Artificial Sweetener Enhances Blood Insulin, Findings Suggest

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Unfortunately, and the woes of many, diabetes and obesity go hand in hand. According to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, artificial sweeteners are related to enhanced blood insulin and glucose response.

Although the findings reveal that the elevated insulin response shows patients are able to make enough insulin to deal with spiking glucose levels, it also shows that patients are secreting more insulin and if they can become resistant to its effects it could lead to type 2 diabetes. Read more

Governor Chris Christie Undergoes Lap Band Surgery in NJ

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Gov. Chris Christie — whose weight has long been the subject of public worry and late-night talk show jokes — secretly underwent lap-band stomach surgery in February in an effort to shed pounds, his office confirmed today. Read more

Study Supports Broader Access to Lap-Band Surgery

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But not everyone agrees it’s time to recommend the procedure to those who aren’t extremely obese.

The Lap-Band weight-loss procedure should not be restricted only to patients who are very severely obese, a new study suggests. Read more

Bariatric surgery outcomes better at high-volume hospitals

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Mortality and morbidity from bariatric surgery are less common at hospitals with high case volumes, according to data presented at the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons Annual Meeting in Baltimore. Read more

Weight loss surgery may alter genetics for future generations

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We all know that weight-loss surgery can shrink your waistline – but a new study shows it can cause surprising changes in your genes, too.

According to a study in the journal Cell Press, people who underwent gastric bypass surgery and lost weight, experienced changes in gene expression, which improved their body’s ability to burn fat and store sugars properly, decreasing their risk for diabetes.

Read more

Report: Bariatric Surgery Reverses Diabetic Nephropathy

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Researchers, Expecting a Halt in Progression After Bariatric Surgery, Instead See Remission

New Jersey —Bariatric surgery induces a significant and lasting improvement in diabetic nephropathy, with nearly 60% of patients with this condition achieving remission five years after surgery, according to a study presented at the 2012 annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

The investigators say that the finding demonstrates a previously unknown microvascular effect of bariatric surgery. Read more

JFK For Life Support Group Newsletter – December 2012

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 Dr. Abkin, in conjunction with JFK for LIFE, has released their monthly JFK For Life Support Group Newsletter for December.

Inside This Issue:

  • In the News! / Meet The Staff
  • Nutritional Tips / Recipe Corner
  • Stress and Weight Gain/Relaxation Techniques
  • Surgiversaries / Calendar / Websites
  • Follow-Up Visits are Important!
  • Supplementation after Weight Loss Surgery

Download the newsletter here

Social media may be a weapon against childhood obesity

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In a new scientific statement published in the journal Circulation, the group calls for more research into how to incorporate social media into programs fighting childhood obesity. However, the AHA acknowledges that current research on social media intervention has been mixed and that social media is also linked with a few drawbacks. Read more

NJ BCBS Announces Bariatric Surgery Coverage in Patients with Diabetes and Body Mass Index Less than 35

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Background

Bariatric surgery is an established treatment for morbid obesity in patients with a body mass index (BMI) equal to or greater than 40 kg/m2, or BMI equal to or greater than 35 in the presence of weight-related comorbidities.   Some experts have recommended broadening of the eligibility criteria for bariatric surgery, in order to reach more patients who might benefit.  The population of patients with nonmorbid obesity (i.e., BMI 30-35 kg/m2) represents a very large number of patients with a high overall burden of weight-related comorbidities. Read more

Bariatric Surgery Tops List of 10 Best Medical Innovations of 2013

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On Wednesday, The Cleveland Clinic released its annual Top 10 list of best medical innovations for 2012. Sitting alone atop of the list is an old procedure, weight loss surgery.

Weight loss surgery restricts the amount of food you can take in. Some procedures also limit the amount of food you can digest. Many patients who have weight loss surgery lose weight rapidly. If you follow diet and exercise recommendations, you can keep most of the weight off.

The clinic’s staff cited the procedure’s remarkable effectiveness in controlling Type 2 diabetes.

Over the years, bariatric surgeons observed that weight loss surgery would often rid obese patients of Type 2 diabetes, before they even left the hospital.

“Now insurance companies in New Jersey are beginning to cover the bariatric surgery specifically for diabetes management, given the surgery’s greater potential to benefit more people”, said Dr. Alexander Abkin, Director of Bariatric Surgery at JFK Medical Center in Edison, NJ.

To learn more about weight loss surgery in NJ, call 973-410-9700 or visit http://www.bariatricsurgeonnj.com