, we provide bariatric surgery in Thousand Oaks and nearby areas as an effective solution. Visit our office today to find out why University Bariatrics is a top choice for weight loss procedures including a sleeve gastrectomy in Westlake Village area.

The Only Thing We Have to Fear

It's Halloween. While there's obviously an enormous difference between the enjoyable creepiness of the holiday and the big fears about life and death from which we all suffer to some degree, it's as good a day as any for addressing the topic of fear. After all, Halloween is a day in which we, in a sense, make friends with the things we fear.

At University Bariatrics, we're no different than any other medical office in that we regularly deal with patient's fears. Before undergoing a procedures such as a gastric bypass or a sleeve gastrectomy
it's only human to have some concerns that can make many of us somewhat fearful. While all surgeries carry some risk, we've made great strides in the bariatric field and our procedures are now no more risky than many routine operations.

The important thing, however, is to not be ruled by fear of change or the unknown. After all, when dealing with a condition like severe obesity, the greatest risk of all is doing nothing. As Franklin D. Roosevelt famously said, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." The devil we know is, in fact, a devil. Change is often absolutely necessary.

In a funny way, Halloween -- the day when we choose to face our fears and engage in all kinds of fantasies -- is as good a day to fight excessive fear as any. After all, after thinking about vampires, zombies apocalypses and the like, competently performed bariatric surgery in Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks might not seem so scary at all!

Steer Clear of Weight Loss Surgery Risks with a Truly Skilled Expert Surgeon

A recent study published in the journal Neurology has found that weight loss surgery can be a risk factor for experiencing a type of headache known as intracranial hypotension. Researchers in the study looked at 338 patients with a history of suffering from intracranial hypotension and found that 11 of them - 3.3% - had undergone some type of bariatric surgery.

While this is seemingly a small number, Dr. Mehran at University Bariatrics believes it is still worth noting for those considering bariatric surgery. It also serves to illustrate the importance of undergoing treatments like sleeve gastrectomy by a truly skilled and experienced professional.


Dr. Mehran has been practicing bariatric surgery in Simi Valley for over a decade, an d in that time, he has developed a well-earned reputation for offering impeccable and safe surgery that minimizes risk as much as possible. The meticulous board-certified surgeon makes sure to get a firm sense of the health needs and individual concerns of every patient, a fact that is evidenced by his many past patients who have gone on to safely and sustainably lose weight.

If you're considering undergoing bariatric treatment, don't hesitate to get in touch with Dr. Mehran at University Bariatrics, and boost your chance of success while reducing any potential risks.