Nicholson Clinic Blog

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17% of school kids are obese, triple the rate it was in 1980. So giving teenagers open access to junk food all day is not a good idea. So to help curb this trend the USDA is starting to regulate the food sold in schools, including vending machines.

Right now the U.S. Agriculture Department only oversees school lunches, and bars the sale of foods with poor nutritional value, such as soda. But, it does not regulate foods sold a la carte, or in school stores. This may change, however. The following is an excerpt from an article on reuters.com.

The U.S. Agriculture Department would be given the power to regulate all food sold in schools — including vending machine snacks — when Congress renews child nutrition programs, the chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee said on Tuesday.

Chairman Tom Harkin said he hopes the committee will start work on legislation to reauthorize school lunch programs in October or November, with a goal to conclude the work by the end of the year.

“I can tell you it won’t be this month,” Harkin told reporters who asked when work would begin. He said precedence must go, for now, to his work on health care reform and on drafting the annual federal spending bills.

Agriculture Committee work on child nutrition will begin with a draft that gives the USDA the authority to oversee all food in schools, so nutrition programs are not “undermined” by junk food in vending machines, Harkin said at a confirmation hearing for the head of the USDA’s nutrition programs.

At present, USDA oversees the contents of school lunches and bars the sale of foods with minimal nutritional value, such as soda in the lunchroom. It does not control food sold in a la carte lines or school stores.

Concannon also said he wants people who rely on USDA food programs to be able to buy more food from farmers’ markets.

Food stamps, school lunch programs, and other nutritional assistance account for more than $75 billion, or two-thirds of USDA’s annual spending.

One in nine Americans uses food stamps to buy groceries, a record number due to recession and job losses, and more than 30 million children count on USDA-funded school programs for lunch.

The Obama administration, which has a goal of eliminating childhood hunger by 2015, proposed a $1 billion a year increase in child nutrition programs but has provided few details of how it would spend the money.

USDA to oversee school snack food via Reuters

A growing number of Americans need to lose weight. For many of us, we really need to lose a lot of weight, as we are becoming a nation of individuals who are obese. While the statistics surrounding obesity is sobering, the good news is that there are an increasing number of ways to help get — and keep — excess weight off so that you can live a healthier lifestyle and increase your odds for living longer.

Consider these quick facts concerning losing weight:

• Improved mobility
• Improved breathing
• Better self-esteem
• Increased energy level
• Lowered cholesterol levels
• Reduced blood pressure
• Less body aches and pains
• Better quality sleep
• Prevention, and even elimination, of Type 2 diabetes
• Lower blood sugar levels
• Better career success
• More quality activities with family
• Improved outlook on life

Losing weight and keeping it off is considered the best anti-aging antidote on the marketplace. Exercise, either daily or at least three or four times a week, is recommended for optimal health along with making appropriate food selections. Of course, achieving this is easier said than done, and many of us struggle with finding time to exercise and eat healthy foods. Most of us are overworked, and a strong limitation on time means that we often forgo exercise programs and just grab something to eat from a fast-food establishment. While there are healthy convenience foods, our choices may be the ones laden with fat and calories.

So, what to do? The best, long-term weight-loss is achieved through simple steps. Instead of starting an extreme diet or overdoing the exercise, which can cause all sorts of bodily aches and pains, start simple, slow, and then keep committed. For individuals who are considered obese, weight-loss surgery can provide the assistance and incentive needed to achieve permanent weight loss vs. the up-and-down weight struggles many of us have previously battled.

Anyone could guess that obesity causes an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes, but according to a recent study described on HealthDay, rapid loss of knee cartilage can be directly linked to being overweight, which can then lead to Osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is not something that is only present in elderly people. The fact that it is not common in younger people merely points to the fact that it takes time to develop. Being overweight can speed up one’s risk of developing the disease.

The study was lead by Dr. Frank W. Roemer, an adjunct associate professor at Boston University and co-director of the quantitative imaging center in the department of radiology at Boston University School of Medicine. Being overweight was associated with rapid cartilage loss, Roemer’s team found. In fact, for every one-unit increase in body mass index, the chances of rapid cartilage loss increased 11 percent.

The association between obesity and rapid cartilage loss remained even after taking into account age, gender and ethnic background.

“We know that weight loss is probably the most important factor to slow disease progression,” Roemer said. “Additional studies will have to show if other measures, such as vitamins or targeted treatment of bone marrow lesions, will help to slow progression,” he said.

“Don’t let yourself get heavy,” Scully said. “This study shows a direct correlation — people who are heavy are the ones that are getting worse,” he said.

Are you considering weight-loss surgery but not sure of all the facts about it and which surgery option might be right for you? There’s still time to register to attend a free seminar this Wednesday (July 22) at 6:30 p.m. with the Plano-based Nicholson Clinic. Registering is easy: Just complete the online form or call (972) 494-3100 to reserve your no-obligation attendance.

Regardless of whether you’re just collecting more information or are seriously ready to transform your life to one with a healthier and slimmer you, we’d love the opportunity to visit with you in a confidential and no-pressure situation so you can learn more about weight-loss surgery. Even if you elect to have bariatric surgery as someplace else, our free seminars offer participants a chance to become informed along with meeting members of the team who help individuals achieve their weight-loss goals.

The Nicholson Clinic difference refers to our specialized, custom-tailored weight loss solutions that always put your best interests first. With us, you’re not a number. We offer three different surgery options because we do not believe that every procedure is best for everyone. Risk factors and success rates of each type of weight-loss surgery are very different, and that is why Dr. Nicholson, better known as “Dr. Nick” and the Nicholson Clinic are different.

Dr. Nick is a Texas native who is board certified in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery and a member of the American College of Surgeons. He has been performing weight-loss surgery for more than eight years and hand-picks his team of professions to provide patients with long-term, weight-loss success. Professions include dieticians, gastroenterologists, primary care physicians, and a dedicated psychologist, all of whom specialize in weight loss.

Get started today to see what a weight-loss surgery and a healthier lifestyle can do for you!

Sign up for our Seminar here

Rail-thin actress Renee Zellweger is having to put on weight again for her reprisal role of Bridget Jones that starts filming this fall. For the first two movies, Bridget Jones’ Diary and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, gained about 30 pounds, which is the amount she’s expected to gain this time around as well. The third series follows the character’s attempts to have a baby before her so-called biological clock runs out.

The yo-yo weight gain and loss takes its toll on her body and her spirit, Zellweger says. She told the British Daily Mail in a recent interview that her body is “whacked” by the time filming is finished. She says that overeating is fun at first, but not so much later. “For two days it’s bliss,” she told the paper. “Then after a week your glucose levels are going crazy. You’re up and down and all over the place. It doesn’t feel good, and no one wants to hear that, but it’s the truth.”

She continued that losing the weight isn’t much fun either. She says: “It was horrible. On one side it’s fantastic because you get to go back to taking care of yourself, so you feel wonderful, but the first lap around the track I felt like I had a toddler on my back.”

Zellweger isn’t the only star who has had to gain weight for a role. Eva Longoria Parker gained weight (and wore fat pads) for Desperate Housewives, Selma Blair gained weight for Kath and Kim. An upcoming extreme change will be noted with Matt Damon, who gained significant weight for his upcoming thriller, The Informant.

Celebrities who have had to gain weight or wear padding to make them appear bulked up also talk how hard it is to lose it again. Some have even acknowledged that they have much more empathy of those who are struggling to maintain a healthy weight and realize that most people don’t have the benefit of a personal trainer or nutritionist.

Nicholson Clinic

an I get pregnant after undergoing weight loss surgery?
You should avoid pregnancy for at least one year after weight loss surgery at our surgical center. This is because rapid weight loss and nutritional deficiencies can be harmful to a developing fetus. Once a year has passed and you have returned to a regular diet, you should be able to have a healthy pregnancy.

How can I prevent hair loss after undergoing weight loss surgery?
Rapid weight loss often causes patients to lose some hair a few months after surgery. This is usually due to reduced intake of protein and the mineral zinc. Therefore, we recommend that you consume adequate amounts of protein and take a daily zinc supplement after LAP-BAND/REALIZE Band or gastric bypass weight loss surgery.

Our weight loss surgeons will tell you more about the appropriate supplements to take after weight loss surgery. If you have any further questions about weight loss surgery, LAP-BAND/REALIZE Band surgery, or gastric bypass, contact our bariatric surgery center today.

More commonly asked questions about weight loss surgery:

FAQ: Smoking and Exercise

FAQ: Plastic Surgery & Alcohol

FAQ: Expectations, Reversible, & Guidelines

FAQ: Insurance Coverage & Letter of Medical Necessity

David Smith is a certified personal trainer. But just six years ago he was 650 pounds, would only step out of his house after sundown and contemplated suicide. Now he is the subject of a new TLC documentary “The 650-Pound Virgin” which first aired a few nights ago. If you didn’t catch it, you can see it again this Wednesday, July 15th, at 10 p.m. David recently sat down with Matt Lauer to talk about his decision to take control of his life. Check out the video embedded below.

The Associated Press this week is reporting that the U.S. government is trying to make the food we eat safer in light of recalls on popular consumer products like cookie dough, peanut butter, spinach, tomatoes, and even pistachios.

The food safety group established by President Barack Obama includes Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, among others. The group was cited as planning to boost the safety of some of the nationís most popular foods and announcing more stringent rules for the production of eggs, beef, poultry, leafy greens, melons and tomatoes. The standards are an effort to reduce instances of salmonella and E. Coli contamination.

Further, the group is providing direction to the Food and Drug Administration to help the food industry to establish better tracking systems in the events of an outbreak, so the source of contamination can be more quickly found. More efficient communications are also being implemented.

Why are we discussing this information on a blog about weight loss surgery and healthier lifestyles? In part, we want you to be aware that food contamination and illnesses are indeed rare, but are able to be spread both through fresh produce as well as packaged goods. While consumers canít see contamination on products they buy, there are things we all can do to lessen our chances of contamination and illness.

First, remain aware as possible of any recalls that are issued, and be sure to discard any products that are under review. In many cases, you can return the product to the store for a full refund. Second, always wash any fresh produce carefully before eating. If you are trying to eat healthier, you may be stocking up on a variety of nutritious and low-calorie fruits and vegetables, but make sure you do your part to minimize illness by washing any items carefully. Always check expiration dates carefully, and discard by those dates. Finally, make sure you donít leave items out that can become spoiled, which can occur quickly, especially during the hot days of summer. Items served at outdoor barbeques and picnics and left out for an extended period can make you sick. Itís always the safest bet to carefully wash items, avoid eating uncooked foods like raw cookie dough, and then to carefully wrap up and return foods to the refrigerator after serving. That way, they’ll be safe for eating later for seconds or leftovers!

The Weight Bias Task Force has created a fact sheet about the social consequences of being overweight and ways bias and stigmatization can be reduced. Individuals who are obese are frequently subjected to negative attitudes from others, including in relationships, places of residence and business, employment, in educational institutions, medical facilities and the mass media.

These stigmas may be reflected through verbal types of bias, including stereotypes, insults or so-called teasing; physical stigmas that come from aggressive behaviors or physical contact; and other barriers or obstacles that cause personal embarrassment such as seats or spaces being too small or even through medical equipment being too small for proper tests to be conducted. Studies have shown that overweight applicants are rated more negatively and are less likely to be hired than normal weight candidates, and individuals who are obese are likely to be stereotyped with negative traits of being lazy, messy, lacking in self-discipline, less talented and poor role models. Further studies have shown that negative stereotypes and treatment exist in educational setting as well, and that qualified overweight students, particularly females, are less likely to be accepted to a college than normal weight peers.

Not surprisingly, individuals who are subject to weight bias are shown to have higher rates of depression, anxiety, social isolation, and poorer psychological adjustment. The result can also lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy by obese persons internalizing the struggles and accepting the stigma instead of trying to challenge stereotypes. The result can be that they develop even lower self-esteem and to eat more and have less motivation to lose weight.

On the other hand, individuals who are obese who are able to surround themselves by others who will offer encouraging words, respect and like them as individuals and for their personality and contributions to society, may become better motivated to what to improve their overall appearance and fitness level. Having a set of supportive friends and family members also serve to increase the long-term success for individuals who elect to have weight-loss surgery.

Summertime is a key opportunity for vacations, but one factor that may cause individuals who are overweight to avoid flying is the discomfort of the seats on the airplane. A standard airline seat is between 17 and 18 inches on most airplanes, which is about six inches less than seats found in most movie theatres. By all comparisons, space is tight. An ongoing debate is occurring over the rights of obese individuals vs. the rights of other passengers. Anyone who has flown knows that even individuals of a normal body weight may struggle to fit into the narrow seats. Obese individuals, however, may not be able to appropriately fasten on the seatbelt or keep the armrest that separates their seat from their neighboring passenger in the down position, which then encroaches on the space of the other person.

Why are the seats so small to begin with? The airlines build passenger seating to accommodate the most people possible within the space allotted. More passengers mean potentially more revenue. Roomier seats are available in the business or first class sections, but many people are unable to afford the pricier seating that provides the benefit of extra room.

In Canada, airlines there must give obese people two seats for the price of one on domestic flights, the country’s court ruled in 2008. In the U.S., various airlines have obesity policies that may require a person who cannot fit into a single seat safely to purchase two seats when the plane is flying at capacity and a person can’t be moved to another seat assignment where two seats are together. An unsettled question seems to be who makes the decision, and how it is handled. Airlines plea that the policy changes were made due to an increasing number of complaints by other passengers, who felt it was unfair to have their small seating area compromised by sitting next to someone who overfills their space. In other words, airlines feel caught in knowing that they won’t be able to please all passengers on this sensitive issue.

In truth, it’s not just people who are obese who are affected. Extremely tall people are equally as uncomfortable in those seats and can also encroach on their passenger as well. But because it is unlikely for American airline companies to be required to retrofit plans to include larger seating — especially during times of an ailing economy when they are struggling to stay afloat as it is — fitting into a seat on an airplane is a realistic concern of many individuals.

If you’ve recently had weight loss surgery or are contemplating doing so, you may want to consider adding a flight to a desired destination as a reward when you reach your desired weight — and are free from concern that you won’t be able to fit into those small seats!