But weight loss procedure has its own set of risks, experts note
THURSDAY, Sept. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Obese women who have weight loss surgery before they get pregnant are three times less likely to develop gestational diabetes and are also less likely to require a cesarean section, a new study finds.
U.S. researchers compared rates of gestational diabetes and related outcomes such as cesarean delivery among 346 obese women who had bariatric surgery before pregnancy and 354 obese women who had bariatric surgery after delivery. Most of the women in the study had a gastric bypass operation, with some opting for an adjustable band procedure.
Rates of gestational diabetes were 8 percent for those who had the surgery before pregnancy and 27 percent for those who had the surgery after delivery. Rates of cesarean delivery were 28 percent and 43 percent, respectively.
Makary and colleagues noted that most of the women who underwent weight-loss surgery did not wait the recommended two years afterwards before delivering a baby.
The study appears in the August issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
"Despite a growing body of evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of bariatric surgery in reversing obesity-related complications, few candidates for the procedure are referred to a surgeon to discuss their options," senior author Dr. Martin Makary, an associate professor of surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in a journal news release.
Like all operations, however, bariatric surgery is not without risk. Potential complications, for example, include blood clots, infection, respiratory arrest, gastrointestinal bleeding, and death, according to the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery.
Sep 16, 2010
The Last One Picked: Psychological Implications of Childhood Obesity
Children are often cruel to one another, and one can often see evidence of this when it comes to sports and the infamous “choosing of sides”. The slow, unskilled, the unpopular and, finally, the overweight child, are nearly always chosen last. This action may have devastating and long-lasting effects on a child’s self-esteem and spirit. While physical problems, such as hypertension, orthopedic problems, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and sleep disorders are complications associated with obesity, the psychological effects associated with obesity can be just as devastating to a child and his or her family.
Being obese today has an impact on both how children view themselves and how others see them. Many children with weight problems develop low self-esteem, which may in turn, give way to emotional and behavioral problems such as depression, defiance, bullying and poor school performance.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has defined specific criteria for both overweight and obesity. Overweight is defined as having an age appropriate BMI between the 85th and 94th percentile, while obesity is defined as having a BMI in excess of the 95th percentile. BMI can be useful in estimating whether a child is overweight. It is calculated by dividing a child’s weight in kilograms by his or her height as meters squared. The incidence of obesity has doubled among 6- to 11-year-olds and tripled in 12- to 17-year-olds since 1980.
When working with the obese child, the physician should be looking not only at physical problems related to and often caused by obesity, but behavioral and emotional problems as well. The psychological impact of obesity has far-reaching implications for a child as they mature into young adults.
Being obese today has an impact on both how children view themselves and how others see them. Many children with weight problems develop low self-esteem, which may in turn, give way to emotional and behavioral problems such as depression, defiance, bullying and poor school performance.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has defined specific criteria for both overweight and obesity. Overweight is defined as having an age appropriate BMI between the 85th and 94th percentile, while obesity is defined as having a BMI in excess of the 95th percentile. BMI can be useful in estimating whether a child is overweight. It is calculated by dividing a child’s weight in kilograms by his or her height as meters squared. The incidence of obesity has doubled among 6- to 11-year-olds and tripled in 12- to 17-year-olds since 1980.
When working with the obese child, the physician should be looking not only at physical problems related to and often caused by obesity, but behavioral and emotional problems as well. The psychological impact of obesity has far-reaching implications for a child as they mature into young adults.
Sep 8, 2010
Bariatric Surgery in Youth Population
In the past 30 years, the prevalence of overweight among pediatric age groups in the United States has almost tripled. Current conservative estimates indicate that 15.5% of children and adolescents are obese. Rates of obesity among youth are on the rise. Bariatric surgery can be a consideration as a treatment option for those adolescents who have developed extreme obesity. Experts in pediatric obesity and bariatric surgery recommend that surgical treatment only be considered when adolescents have tried for at least six months to lose weight and have not been successful.
Candidates should be extremely obese, have reached their adult height (usually 13 or older for girls and 15 or older for boys), and have serious weight-related health problems. These problems can consist of type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension or heart disease.
Over the past few years, gastric bypass surgery has been the predominant operation used to treat adolescent extreme obesity. An estimated 2,700 adolescent bariatric surgeries were performed between 1996 and 2003.
Candidates should be extremely obese, have reached their adult height (usually 13 or older for girls and 15 or older for boys), and have serious weight-related health problems. These problems can consist of type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension or heart disease.
Over the past few years, gastric bypass surgery has been the predominant operation used to treat adolescent extreme obesity. An estimated 2,700 adolescent bariatric surgeries were performed between 1996 and 2003.
Weight-Loss Surgery Helps with Certain Illnesses
Morbidly obese individuals with illnesses related to their weight, diabetes for example, have a good chance of losing these sicknesses after undergoing bariatric surgery. There are several types of weight-loss surgery: removing 80% of the stomach, banding or bypassing it. All of which reduce the capacity of the stomach and restoring the patient to normal eating. Obesity has been found to be a clear link with risk of Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. Research finds that bariatric surgery can cure these metabolic complications.
One patient who had surgery just ten months ago shared, what he calls, a “life changing experience.” He stated, “My diabetes, blood pressure and gout have all disappeared completely after my surgery.” Studies have shown that patients get rid of their diabetes within just weeks of their surgery.
Weight loss has a close relationship with the disappearance of diabetes. The reason for this is because the pancreas is capable of producing enough insulin to cover the body mass which soon wipes away the existence of diabetes.
The purpose of bariatric surgery is to ensure that a person is restored to health and wellness. Obesity is an excess accumulation of fat, but morbid obesity if not just being lazy and eating heavy—it is a clinical condition. This can be determined by the Body Mass Index (BMI), a waist-hip ratio, and other existing medical conditions. Bariatric surgery may be the next step for those individuals who remain severely obese after trying nonsurgical approaches, especially if they have an obesity-related disease.
One patient who had surgery just ten months ago shared, what he calls, a “life changing experience.” He stated, “My diabetes, blood pressure and gout have all disappeared completely after my surgery.” Studies have shown that patients get rid of their diabetes within just weeks of their surgery.
Weight loss has a close relationship with the disappearance of diabetes. The reason for this is because the pancreas is capable of producing enough insulin to cover the body mass which soon wipes away the existence of diabetes.
The purpose of bariatric surgery is to ensure that a person is restored to health and wellness. Obesity is an excess accumulation of fat, but morbid obesity if not just being lazy and eating heavy—it is a clinical condition. This can be determined by the Body Mass Index (BMI), a waist-hip ratio, and other existing medical conditions. Bariatric surgery may be the next step for those individuals who remain severely obese after trying nonsurgical approaches, especially if they have an obesity-related disease.
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