Archive for October, 2009

Anne Diamond calls for more NHS gastric band surgery

Monday, October 19th, 2009

Anne Diamond spoke at the National Obesity Forum annual conference, saying that it is important that gastric band surgery is available on the NHS, to prevent obese people having unregulated foreign surgery.

She stated that surgery should not be the first choice, but it should be available to those who have reached the end of the line.

The broadcaster went to Belgium in 2006 where errors during her gastric band surgery meant the operation had to be corrected by British surgeons when she got home. Although she had always had the willpower to lose weight she always ended up putting the weight back on.

She feels that if gastric band surgery was more freely available in the UK it would stop people going abroad for potentially faulty surgery.

Telegraph 15th October 2009

NOSC View

People are often tempted by the lower prices offered by surgeons abroad. In reality, the true cost can be extremely high. At NOSC we speak with people every week who regret the decision to have their surgery abroad. In the right hands the gastric band operation is a straightforward laparoscopic procedure from which most patients recover quickly. However, there always exceptions, and we would advise anyone considering going abroad for surgery to ask themselves the following questions; “What happens if I need medical attention after I return home?”  “How do I access any kind of support?” “Where do I go for my gastric band adjustments?” “How do I arange an x-ray fill for my first adjustment?” ”Who will advise and monitor me with my new eating regime?” “How do I know that the surgeon abroad is qualified to perform gastric band surgery?”

Our advice to everyone is to have the gastric band operation close to home. Always think ’safety first’ – it is a priority.

At NOSC our patients can access us 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They speak with the support team on a regular basis and have immediate access to their surgeon and should it ever be required, they can be quickly admitted to hospital.

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WEIGHT LOSS WONDERS

Monday, October 19th, 2009

MANCHESTER LEADS THE WAY WITH SPECIALIST WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY

The National Obesity Surgery Centre, based in Manchester, is the UK’s leading specialist in weight loss surgery, offering both gastric band and gastric balloon procedures at eight locations throughout England and Scotland, and patients under their care are experiencing dramatic and life-changing results.

The centre reported a staggering increase of 350% in the number of procedures carried out last year, and the number of locations where procedures are available has doubled in the last twelve months. This dramatic increase is testament to the National Obesity Surgery Centre’s high standards of patient care, its leading team of consultants and a comprehensive support programme for all patients.

Demand has also been boosted by celebrities such as Fern Britton who have publicly endorsed the gastric band procedure and proved just how impressive results can be. With obesity affecting an estimated one in four Britons – many of whom are not eligible for treatment under the NHS – those who are serious about losing weight and changing their eating habits can consider one of the two leading weight loss surgery options offered by the centre; the gastric band or the gastric balloon.

The gastric band is an adjustable and reversible procedure and a popular choice for many patients, some of which have shed up to eight stone in eight months, like 54 year old Annette Bates. Annette said “Like many women, I have tried every diet under the sun and yes, I always lose weight in the first instance but sooner or later it would all go back on. Now, I just can’t eat bigger portions and having the physical restriction is what’s helped me get the weight off”

Annette added, “My husband just can’t believe the difference and is really proud of me, and my grandson loves that I can go out for a bike-ride with him – it’s just completely changed my life”

Others are more suited to the gastric balloon; a non-invasive, low risk procedure which doesn’t require a general anaesthetic but can deliver radical results. During the period the balloon is in place and for six months afterwards, each patient is assigned their own personal coach to help them address the issues that can lead to obesity and encouraged to change their eating habits and lifestyle to keep the weight off. Patients have on-call access to their medical back-up team which includes a cognitive behavioural therapist, a nutritionist and a doctor.

Karen Beech, a 35 year old mother of three, lost seven stone in six months with the gastric balloon and went from a dress size 22 to a size 10. Karen commented, “I have discovered a whole new me and I can’t praise the clinic highly enough. The support programme has been amazing and has been a big part of helping me change my eating habits to ensure that the weight stays off. I love the new me”

The National Obesity Surgery Centre’s team of consultants and gastroenterologists are the most experienced in the UK and as a testament to this, its medical director, Dr John Mason, has recently been chosen to train surgeons and gastroenterologists across the UK who wish to perform the procedure.

Dr Mason, a consultant gastroenterologist at Trafford General Hospital commented, “The support programme offered by the National Obesity Surgery Centre for both procedures is very comprehensive and this has been a key factor in the clinic’s success”  

NOSC View

We were very pleased to see this article appear in the Manchester Evening News as it reflects the success of both the gastric band and the gastric balloon. It also picks up on one extremely important point, and that is the amount of support each patient requires to make a true success of their procedure. NOSC has spent many years in the development of its support programme, which is why our patients achieve such outstanding results.

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Regional Obesity Surgery Centres in Ireland

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

According to Consultant laparoscopic and bariatric surgeon Mr Colm O’Boyle, the waiting list for admission to Ireland’s only public adult obesity centre is so long that people are seeking private treatment outside the country.

Bariatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the causes, prevention and treatment of obesity and includes gastric bands and gastric balloons. Mr O’Boyle said that people should be discouraged from going abroad by setting up publicly funded bariatric centres across Ireland.

Although there are somewhere between 40,000 and 60,000 people in Ireland who could benefit from bariatric surgery, there are only a handful of trained surgeons in the Republic, mostly carrying out very low levels of surgery.

The Irish Times – September 15th 2009

NOSC View

Over the years we have accommodated a high percentage of patients from Ireland for both gastric bands and gastric balloons. Our hospitals in Manchester and Glasgow are popular because of their location and easy flight availability. However, because of the high demand, we are looking to open a facility in Dublin in 2010.

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Very Low Calorie Diets (VLCD)

Monday, October 12th, 2009

Crash diets are back in the news after the death of a woman who was following a very low calorie diet.

Samantha Clow, 34, was 17st 7lb with a BMI of 37 when she started a VLCD. She died of heart failure in Leeds last year after losing 3 stone in 11 weeks on a diet that allowed just 530 calories a day in soups and shakes. The coroner cautiously implied that her death “may be related to her low calorie diet”. Dr David Haslam, chair of the National Obesity Forum said “Samantha’s death tragically shows the real dangers of being obese”.

Registered dietitian, Cirian-Marie Beddoes says “Most VLCDs such as the Cambridge Diet are provided with little support. LighterLife does offer group counselling but this is run by graduates of a training programme lasting just 4 weeks”. 

NOSC View

Very low calorie diets can be dangerous and are counter productive to sustained and long term weight loss. Invariably, people who lose weight in this manner will re-gain it quickly once they resume a normal eating pattern. Evidence shows that they will often pile on additional pounds, leading to a pattern of yo-yo dieting.

The Independent – Tuesday 15th September 2009

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New study confirms long-term effectiveness of gastric banding on type 2 diabetes remission and improvement

Monday, October 12th, 2009

Patients who have a laparoscopic adjustable gastric band can expect sustained weight loss and an 83% improvement or remission of type 2 diabetes, with a significant reduction in haemoglobin (HbA1c) five years after surgery according to a new study. Dr Christine Ren, co-researcher and associate Professor of Surgery at New York University School of Medicine said that this is the largest long-term study of the impact of gastric banding on diabetes.

She says that the study contributes to mounting evidence demonstrating that gastric bands can have a sustained and meaningful effect on diabetes and morbid obesity and that the two diseases are inter-related. It should also be noted that those patients who lost and maintained significant weight loss saw the greatest remission of diabetes in a shorter period of time.

Researchers examined 95 patients who had gastric band surgery between January 2002 and January 2004. Prior to surgery the patients ranged in age from 21 to 68 with an average BMI of 46. The average patient was diagnosed with diabetes 6.5 years before surgery. About 85% were taking oral medication and 15% were using insulin to control their diabetes. Patient’s weight, medical history and blood work were recorded as part of a routine follow-up after surgery. Researchers followed each patient monthly through the first year, every 3 months for the second year, and then annually or more frequently as needed.

The investigators revealed that in 2008, the five year follow-up data showed that diabetes went into remission in about 40% of patients and improved in an additional 43%, for a combined improvement/remission rate of 83%. Patient mean BMI decreased to 35, yielding an average excess weight loss of 48.3%. The average fasting glucose level decreased from 146 to 118.5 and the average HbA1c decreased from 7.53 to 6.58%.

September 2009

NOSC View

Because we consider it to be the best band available we exclusively use the Allergan Gastric Band (Lap Band). The exciting news is that this band is the first obesity device in Europe to receive official approval for weight loss that leads to improvement or remission of type 2 diabetes.

The evidence leading to the approval comes from a two year randomised controlled clinical study which showed that patients who lost weight with the Allergan Lap Band were over 5 times more likely to achieve remission of type 2 diabetes than those receiving conventional diabetes therapy (73% vs 13%)

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