ScienceDaily (May 7, 2012) New research reports that no procedure for weight loss surgery is any better at treating diabetes than another. The study, presented May 7 at the International Congress of Endocrinology/European Congress of Endocrinology in Florence, Italy, uses a large ongoing study to show that improvements to diabetes in patients undergoing such surgery is likely to be due to the degree of weight loss itself rather than the type of procedure.

A number of procedures for weight-loss surgery (termed 'bariatric surgery') have been developed which can work by reducing the functional size of the stomach ('restriction'), reducing the capacity of the gut to absorb calories ('malabsorption') or by a combination of the two. The well-documented improvement in diabetes following such surgery has puzzled doctors but the evidence suggests it is due in part to the altered transit of food through the gut. It is therefore possible that different procedures would give different degrees of improvement. This is what Associate Professor Markku Peltonen at the National Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland and colleagues from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, set out to investigate using data from the large 'Swedish Obese Subjects' study.

2010 severely obese patients (with BMI>34 in men and >38 in women) recruited to the study went on to receive bariatric surgery: 376 gastric banding, 265 gastric bypass (GBP), and 1369 vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG -- see below for descriptions). They followed 74% of these patients at both 2 and 10 years and measured improvements in diabetes via blood glucose and insulin levels before and after surgery. The degree of weight loss was categorised as more than 30kg, 30-25kg, 25-20kg and 20-15kg. Improvements in blood glucose and insulin were then compared between the three different surgical procedures accounting for the degree of weight loss.

After 10 years, the researchers found there was no significant difference in the changes to insulin and glucose levels between the three surgical groups when the extent of their weight loss was taken into account. This was true for patients with and without diabetes at baseline. The average 10 year weight losses were 18kg, 20kg and 29kg for the banding, GBP and VBG groups respectively (p<0.001). In a further analysis patients that lost the same amount of weight improved their blood glucose and insulin levels to similar degrees, regardless of the type of surgery.

The researchers conclude that the remarkable improvements in diabetes following weight loss surgery are not a direct result of the procedure itself. More research now needs to take place to investigate why bariatric surgery can cure diabetes in these patients, and why some patients respond better than others.

Associate Professor Markku Peltonen, Director of Department at the National Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland, said:

"Bariatric surgery is clearly effective in reducing weight in patients, but the current mystery is why so many patients appear to cure themselves of diabetes shortly after the operation.

"We would expect that some methods of weight loss surgery would be more effective at treating diabetes than others due to the different ways they alter the passage of food through our gut. When we factored in the weight lost following surgery we found that no procedure was any better at treating diabetes than another.

"Perhaps it is simply the act of losing weight that helps."

Bariatric Surgery

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Diabetes improved regardless of surgical procedure

Is spring and summer weight loss easier or harder than other times of the year? It's up to you. Warmer weather can be "the best of times or the worst of times" for successful weight loss.

For example, how can you resist all the in-your-face fattening foods you're confronted with at picnics, weddings, amusement parks, fairs, ball games and during summer vacation trips? After all, a major part of fun-in-the-sun for many people is all the rich and tempting foods.

Healthy Spring and Summer Weight Loss Tips

Summer weight loss success doesn't have to mean staying home with your celery. By getting clear about your weight loss goals and planning ahead, you'll be able to say, "No thank you" to all the hot dogs, potato salad, sodas, cotton candy and fried dough.

If you haven't already reached your summer weight loss swimsuit targets, here are seven simple weight loss tips for super successful summer weight loss slimming.

1. Plan your summer to support your goal. You can't expect to win the "battle of the bulge" without a clear strategy, especially since it takes changing a lifetime of bad old habits. So plan your summer campaign and visualize a successful winning outcome.

2. Drink "water, water everywhere!" Water has zero calories, helps curb your appetite, keeps you cool and hydrated in the summer heat and quenches your thirst better than anything else. So learn to love it. Add a twist of lemon or try herbal iced tea.

3. Exercise first thing in the morning. Morning's the perfect time to beat the heat with exercise and weight training. You can get your weight loss plans off to a great start, burn calories and rev up your metabolism before the hot sun makes you feel lazy.

4. Pack healthy low calorie snacks to go. Don't leave it to chance. Take plenty of portable calorie-counted mini meals wherever you go chopped veggies, strips of cooked chicken breast, fresh fruit, low fat cheese or even a low cal sandwich.

5. Focus on low calorie high fiber foods. Keep a bowl of raw baby carrots, snap peas, red pepper strips or lightly steamed cold broccoli, cauliflower or green beans for snacks. By choosing from this healthy vegetable list youll fill up first on foods high in fiber.

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How to Lose Weight in the Spring & Summer

MANCHESTER, Mo., May 6, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Manchester chiropractor Dr. Brad Mawer, of Morningstar Spinal Correction Center, now provides the Ideal Protein weight loss program to his patients. According to Dr. Mawer, he decided to start offering the diet and nutrition program because of all the research pointing toward obesity as a major factor in a long list of diseases and painful conditions. Dr. Mawer's center provides nutritional counseling, support and an assortment of the program's gourmet food products. After researching various nutrition programs, he felt this protein program effectively addressed the metabolic processes behind obesity in order to help people lose weight over the long term.

Dr. Mawer says that the Ideal Protein program has helped many of his Manchester weight loss patients reach their goals. "This program is working for my patients because it isn't just another diet; it was medically developed to address metabolic disorders common in the Western Hemisphere from the overabundance of refined carbs in our diets. Dr. Tran Tien Chanh developed this program over 25 years ago and it's still going strong, helping people burn excess fat while maintaining the muscle mass critical to maintaining a healthy body structure." Dr. Mawer says that even patients who had struggled to lose weight for years are finally losing weight and keeping it off on this program.

Dr. Mawer says that helping people lose weight is one of his major goals. He cites a growing library of scientific literature demonstrating how obesity worsens everything from diabetes and heart disease to arthritis and back pain. He explains that he sees obesity's negative effects in patients almost daily. He says that excess weight puts stress on a person's posture, causing the spine to shift out of alignment, which then leads to pinched nerves in the spine. He provides spinal adjustments to correct the misalignment, but until the weight comes off, the extra weight threatens to keep stressing the spine. The key, he says, is to help the patient lose weight.

According to Dr. Mawer, people who want to lose weight are often more successful on a medical program with doctor supervision. He says that because each of his patients undergoes a complete exam and nutritional counseling before beginning the diet, they know what they need to do to succeed. The extra support from the doctor and the gourmet foods also provide the incentive they need to stay focused on their goals.

Dr. Mawer says that helping people feel better about themselves and their health is the biggest benefit of the nutritional counseling program. "True health is a state of body and mind. When people experience how much better they feel physically and mentally after losing weight, they want to stick with it. Their risk factors for disease, their pain levels; all of those things decrease and they feel energized. I love seeing that."

Dr. Mawer has been practicing in Missouri for the past 8 years. His website is located at http://www.morningstarscc.com.

The Morningstar Spinal Correction Center -- Manchester logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=12706

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Manchester Chiropractor Provides Ideal Protein Weight Loss Program

GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -

Trying to lose a little weight is hard enough. But when your weight climbs up to more than 100 pounds over your ideal weight, it becomes almost impossible for many people to lose it. That's when some people turn to weight loss surgery.

Kim Roberts, 45, has already lost more than 100 pounds since she had surgery ten months ago. She says the surgery has given back her life.

"I have so much more energy. It's incredible," Roberts said.

That wasn't the case before the surgery, when Roberts says she had become so heavy that her size and joint issues were affecting her lifestyle.

"Definitely a lot of mobility issues at 391 pounds. It came on gradually, and the next thing I knew I had put on a lot of weight over the years, and I thought how did this happen to me?"

She says her weighteven made simple things, like sitting on an airplane or in a restaurant booth, very difficult.

Roberts has fought weight problems since she was 16, creating a cycle of losing and gaining. She says she knew she needed help, and turned to weight loss surgery for a more permanent solution.

"I couldn't face another failure of diet. Because I had been successful in losing weight, but not keeping it off, and it was depressing and discouraging".

Weight loss surgeons decided that the Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy was the best solution for Roberts. Dr. Don Balder from Garden Park Medical Center in Gulfport says they use tiny incisions to remove a major portion of the stomach.

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Weight loss surgery patient loses 130 pounds

Its already May. The heat is rising in the South, and the rest of the country soon will follow. Of course this means swimsuit season, and a plan to arrive at a healthy weight will help you look good at the pool and make you healthier overall, say University of Alabama at Birmingham experts.

Healthy living is not about the number on the scale, but rather feeling good about yourself and being comfortable or confident in your skin, says Lauren Whitt, Ph.D., UAB Wellness coordinator. The goal is to be a healthy size for you, so focus your attitude and energy on becoming the best version of yourself and enjoy the journey to health.

Be realistic about attainable weight loss, says Retta Evans, Ph.D., UAB associate professor of health education. Talk to your doctor to find out how much weight you need to lose to be healthy and set a date for achieving that goal. If its summer try June 1. Then, count the weeks that you have to lose weight.

You can safely be able to lose up to 2 pounds per week. So if you have four weeks until your specified date, for example, you can set a goal to lose 6 to 8 pounds, Evans says. If you need to lose more, you can always establish new goals after some weight-loss.

With a healthy goal weight and date in place, avoid overwhelming yourself, says Whitt. Make only one lifestyle change per day. Taking small steps towards your goal will make it more attainable. Try little things, such as drinking one fewer soda a day or eating breakfast, Whitt says. An early morning meal with protein should keep you satisfied until lunchtime and help you resist high-fat, sugary mid-morning snacks.

But skipping meals is a no-no when trying to be healthier. If you want to reduce calories, Kitchin advises you keep a food record for a few days or use a weight-loss app on your smart phone that requires you to note what you eat. You'll find out where extra calories are coming from, she says.

Our experts suggest these meal guidelines:

You also must increase your activity levels.

Start slow and be consistent. Make exercise an event on your work calendar so you have a reminder, Evans says. Pack a bag with your work-out gear the night before and leave it in your vehicle so you have no excuse.

Now choose the right workout for you.

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Shape Up for Summer Safely

New York, NY (PRWEB) May 07, 2012

Diet Doc Weight Loss announces the diet for rapid weight loss, designed by leading weight loss doctors. A diet that shaves 25 pounds per month long term.

Many people ask the question on how to diet. This is a common question and an overwhelming problem when trying to lose weight reports Julie Wright, president of Diet Doc.

How to lose weight is not a one-size-fits-all reports Wright. It takes a skilled weight loss doctor who can customize a medically, supervised weight loss program specific to each person based on their health history, age, gender and lifestyle reports Wright. This is part of the trick on how to get the biggest bang for your buck in terms of pounds lost per day.

A diet must take the individual into consideration if it's going to work rapidly and effectively reports Wright. This is where Diet Doc comes in as not only do they customize a diet for each person, but each person receives 4 clinical consultations per month to keep them losing successfully.

Diet Doc works from a comprehensive standpoint with weight loss doctors, weight loss nurses and nutritional coaches to shave rapid weight safely from people.

Dieters will not have hunger or fatigue due to the use of a few medications (with little to no side effects) that are prescription grade natural diet pills and a unique medication along with yummy, weight loss shakes that are used 4x/day along with eating food bought from a grocery store. Also, a powerful, weight loss oil that is clinically proven to help burn fat within 30 minutes of consumption. The weight loss oil is used to make salad dressing or for cooking. Diet Doc also has salad dressings made from Stevia (no sugar, carbs or sodium) and delicious, satisfying 20 calorie/meal (pre-packaged) entrees, such as chili, steak soup, Thai chicken, hot & sour, chicken gumbo and more.

Example daily menu includes; egg white omelet + weight loss shake, chicken breast, unlimited salad, fruit + weight loss shake and salad dressing made with Diet Doc's weight loss oil, shake, dinner is made from a unique cookbook provided to every dieter offering hundreds of recipes. Most people cannot eat all we ask them to as their hunger vanishes reports Wright.

Anyone can boost theirs is the best diet, but Diet Doc is the only doctor designed diet which offers unlimited clinical support. Diet Doc realizes that when dieting, you must get your questions answered that day, not wait.

Diet Doc Weight Loss provides medically, supervised weight loss nationwide. Their unique, proprietary weight loss diet is powerful, yet extremely safe and is capable of rapid weight loss.

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Diet Doc Weight Loss Announces The Diet For Rapid Weight Loss, Designed by Doctors

Weight-loss (bariatric) surgery was at one point available only to people who were severely obese. Now, those who are just overweight can sometimes choose to get the surgery as well, making it an option that many people believe is worth considering. But theres lots of controversy, since the risks may outweigh the benefits. If youre considering the any type of weight-loss surgery, you should make sure to take into account the potential dangers of each procedure. ThirdAge reviewed recent medical studies regarding various weight-loss surgeries and compiled a list of the most surprising findings some positive and others daunting.

Potentially Good For Type 2 Diabetes. Several research studies have found that gastric-bypass surgery (which staples the stomach and reroutes the small intestine so that a smaller area can digest food) was more effective than standard diabetes treatment for overweight and obese people with Type 2 diabetes. Participants who had the popular surgery were significantly more likely to see their diabetes remit than those who took the usual diabetes drugs. Additionally, bariatric surgery has been shown to lower cholesterol and blood pressure in diabetes patients.

Less Risky Than Before But Still Risky. Now that weight-loss surgery has been around for some time, surgeons are more experienced and less likely to make errors. However, it still poses some risks. One in 900 people die during or right after gastric bypass surgery. And about one in 2,000 people die during gastric banding (lap-band) surgery, in which a band restricts the area of the stomach that can absorb food. Up to three percent of gastric bypass patients and one percent of banding patients develop major complications after the surgery, such as blood clots.

May Overcome Infertility. In one study of over 500 women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and extreme obesity, gastric bypass surgery was shown to help restore fertility. PCOS creates a hormonal imbalance that makes women unable to have children. Whereas some women in the study did not want children or were beyond the child-bearing age range, the study found that all six of the women who had been trying to conceive were successfully able to do so within three years of the surgery. So, apparently there can be more to the surgery than just weight loss. Can Cause Dumping Syndrome. One particularly disturbing complication of weight-loss surgeries is known as dumping syndrome, which occurs when stomach contents move too quickly through the small intestine, leading to nausea, diarrhea, and sweating. Many people who experience this are unable to eat certain foods without feeling very weak. Another risk of weight-loss surgery is developing nutritional deficiencies that can lead to an array of difficulties like osteoporosis and anemia. May Stop The Genetic Obesity Chain. If a woman is obese and gives birth to a child, theres a high chance the child will become obese too. But new research shows that bariatric surgery may assist in breaking the cycle of obesity that runs in families. The study looked at children of formerly obese mothers who had weight-loss surgery before they become pregnant, and found that they were less likely to develop obesity or to have risk factors associated with diabetes and heart disease.

Link:
5 Surprising Facts About Weight-Loss Surgery

Diva Taunia of Wilmington got the call from ABC on a Friday, and on Monday morning, she was on an Acela train bound to Penn Station in New York City. As a four-year post-operative weight loss surgery success story, she was scheduled to appear on The Revolution with Tim Gunn to talk about weight loss surgery and the need for shaping and compression garments after massive amounts of weight loss. She was there as the before and after model, but also was able to give some insight on how each type of shaper helped women with various issues.

Everyone knows that with weight loss surgery, the weight comes off quickly and can often times leave excess skin. Taunia said. Many of us are unable to have reconstructive surgeries because our insurance companies consider those procedures cosmetic and elective. In my case, all of my excess weight resides in my abdomen, and shaping and compression garments not only smooth out the troubled areas, but give me a sense of pride and confidence in my body that I wouldnt otherwise have.

When I first arrived, I was stopped in the hall by Tim Gunn, who said, Hello Taunia. Were going to have lots of fun today. He was immediately friendly and welcoming, and hes just as charming as he is on TV. I was thrilled to be able to do such a lengthy segment with him on a topic that is really important in my weight loss surgery community.

Taunia considers herself an advocate and activist for weight related issues, and she also speaks openly and honestly about her own weight loss surgery journey.

It has hands-down been the best decision that I ever made for myself. I mean, look. Im on TV with Tim Gunn talking fashion for women like me. Everything that happens these days is a direct extension of that amazing choice I made on March 25, 2008. Ill always be proud of myself for taking charge of my health and recreating an entirely new and crazy life for myself.

You can see Wilmington resident Diva Taunia on ABCs The Revolution on Monday, May 21. For more information, visit her websites at http://www.divataunia.com and http://www.divatauniablog.com.

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Wilmington resident talks weight loss on TV

Houston, TX (PRWEB) May 08, 2012

Medifast coupons are now available through CouponBuzz.com, saving slimmers big bucks on their weight-loss program. Now the incentive to drop those excess pounds is even stronger with a range of discount coupons that can be used to get great deals on Medifasts nutritious products. Go to CouponBuzz.com now and get in shape with Medifast coupon codes.

"Using Medifast coupon codes is the first step towards getting back that youthful waistline," says CouponBuzz.com owner and founder, Justin Bowen. "Here at CouponBuzz, anyone who's looking to slim down for summer can choose any one of a series of promotional codes and start losing weight now!"

Medifast has a diet plan for everyone. Its clinically proven weight loss programs have been carefully selected to guarantee the best results using only the finest ingredients. Each plan is geared towards the individuals personal lifestyle, and Medifast members can also benefit from great deals on shipping their dietary products straight to the door!

Simply by picking up a Medifast coupon code at CouponBuzz, participants can take advantage of a selection of monthly meal plans for a fixed fee. Each plan is designed to help the body burn off fat reserves quickly and effectively. Most people lose weight fast - as much as 20 pounds a month, significantly faster than other weight loss regimes.

CouponBuzz.com is working with Medifast to help customers get the body they want. Visitors to CouponBuzz can start their slimming regime instantly by using Medifast coupons. There are a number of great offers out there already, and the deals on meals are set to continue.

To make the most of this Medifast promotion and others could not be simpler. CouponBuzzs user-friendly website allows visitors to choose the deal thats best for them and redeem it immediately. Customers can choose from Medifast diet plans for anyone including vegetarians, the elderly and those with certain illnesses. To take advantage of any Medifast offer go to http://couponbuzz.com/medifast-coupons.html.

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Medifast Coupons Save Slimmers Big Bucks On Their Dieting Expenses

It's not just what you eat or how much you exercise that matters; it's the timing of each component that is the true secret to weight loss success. Research shows that our bodies' inner eat-and-sleep clocks have been thrown completely out of whack, thanks to all-day food cues and too much nighttime artificial light. The result: You're caught in a "fat cycle": a constant flow of hunger hormones that makes you prone to cravings. By tuning in to your body's natural eat/sleep schedule, you can finally say good-bye to your belly. Follow this hour-by-hour slim-down schedule to control hunger hormones, banish cravings, and get a trim and toned belly--fast!

Foods to Eat for All-Day Energy

6 to 8 AM: Get moving.

Within a half hour of rising and before you eat breakfast, do 20 minutes of cardio. Research has found that exercising before breakfast may help you burn fat more efficiently. If you can get outside, even better. Early morning sunlight helps your body naturally reset itself to a healthier sleep/wake cycle (regular indoor lights don't have the same effect).

6:55 to 8:55 AM: Drink up.

Before every meal, drink two 8-ounce glasses of water. Research shows that people who drank this amount lost 5 pounds more than nonguzzlers.

7 to 9 AM: Eat breakfast.

The alarm clock also wakes up ghrelin, the "feed me" hormone made in your stomach. Ignore ghrelin and your body will produce even more, eventually making you ravenous. To suppress ghrelin's effect, eat a mix of complex carbs and protein, such as eggs and whole grain toast, within an hour of waking.

10 to 11 AM: Munch midmorning.

Ghrelin begins to rise again a couple of hours before lunch. It turns off when you chow down, particularly on carbs and protein, so have a small combo snack, like blueberries and Greek-style yogurt.

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Lose Weight All Day Long