There has been quite a bit of news recently related to a Los Angeles-area LAP-BAND program and associated deaths suffered by patients as a result of what some are calling the program’s aggressive and deceptive advertising agenda. Though I certainly don’t know every detail about this case, I am concerned that the story may confuse […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

After you undergo bariatric surgery, there are a number of factors you have to take into account regarding your diet. You cant eat the same way that you did prior to surgery given the changes to your digestive tract, and in many cases you will need to watch out for certain foods and watch what […]

The number of Americans suffering from the disease of morbid obesity is growing at an alarming rate. While bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for morbid obesity, there are some patients who are much more successful at losing weight and maintaining weight loss than others. Scientists do not believe that this is solely related […]