The second study seems to contradict the findings of the first study, but since the participants in the first study were all physically fit and in their 20’s, it may be that older, less active people respond differently to exercise when it comes to appetite and food motivation. The second study was of 34 overweight adults, who took part in a supervised exercise routine. The participants were not put on any diet restrictions and advised to eat how they liked. After 12 weeks on the program, 20 of the participants had shed a significant amount of weight, but the other 14 had shed only one or two pounds, if any. These 14 people had the highest brain responses to food cues following exercise when the study began and actually showed more enthusiasm for food after exercising at 12 weeks than at the beginning of the study. The findings suggest that in order for exercise to noticeably decrease appetite, it may be important to exercise for an hour or more and it may help to be already lean and in shape.  Exercising can have psychological effects for everyone, however, and even if it does not dampen desire for food, it might inspire better food choices, ultimately leading to weight loss.

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Qnexa was rejected by the FDA committee in 2010 with a 10 to 6 vote against approval by the same panel. This year, however, the members agreed that the health risks of obesity and the benefits of losing weight outweighed the risks posed by the drug, and voted to recommend approval of QNEXA, 20 to 2. The previous rejection was largely because of concerns over the potential for heart problems, birth defects and mental effects, including lack of concentration and fogginess. Vivus has made plans to minimize those risks through measures like labeling and an additional trial to investigate cardiovascular side effects. Some experts, however, are still very concerned with the side effects, as the drug will likely be sought by millions of Americans. Other experts feel that this is a step in the right direction in addressing the serious consequences of the obesity epidemic. The FDA is expected to make a final decision on the request to approve QNEXA in the next couple of months.

While there has been difficulty finding an acceptable drug to treat obesity, research has found weight loss surgery to be a very effective treatment for obese people with a BMI as low as 30 for the gastric band. You can learn more about our program at Oregon Weight Loss Surgery here.

In an effort to determine the most effective way to treat obese children, the authors of the statement examined research on the outcomes of several behavioral change strategies. Some of the strategies that they evaluated included high involvement by parents and caregivers in the context of treatment programs. Most of these programs were multi-disciplinary and involved a team of dieticians, psychologists, and medical staff. The programs were mainly carried out in a hospital clinic or university setting. From the research, the statement authors determined which strategies were most effective at weight loss. The strategies were implemented in a treatment program by healthcare professionals; however, the psychological principles on which they are based offer sound guidance for families of obese children.

The strategies include:

• Identify specific behaviors that should be changed, as a family.
• Create clear and specific goals and monitor progress. For instance, a goal could be to limit TV and video game time to 1 hour per day.
• Provide a home environment that encourages healthier food choices. It is important to reduce temptations at home, such as eliminating high calorie desserts, in favor of offering a variety of fruits from which children can choose.
• Parents should commend their children’s progress and use slip-ups as an opportunity to help children learn how to make better choices.
• Food shouldn’t be used as a behavior reward, nor withheld as punishment.
• Log progress toward goals, using either an online or written tracker.

What can you do if you suffer from acid reflux? Dr. Gregg Jossart says that the weight loss following bariatric surgery improves the symptoms of heart burn. Other than losing weight, some of the recommendations to improve symptoms of acid reflux are: try not to eat within 3 hours of bedtime, consume smaller meals more frequently and don’t overeat. Additionally, acid reflux sufferers should try to pinpoint personal triggers – perhaps chocolate, caffeine, or high-fat food–and avoid them. Smoking and consuming alcohol can also trigger symptoms and should be reduced or eliminated.

Obesity is a risk factor for many diseases and health conditions. You can visit our website to learn more about Oregon Weight Loss Surgery’s surgical weight loss program.

According to a statement from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), Gastric Plication  be should be considered an investigational weight loss procedure because there’s currently not enough data available on its safety and efficacy. However, some clinical studies have shown that patients lose 40-70% of their excess body weight in the year after Gastric Plication surgery and comorbidities may improve or resolve. We will continue to update you as there is additional information available about this new, investigational procedure.

The findings indicated that men typically gain 3.4 pounds in their first year of college and women gain an average of 2.4 pounds. Only 10 percent of college freshmen put on 15 pounds, so the vast majority did not experience the “Freshman 15.” The data also showed that compared to same-age peers that did not attend college, the typical freshman gains only a half-pound more. The researchers found that instead of a spike in weight during the freshman year, college students experienced moderate but steady weight gain during and after college, with women putting on an average of seven to nine pounds, over the course of their studies and men on average 12 to 13 pounds. The study authors concluded that while we do gain weight as we get older, it is not the college environment in itself that leads to weight gain – it is becoming a young adult.

While it is typical to gain weight as we age, it is important to maintain a healthy body weight. Millions of people worldwide are overweight or obese. Being obese puts you at risk for several diseases and conditions, such as high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes. Learn more here about obesity and treatments such as weight loss surgery.

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Dr. Kaplan concluded his presentation by revisiting what is already known about obesity: that it has a negative impact on health and that bariatric surgery is an effective therapy for obesity, diabetes and other comorbidities. However, many severely obese people are not receiving surgery, so it is important to develop additional therapies. You can read more about the course, including details on the four main drivers of obesity,  here.

Participation in courses like those at the ASMBS Fall Event is so important to bariatric surgeons who want to stay on the cutting edge of research, and have an opportunity to collaborate with other leading surgeons.