When the researchers blocked the actions of the stress hormones in the brain, they observed that the rewiring did not occur. Even when there was a lack of food for the rats, the make-up of the brain did not change as it did when the stress hormone was present. The research team specifically looked at the functioning of the hypothalamus in the brain, an area that plays a role in both appetite control and the body’s response to stress. This is important information for Lap Band patients that are focusing on specialized diet to help in their weight loss goals.

Patients in the Tampa Bay area and elsewhere, who have had stomach banding to enhance weight loss, may benefit from learning stress control techniques. This research points to a strong link between the stress that results from skipping a meal and an increase in the drive for food. When food is absent our nervous system actually changes, which made sense in the distant past when food resources were sometimes scarce. Today, food is easily accessible, and an increased food drive might lead to an unhealthy meal at the nearest fast food restaurant.

1. Know the health risks – Excess fat deposits, especially those in the arteries, increase your risk of heart disease, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Cardiac effects, bone and joint stress, and prolonged high blood sugar can lead to irreversible damage, as well. Your organs, muscles, ligaments and bones are not built to support the excess weight that is associated with obesity.
2. Get support – Today, morbidly obese individuals can obtain support from a weight loss doctor who can advise a weight loss program, or weight loss surgery to help you lose weight. Because of obesity-caused health risks, a medically supervised weight loss program that includes physicians, nutritionists, dietitians, and personal trainers can help you to lose weight in a safe and effective way.
3. Get active – Many people who are obese lead a sedentary lifestyle. In some cases, the sedentary lifestyle contributed to the obesity. In other cases, being obese made the individual succumb to a sedentary lifestyle. Either way, if you’re suffering from obesity, it’s essential to increase your physical activity. It’s ok to start slowly, but before starting any new exercise regimen, speak with your Lakeland family physician or weight loss doctor.
4. Practice moderation – Successful weight loss involves taking in less calories than you consume. But don’t deprive or starve yourself! On the flip side, don’t overindulge in your favorite treat or snack. Long term weight management means learning portion control and practicing moderation.

A large portion of people who are overweight tend to have high blood glucose levels. Over time, this can lead to diabetes. Diabetes damages cells throughout the body, causing problems with major organs, the nervous system and the skin. It can also lead to renal failure, which puts extra stress on the heart.

Being overweight does not just cause heart disease; it also makes it harder to treat it. Many facilities are not able to perform angioplasties on patients who are over 375 pounds. In some cases, the procedure needs to be performed differently. Arteries in the arm must be used instead of those in the leg, which complicates the procedure. Obese patients also have a higher chance of bleeding during and after surgery.

Overweight and obese patients are strongly encouraged to find a medical weight loss program and try to get to a healthy weight. It is also important to practice good eating habits at home in order to protect children from becoming obese.

Even if you have had trouble losing weight, there is hope. Eighty percent of those who have weight loss surgery lose the weight and become healthier. Technology in this area has advanced, and procedures like lap band surgery can be done laparoscopically, with a minimal amount of time in the hospital and a quick recovery.

Type-2 Diabetes – When people begin to gain weight, the fat builds up in their bodies. It is this fat that directly interferes with our body’s ability to absorb insulin which is produced by the pancreas. When this happens, abnormally high levels of sugar begin to build up in the bloodstream; this causes type-2 Diabetes. Weight loss or weight loss surgery can reduce your chances of getting this disease.

Heart Disease – Overweight people are more at risk of strokes, congestive heart failure, angina and sudden cardiac death. This is because high levels of fat in the blood and plaque prevent the blood in our veins from circulating properly. This leads to high blood pressure and eventually heart problems.

Cancer – Surgeries such as a Lap Band surgery or even a small amount of weight loss can drastically reduce an overweight individual’s chances of getting pancreatic, colon, uterine, breast, prostate and breast cancers. Add even moderate physical activity and your risk further declines.

Respiratory problems – Respiratory illnesses such as asthma can quickly develop in overweight individuals, and sleep apnea is very common in those who are obese.

While these are some of the more major repercussions of being overweight, arthritis, bladder control problems, complications with pregnancy, difficulty healing after surgeries and infertility are all also linked to obesity.

The simple answer is to lose weight and exercise more. Even moderate amounts of weight loss and exercise can go a long way to decreasing your risk for obesity related health issues.

For the study, researchers divided obese participants into two groups. The first group consisted of obese patients that did not show signs of any other health issues, while the other group included obese patients who had additional risk factors including hypertension and diabetes. Researchers found that obese participants with additional risk factors were at a much higher risk for pulmonary, neurologic, and cardiac complications. They were also at a three to seven times increased risk of having kidney problems.

The results of the study indicate that not all people with obesity struggle with the same health problems. The study is the first of its kind which took a look at non-cardiac surgery and identified patients who may be at a higher risk of complications from surgery.

The study is noteworthy because it enables physicians to concentrate their focus on patients who are more likely to develop complications after surgery. High blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity are all easily identified conditions, which enable physicians to quickly determine which patients are at higher risk. The findings of the study give physicians and surgeons another tool to better predict which patients may have trouble following surgery.

What Is Metabolic Syndrome?

Metabolic Syndrome is characterized as a group of medical disorders, including abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, insulin resistance, and low HDL (or good) cholesterol. People who have three or more of these disorders have a much higher risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and strokes.

What Are the Risk Factors for Metabolic Syndrome?

You’re more likely to have metabolic syndrome if you:

• suffer from insulin resistance.
• are obese, especially if you have an excess of belly fat.
• don’t exercise.
• suffer from a hormonal imbalance, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
• have a family history of type 2 diabetes.
• suffered from gestational diabetes during pregnancy.
• are African American, Hispanic, Native American, or Asian American.

How Is Metabolic Syndrome Diagnosed?

A doctor can determine if you’re suffering from the medical disorders associated with metabolic syndrome by taking a complete medical history, performing a physical exam, and doing a few simple blood tests.

If your doctor determines that you have metabolic syndrome, you may be advised to change your diet and exercise lifestyle in order to help you lose weight and minimize your risk for heart disease.

Dr. Naresh Punjabi recruited 118 subjects for a sleep study. While 39 had no history of SDB, 79 of the participants were newly diagnosed but had yet to receive treatment for the disorder. In addition to the sleep study, the participants were also evaluated using a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), a highly precise technique for assessing body fat, and frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIVGTT), which provides a detailed picture of the subject’s insulin sensitivity over time. The FSIVGTT was performed the day after the initial sleep study.

Researchers found that SDB was strongly associated with a decrease in insulin sensitivity, glucose effectiveness, and pancreatic cell function. Researchers found this to be true regardless of how much body fat the participants had. Dr. Punjabi also noted that, “What our research tells us is that SDB is characterized by multiple physiological deficits that increase the predisposition for type 2 diabetes mellitus.”

Additional testing conducted by researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center Bariatric Surgery Clinic has confirmed that SDB is linked to insulin resistance, and may also be linked to the progression of liver disease. Sleep apnea has also been tied to a sedentary lifestyle, even if there are no current signs of obesity.

These findings may help explain why as many as 40% of people who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are not obese. It also gives researchers insight into why many patients who begin exercise programs find relief from OSA, even if they do not lose weight.

Study Links Soft Drinks to Fatty Liver Disease

A study published in the Journal of Hepatology examined three groups: people who had non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and risk factors for metabolic syndrome, people who had non-alcoholic fatty liver disease but no metabolic syndrome risk factors, and a group of healthy people. They found that both groups of people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease were found to consume more soft drinks than people without fatty liver disease. While metabolic syndrome is a known risk factor for fatty liver disease, this study suggested that drinking soft drinks may be enough to significantly increase the risk for fatty liver disease, even in people who do not suffer from metabolic syndrome.

How Do Soft Drinks Cause Fatty Liver Disease?

While researchers weren’t able to conclude what direct effects soft drinks had on the liver, they noted that people who drink soft drinks also tend to make other poor dietary choices, which may contribute to an increased risk for the liver disorder. Other studies have shown that drinking soft drinks can contribute to insulin resistance and obesity, which are two known risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Obese individuals often suffer from sleep apnea. Episodes of not breathing for 10 seconds or more can occur hundreds of times each night. Extra tissue and fat around the throat contributes to blocking the airway. It is estimated that up to seventy percent of sleep apnea sufferers are obese.

Treating mild sleep apnea often includes a variety of lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking or losing weight. There are also numerous other treatment options that you can explore with your doctor, ranging from surgery to supplemental oxygen. The important thing when it comes to sleep apnea is to make sure that it doesn’t go unchecked, as it can pave the way for serious problems down the line. If you can get this condition in hand early, you may be able to avoid health issues later on in life. If you suspect you may suffer from sleep apnea, don’t wait to address the problem.