Obesity is a disease that gets national attention on what seems like a daily basis. That can be a great thing. Sometimes, though, I wonder if it can desensitize us to just how serious a disease it is and how problematic the conditions that accompany it are. In honoring February as Heart Month, I’d like […]

Over the past few weeks, I’ve seen article after article condemning Paula Deen for her recent revelation that she has diabetes, and her subsequent endorsement of a major pharmaceutical company that manufactures the medication she takes to manage her condition. As a physician, what celebrities do with their lives is of much less significance to […]

Have you hit that late-January New Year’s Resolution slump? This is the time of year when the holidays are completely behind us and that laser-like health focus many have had since January 1st, begins to wane. It’s natural and it’s human, but it doesn’t have to stop you from achieving your weight-loss goals. I’ve recently […]

It seems these days that there’s a national observance for just about everything. Some are critically important like breast cancer awareness and diabetes education. Yet others, like National Hamburger Month (yes, it’s apparently real and observed in May) don’t seem that important at all. I recently came across an article that said this week (January […]

It’s that time of year again. Time for New Year’s resolution thoughts to begin swirling around in our minds. Before the clock strikes midnight on 1/1/2012, I thought I would issue a few tips and reminders for those with weight loss as their resolution for the coming year. 1. Set Realistic Goals! Big goals are […]

You’re probably thinking the answer’s easy: Don’t eat cookies! That’s a good start. But Cookie’s message can go much deeper, to an issue at the heart of the obesity epidemic in the United States. I happened upon an episode of Sesame Street the other day and caught the tail end of a segment involving Cookie […]

As a physician, it’s my job to care for patients using the knowledge I have gained in my education and experience. Part of that experience is staying up-to-date on the latest news, studies and facts surrounding the complicated issue of obesity. In performing some recent internet research in this regard, I came across this 1959 […]

There are many factors at play in banishing obesity. Whether post-bariatric surgery or just beginning the process, there are few influencers more important to helping patients stick to their goals than close family members. These are the people you love and trust. They’re often the people who’ve seen you through “thick and thin,” literally. They’re […]

Emotional Health is the single most talked-about topic for the patients at our support group meetings. And it makes sense. So much of what leads us to make unhealthy life choices is rooted in what we FEEL about ourselves, about the world, about the way we grew up and about what other people think about […]

Before I tell you what it is, let me tell you what it isn’t. It isn’t how much weight you lose after bariatric surgery. The single biggest factor in determining your weight-loss surgery success is your commitment to a healthy lifestyle. This mostly means diet and exercise but also includes getting enough rest and surrounding […]