Why Lose Weight BEFORE Weight Loss Surgery?

Research has proven that patients that lose weight (even a little) prior to any weight-loss surgical procedure will have a higher probability of attaining their weight management goals. We urge our patients to be conscience of their pre-operative weight to ensure greater success through this life-changing journey. Losing weight prior to surgery is great and encouraged.

Our practice recommends OPTIFAST to patients interested in Bariatric Surgery for a few reasons:

1. Weight loss is a process and not something that just happens overnight because you had a procedure. That said, choosing OPTIFAST and implementing this meal replacement program helps patients to change their mental "mindset" about food and nourishment. The program mentally re-programs how a patient thinks about food and assists them in transforming how they relate to food.  
   
2. OPTIFAST promotes weight loss. Did you know? When you lose weight, your liver will actually decrease in size depending on the amount of pounds shed. A smaller liver makes the whole procedure less risky for the patient.  
3. OPTIFAST has a proven track record for success ranging back to the 1970's. Many people seeking weight management have reached their goals by implementing a structured program directly recommended by our professional healthcare team led by Dr. Ken Hollis.  
4. Our patients understand that losing weight prior to surgery is important, but they also do not want to have to carry around tubs of powder to make shakes, etc. We understand... that's a hassle! OPTIFAST is very portable and you can carry your entire day's supply with you.

OPTIFAST comes in the following flavors (and yes, we eat and drink them, too!):

Shakes/Powder:

• Chocolate
• Vanilla
• Strawberry

Soups:

• Chicken Soup
• Tomato Soup 

Snack Bars:

• Chocolate
• Peanut Butter Chocolate
• Berry Yogurt

OPTIFAST is available for purchase in our office and coming soon... via our online e-Store!

Call Us - BayChoice Bariatrics at 281-482-5300 and Order Today!

Obesity Poses as Great a Threat as Smoking

NEW YORK (United Press International, 2010) 

Obesity has become an equal, if not greater, contributor to illness and a shortened life as smoking, U.S. researchers found.

Haomiao Jia and Dr. Erica I. Lubetkin of Columbia University and The City College of New York calculated that the quality adjusted life years lost due to obesity is now equal to, if not greater than, those lost due to smoking.

The researchers used data from the 1993-2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, which conducted interviews of more than 3.5 million individuals with annual interviews starting with 102,263 in 1993 and ending with 406,749 in 2008.

From 1993-2008, the proportion of smokers among U.S. adults declined 18.5 percent and smoking-related, quality adjusted life years lost were relatively stable at 0.0438 quality adjusted life years lost per population.

During this same period, the proportion of obese people increased 85 percent and this resulted in 0.0464 quality adjusted life years lost. Smoking had a bigger impact on deaths while obesity had a bigger impact on illness, the study found.

The study is to be published in the February issue of the American Journal of Preventative Medicine.

Dr. Ken Hollis

Dr. Hollis has practiced laparoscopic surgery for nearly 20 years, beginning in 1989 as one of the early surgeons in the U.S. performing minimally invasive procedures. He is the Medical Director for Memorial Hermann Southeast specializing in LapBand and Bariatric surgeries.