Considering Quality of Life

A study that came out recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) underlined the fact that we've pretty much come to the point where the very small risks of bariatric surgery are far outweighed by the truly substantial risks of living with severe obesity. More importantly, as we see every day here at University Bariatrics, the long term benefits of weight loss accomplished with the help of metabolic surgery are undeniable.

Still when considering a procedure like a sleeve gastrectomy or a gastric bypass, people tend to forget about some of the longer term quality of life issues surrounding obesity, particularly those that may impact us in our later years. Yes, most of us are keenly aware of the shorter term physical and social benefits of losing weight -- and it's only human for us to focus on more immediate results. However, anyone who's been around an older relative dealing with some of the less discussed impacts of obesity knows just how harrowing they can be, and might better understand the benefits of taking action earlier in life.

For example, while most people are aware that excess weight is an important risk factor for heart attacks and strokes, we usually have only a vague sense of what that actually means beyond the risk of death. Surviving a stroke, for example, is usually a very long and painful process, especially for older victims who may already be frail. Even less well known is the kidney disease that often accompanies type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Losing kidney function and going on dialysis at any age is something that's hard to imagine until you see it before your own eyes, and it doesn't become any easier as we older. Obesity also worsens such common and painful conditions as arthritis. This may not sound particularly frightening, but severe chronic pain is obviously going to hugely impair anyone's ability to enjoy their life and be healthy.

When considering a procedure such as a sleeve or a gastric bypass in Thousand Oaks, don't simply consider the shorter term benefits or even the risk of premature death. The fact of the matter is that medical science has gotten extremely good at extending life even for many people with multiple health issues. As more and more of us can expect to make it well into our eighties and beyond, even with fairly severe obesity, the issue of the overall quality of life as you go into your later years is increasingly crucial.

The Company You Keep; the Choices You Make

At University Bariatrics, we tend to focus more on the hows than the whys of obesity, but figuring out both is obviously of great importance in dealing with the tough problem of fighting our natural tendency to overeat. After all, it's great to perform a sleeve gastrectomy, but if we understood better just what it was that makes some people eat too much on a regular basis, we could do more preventive work.

That's a big part of why we were so intrigued by a brief article in the October 6 Los Angeles Times. It described a study in which some diners were first invited to watch an actress who appeared to be overweight (she was actually wearing a special suit designed to make her look 50 pounds heavier). It didn't seem to matter much whether the "heavy" woman ate a relatively high calorie meal mostly of pasta or a healthier meal emphasizing salads, people who watched the apparently large woman eat were more likely to make heavier, pasta-centric choices.

We human beings are social animals and there's no doubt we take our cues from those around us. What makes this study interesting, however, is that the mere presence of an overweight person might make us less careful about what we eat, regardless of what they actually eat in front of us. As to what we should actually do with this information, we're not sure. It's only one study and it's not like we can suddenly start avoiding everyone we know who might have a few pounds to lose. Even if we could, it would clearly have little or no impact, especially in comparison with having a sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass in Thousand Oaks at our offices.

On the other hand, especially for those of us who are parents, it might be cause for some serious consideration. Could the very fact that we're overweight cause our children to overeat more often, even if we're very careful to only eat healthfully while they're actually around? It certainly might be one more motivating factor to continue our own efforts to fight obesity. It's food for thought.

Are Some Left Out by Current Thinking About Bariatric Surgery?

In recent years, obesity has become a growing problem - and bariatric surgery has become one of the best methods to defend against the disease. However, Reuters reports that the current way we think about bariatric surgery may be keeping men, substance users and older patients from receiving potentially life-saving treatment. .

A study from a Canadian program designed to encourage obese people to undergo weight loss treatment came to these results. Dr. Fayez Quereshy, the senior author of the study says that men, smokers, drinkers, drug users and people over 60 years of age and older were more likely than others to quit the program before undergoing the operation. 

It is unknown what caused these people to drop out of the program - or if they were refused treatment - but it is unfortunate, since many past cases have shown that bariatric surgery can be more effective than diet, exercise, therapy and drugs at helping obese people to shed weight. However, it is hoped that this study will help medical professionals like Dr. Mehran at University Bariatrics to know how to best tailor future bariatric surgery services to each patient's specific needs.

Dr. Mehran is a licensed and board certified surgeon in California. He is also a member of multiple surgical societies, and an acclaimed expert among peers and patients alike. Over the course of his career, he has performed approximately 1000 laparoscopic stapled bariatric and operations like gastric bypass Thousand Oaks, making the surgeon an ideal option for those who are seeking sustainable, safe and rapid weight loss.