Archive for March, 2010

Increased Risk Of Kidney Stones After Gastric Bypass Surgery

Monday, March 15th, 2010

A new study has found that patients who undergo gastric bypass surgery increase their risk of developing kidney stones.

It was found that the excretion of a material called oxalate, found in urine, was significantly greater in participants who had gastric bypass than in those who had not had surgery. In addition, the amount of a chemical called citrate was low in many gastric bypass patients.

Citrate inhibits stone formation, while oxalate is almost always found in kidney stones.

It is not entirely clear why kidney stones form after gastric bypass, but the study shows that the majority of patients are at risk and complications can occur months or years after surgery.

The Journal of Urology

NOSC View

Yet another reason to have a gastric band or gastric balloon rather than bypass surgery.

Posted in Gastric Bypass, NHS, Weight Loss Surgery | Comments Off

The Perils of Gastric Bypass

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

US singer Carnie Wilson had gastric bypass surgery in 1999 and lost half her body weight. She weighed 300 pounds before the surgery and she lost 150 pounds. Ten years later she is back up to 212 pounds.

Losing weight with a bypass is no guarantee that it will stay off as the stomach typically stretches again over time. Gastric bypass is an extreme and controversial treatment for obesity.

One study showed that one in five patients had complications after surgery including heart attacks and strokes. Another study showed that the mortality rate for gastric bypass patients is one in two hundred.

Regaining weight after gastric bypass creates physical and emotional problems. Carnie Wilson says she is determined to lose her weight again.

Celebrity Health & Fitness

NOSC View

Our view on gastric bypass remains the same. This is radical surgery that changes the anatomy of the stomach. The evidence is that a high percentage of people who have lost weight after gastric bypass will eventually regain some, or all of it, after a time lapse of 5 years. Why would anyone choose this option when there is a far easier solution that doesn’t change the anatomy of the body in any way, lasts for a lifetime and is fully adjustable? Yes, we are talking about the gastric band!

Posted in Gastric Bypass, Weight Loss Surgery | Comments Off

8 Out Of 10 Women Would Choose To Have Surgery To Lose Weight

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

1300 people completed a survey asking how they would like to lose their excess weight. Liposuction was the most popular choice with women (34%) followed by gastric banding (26%) and cutting calories (14%).

8% would consider a tummy tuck, 6% would use a combined approach of diet and exercise and 2% said they would exercise more. The survey concluded that 56% of people in the UK would rather lose weight through surgery than the conventional way of eating less and exercising more. 

Telegraph

NOSC View

It was interesting to hear that 26% of those surveyed would opt for a gastric band and 14% would cut calories. However, it is misleading to class tummy tuck and liposuction as weight loss procedures. Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) removes loose skin from the abdomen and the layer of fat underneath. This is not an operation for someone who is generally overweight and the usual requirement is that patients are as close to their normal weight as possible prior to surgery. Liposuction is  a procedure for removing areas of spot fat that won’t respond to diet or exercise. Both surgeries will probably offer an actual weight loss of between 2lb and 3lb.

If you are serious about losing weight then try cutting your calories. If that doesn’t work for you, think seriously about a gastric band or a gastric balloon. We know that they work!

Posted in Gastric Balloon, Gastric Band, Weight Loss Surgery | Comments Off