obesity

Doctors: Weight Loss Surgery is Okay for Obese Kids

October 28, 2019 By Amanda Blankenship 1 Comment

Weight loss surgery, such as gastric bypass and lap bands, have traditionally been used in obese adults who have issues losing weight. Now, pediatricians are calling for the surgeries to be a viable option for obese children and teens as well.

Should Kids Get Surgery?

About 5 million children in the United States are severely obese. While many adults undergo weight-loss surgeries to handle their weight problems, it hasn’t been an option brought up to many kids. Some doctors believe it could hurt their growth and possibly even hurt them by not teaching them to eat better.

Kids typically undergo surgery like a tonsillectomy or appendectomy. However, with the obesity problem in the U.S. increasing annually and more children being impacted, pediatricians are calling for weight loss surgeries to be available to kids.

Pre-teens and teens who would be considered eligible would have a body-mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher. Kids with a BMI of 35 or more would also be eligible for weight loss surgery if they have additional health conditions as a result of their weight, like diabetes or sleep apnea.

How Much Does Weight Loss Surgery Cost?

Even if they need it, most children’s families cannot afford to pay for weight loss surgery. There are still only about 2,000 pediatric weight-loss surgeries performed each year. Most private and public health insurance companies will not cover the procedure. Without insurance coverage, surgery costs can land around $20,000.

“Right now there’s a lot of variability in what’s paid for. There are certain plans that simply consider bariatric surgery under the age of 18 as experimental, which means they’re not going to be covered,” said Dr. Kirk Reichard, surgical director of the Bariatric Surgery Program at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Delaware.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending weight loss surgery be considered safe for children and teens with severe obesity. Additionally, they are suggesting it also be covered by insurance providers.

“This policy statement specifically says that there’s no specific age guideline. Furthermore, we recognize that severe obesity in children disproportionally affects racial and ethnic minorities, and the economically disadvantaged, especially for girls,” Dr. Reichard stated.

It is important to keep in mind that if you or your child get weight loss surgery, it is not a “quick fix.” In fact, after you go under the knife, you have to stick to a strict diet and exercise program before being accepted for surgery. You will also have to stick to a diet after the surgery is completed. Many people have wasted money getting surgery without putting time into changing their habits.

The Body-Positive Movement is Adding to the Obesity Problem: Study

June 24, 2018 By Amanda Blankenship Leave a Comment

In recent years numerous campaigns for body-positivity have made way for the normalization of the plus-sized American. Although the body-positive movement may help raise the self-esteem of some individuals, it may actually be adding to the obesity problem.

Obesity-related illnesses account for $190.2 billion in medical spending in the United States (about 21 percent of annual medical spending period). There is no sign of it slowing down any time soon either.

Raya Muttarak, DPhil, from the University of East Anglia and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria, conducted the study, taking a look at the body-positive movement and its impact on the collective health of the people.

Around 93.3 million U.S. adults are impacted by obesity. While the body-positive movement may have a positive effect on their overall self-esteem, it is having an even more significant impact on their physical health.

The Body-Positive Movement May Cloud Your Judgement

What Muttarak found was that the number of people underestimating their weight has increased over time. To come to this conclusion, researchers surveyed more than 23,000 overweight or obese adults in Britain. They gauged their perception of their weight against how much they actually weight.

According to the study, 57.9 percent of men and 30.6 percent of women underestimate their weight, compared to 48.4 percent and 24.5 percent in 1997. Those who misperceived their weight were 85 percent less likely to make an attempt to lose weight.

“Seeing the huge potential of the fuller-sized fashion market, retailers may have contributed to the normalization of being overweight and obese,” stated Muttarak. “While this type of body-positive movement helps reduce stigmatization of larger-sized bodies, it can potentially undermine the recognition of being overweight and its health consequences.”

Additionally, the study found that nearly 84 percent of women and 43 percent of men are not happy with their bodies. This type of feeling about themselves could lead to eating disorders and depression. On top of that, it was also found people with lower incomes are more likely to be overweight as well.

“The higher prevalence of being overweight and obesity among individuals with lower levels of education and income may contribute to visual normalization — that is, more regular visual exposure to people with excess weight than their counterparts with higher socioeconomic status have,” said Muttarak.

Critics of the body-positive movement point out that it creates the idea that weight and health aren’t connected in any way. Many people call it an excuse for individuals who are overweight to keep the extra pounds on. Essentially, the wrong kind of body positivity could blind individuals from seeing weight gain and potential health problems.

This study was published in the journal Obesity.

Readers, what do you think about the body-positive movement and its potential impact on obesity in the U.S.?

Lack of Sleep Could Add Inches to Your Waistline

July 30, 2017 By James Hendrickson Leave a Comment

It has been known for some time that the amount of sleep you get can impact your health, especially your mental health. Lack of sleep has been linked to anxiety and depression. The latest study about how sleep impacts the body showed that, in addition to other health issues, lack of sleep can cause weight gain.

The study was performed in the United Kingdom after researchers realized diabetes (something that often affects overweight and obese individuals) was killing 24,000 U.K. citizens each year. Four-hundred and fifteen million people suffer from the disease worldwide. But how are diabetes, being overweight and lack of sleep all related?

How Does Lack of Sleep Impact Weight?

Researchers took a look at 1,615 adults and their sleep patterns. The study showed that individuals who slept about six hours each night had a waist circumference three centimeters (1.18 inches) larger than subjects who slept approximately nine hours each night. Those who slept fewer hours also had higher body mass index (BMI) numbers.

To perform the study each study participant had a blood sample taken, waist measured and blood pressure recorded. According to Forbes, the sleep times fell into three separate categories: about six hours, average of 7.5 hours, approximately nine hours. Nothing the researchers found pointed to a link between lack of sleep and eating poorly. However, individuals who only slept an average of six hours per night had higher waist circumference and poor blood pressure results.

There were some factors that allowed for error in the study. Most of the information was self-recorded by the study’s participants. This means that the data collected on the amount of sleep each person got each night and their individual diet may not be completely accurate. There is enough evidence, however, to determine a link between lack of sleep and obesity, which is an important point.

Why? Well, the true reason why is still a topic of discussion among researchers. So far they’ve been able to deduce that lack of sleep can impact your self control, leading you to make poor food choices and ganging weight. Lack of sleep can also disrupt your hormones and make you more likely to crave those midnight snacks.

“Because we found that adults who reported sleeping less than their peers were more likely to be overweight or obese, our findings highlight the importance of getting enough sleep,” said Dr. Laura Hardie, senior investigator. “How much sleep we need differs between people, but the current consensus is that seven to nine hours is best for most adults.”

If you’re a short sleeper, don’t worry. There are a few things you can do to change your sleeping pattern and better your health. Try these:

Go to bed earlier.
Remove electronics from your bedroom. (Having televisions, phones, tablets, etc. in your room can impact the quality of sleep you are getting.)
Sleep with earplugs in. If you’re a light sleeper, earplugs can help you sleep more soundly.
Get a white noise machine. Have trouble going to sleep? A white noise machine helps many people nod off at the end of a long day.
Better monitor your diet. Keep a written log or log in your phone of what you eat and be more conscious about what you’re putting into your body.
When you can, correct your lack of sleep. Sleep in on the weekends if you can.

Taking initiative and being contentious about your sleeping patterns and health is the first step to avoiding obesity. By making small adjustments you can impact your health in a huge way!

Read the full study at PLOS.

Photo: Health.com

Sugary Drinks Could Change The Way Your Body Burns Fat

July 23, 2017 By James Hendrickson 1 Comment

One in three Americans drink soda or some other form of sugary drink on a daily basis. Considering the rising number of cases of diabetes and obesity-related deaths in the country, that is alarming. To top that off, sugary drinks may be adding fuel to the weight gain of Americans.

That’s right. McDonald’s isn’t just helping you pack on the pounds with their food but adding on a sugary drink will help you keep the weight. A recent study showed that adding a sugary drink to a protein-rich meal (say, a Big Mac combo) can decrease your body’s ability to burn fat by 8 percent.

The ‘War’ on Sugar

It’s been no secret that you shouldn’t be taking in huge amounts of sugar on a daily basis. Although that seems like common sense, one-third of Americans are still drinking sugary drinks every day. Sugary drinks like soda and energy drinks have been linked to a rise in heart disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity for years. In fact, cities like New York have tried to wage war on sugar by placing higher tax on sugary drinks. Though there have been numerous studies as to why these drinks are so bad for you, the most recent study may provide a bit more of a reason as to why sugary drinks are doing so much harm.

How Sugary Drinks Impact Your Metabolism

The study, which was funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, consisted of 27 participants. Each individual stayed in an isolated room. During their time in the room their levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, temperature, and air pressure were all measured, making it possible for the study researchers to measure each person’s metabolism.

Each participant spent 24 hours in the room at a time. They’d be given breakfast and lunch with either a sugary drink or artificial sweetener. Those who had been given a sugary drink had a slower metabolic rate (by 8 percent). They were also more likely to crave salty snacks in the hours following the meal.

It’s All About Pairing (And Moderation)

What researchers would like to point out is that a lot of how sugary drinks (and anything else you put in your body) affects your health has a lot to do with the other things you are putting in your body as well. Researchers found that meals higher in protein paired with sugary drinks would decrease their ability to metabolize the food by 8 percent.

Meals with high protein (15 percent protein or more) paired with sugary drinks made noticeable changes in the subject’s metabolism. A meal with 15 percent protein partnered with a sugary drink would reduce fat oxidation by about 7.2 grams, according to Tech Times. This means every time you go through the drive thru at your favorite fast food and order a number five with a large Coke you’re slowly your body’s ability to burn fat down.

All in all, everything in life has to come with moderation. No one is saying you have to cut sugary drinks out of your life entirely but certainly don’t drink them every day and, if you do, don’t pair it with a big juicy burger. Be conscious about what you’re putting in your body so that you always get the best out! Also, check out these 10 healthy soda alternatives.

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Photo: Nature World News

You’re Obese Because You’re Lazy, Not Because You Eat Too Much

July 9, 2014 By Peter Szilagyi 4 Comments

Obesity from lack of exercise, not what we eat

A report by Stanford University researchers, set to appear in the American Journal of Medicine’s August issue, shows a remarkable correlation between a dwindling amount of time spent exercising and the worrisome rise of obesity among Americans. Somewhat surprisingly, the study also found no significant increase in daily caloric intake. The study is based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, beginning in 1988 and continuing until 2010. A dramatic shift is evident in the percentage of adults who reported completely avoiding exercise in their free time. Among men, this number grew from 11 to 43 percent, and for women, it increased from 19 percent to 52 percent. The same study reports a change in obesity from 20 to 35 percent in men and 25 to 35 in women.

Dr. Uri Ladabaum, Stanford professor of gastroenterology and lead author of the study, said of the results, “We suspected there was a trend in that direction, but not that magnitude. People can get exercise in other ways, but most people don’t walk or bike to work, and most people are not in jobs that require physical activity.”

The data, however, was collected by self-report, and Ladabaum says, “It is possible people were not recalling correctly what they ate, or not reporting correctly.” He notes the study measures trends and shows possible correlation, but it is unable to prove a definite cause and effect. Additionally, he states his desire to point out a lack of change in caloric intake as not necessarily being indicative of healthy habits to begin with.

Despite the limitations to the study, the new information may still prove relevant to the obesity epidemic which plagues the Unites States. American Journal of Medicine editor Pamela Powers said that she, “…wants sedentary folks to get off the couch and exercise, but my public health background cautions me to go beyond the data tables and look at the lives of Americans today.” She states single mothers are a good example of the hectic lives many lead, and why it can be challenging to find the time and energy to exercise.

As the nation struggles to tackle the growing problem, questions are constantly raised about what is right and wrong when it comes to policy-making concerning obesity. Just how to fight the issue is uncertain. Definitive or not, Ladabaum feels confident that this report can play a helpful role in this process, saying, “Even though it is very difficult to prove directly that public health interventions promoting physical activity will make a difference, I think they will. This study should serve as a reinforcement of the message that we need to think of a multi-component solution.”

(Photo courtesy of Alan Cleaver)