The Holiday Season

Thanksgiving has come and gone and we have now entered the holiday season. It's a wonderful time of year where we all get to celebrate and spend time with our family and loved ones. It's also a time to reflect on the past year and see how far we've come in terms of achieving any personal goals.

At Dr. Feiz & Associates, we understand that when it comes to our weight loss goals, keeping track of our progress throughout the year can be a challenge. Moreover, we know that it is especially challenging during the holiday season when we are tempted to stray from our healthy eating habits with holiday treats.

While this may be a time to celebrate and let loose a little, keeping our healthy eating habits in line should remain a priority. Taking some extra time to reflect on our habits can really help us with our weight loss goals in the long run.

Luckily, we not only offer our patients with cutting-edge bariatric surgery procedures, such as a sleeve gastrectomy, to help them achieve their weight loss goals, our friendly and understanding team of medical professionals are available to answer any questions or address any concerns our patients may have. We know that with the right support, our patients can maintain their healthy eating habits and enjoy the many benefits following a weight loss surgery procedure.

So this holiday season, keep your health and healthy eating habits in mind. Take some time to reflect and surround yourself with supporting people to help and motivate you during your weight loss journey.

Getting the Whole Story

One of the biggest problems we face in every endeavor of any kind is making sure we have all the information need. "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing," goes the old saying, because it can be only too easy to think we know more than we do about a given situation and get ourselves into trouble. At Dr. Feiz & Associates, we are big believers in providing our patients with all the information they need to make a truly informed decision about their weight loss options. The usual result is an outstanding outcome.

The fact of the matter is that we humans have a tendency to believe what we want to believe. This is why so many dubious weight loss supplements have, unfortunately, made a lot of people wealthy. Bariatric surgery, on the other hand, is a highly effective intervention that definitely works, which is the good news. The less good news is that it's a very serious step and really not for everyone, but for the right patient it can truly be a lifesaver.

Whether patients end up getting a sleeve gastrectomy or some other procedure, our goal is to make sure patients have the complete story and understand fully what to expect before, during, and after their procedure. Weight loss surgeries are extremely safe and very effective, but they are still surgeries. Patients should know all the important details, and we work hard to make sure they do.

A Lifelong Effort

While the road to a healthy weight may seem daunting at first, the significant health and lifestyle benefits make it all worth while. We at Dr. Feiz & Associates remind our patients of the powerful and positive outcomes that await them following their weight loss journey.

Research has revealed that bariatric surgery has improved or even resolved a variety of life-threatening diseases and health complications. Ranging from type-2 diabetes to heart disease, a significant weight loss positively impacts individuals suffering from these complications or who are seriously at risk of developing them. In addition, patients can also experience a reduced risk of developing other related complications, such as eye and nerve damage for diabetes patients.

Moreover, it's also important to remember the lifestyle benefits that are related to a significant weight loss. Obesity is often related to bone and joint pain that can make it extremely difficult and uncomfortable for patients to complete simple daily tasks. A significant weight loss following a bariatric procedure, such as a sleeve gastrectomy, can relieve the constant pressure on a patient's bones and joints and enables patients to have a more active lifestyle that, in effect, allows them to maintain their healthy weight in the long run. 

All in all, the health and wellness benefits following a significant weight loss can really make a difference in the overall quality of our lives. While we may be successful in achieving our goal weight, we must also remember to continue to put some effort in maintaining our health and well-being throughout our lives. 

Setting a Good Example

We know this won't exactly come as a big shock to you, but one thing we've noticed at Dr. Feiz & Associates is that parents are only human. Shocking, yes, we know.

The thing is most parents who are severely obese are extremely concerned, and for good reason, about the possibility that their children might also run into weight issues as they get older. Without going too deep into the whole nature vs. nurture questions, it's clear that weight issues really do run in families for reasons that are probably both genetic and environmental. It's also very likely that a parent's good example can rub off on a child, as a recent Washington University study found when it looked at parent's weight loss and some corresponding weight loss in their adolescent offspring.

Which brings us back to that whole matter of parents being only human. We're learning more and more that the reason bariatric surgery is necessary for some many people boils down to one fact. It's not that traditional diet and exercise solutions don't work -- they do. It's just that, largely because of hormonal and also some metabolic factors, it's just so incredibly difficult to sustain a large weight loss over time that very, very few people are able to do it. It's as if the body is doing everything it can to make losing large amounts of weight into a full time job that most people simply find impossible.

The good news is that, like most illnesses, obesity is a lot easier to prevent that it is to cure. It's possible that parents really can help to prevent severe obesity in their children by setting an example, eating a great deal less and losing weight permanently as as result. However, since it's too late for prevention for the parents, they're likely to need the help of a procedure such as a sleeve gastrectomy  to really be able to do things right.

Parents should also realize that they are sending a pretty positive message by getting a procedure. Their kids will learn it's by no means "the easy way out" -- it's more like the only way out -- and they'll admire their ability to do what needs to be done to make a positive change. Then, they'll see the change in the parents actions that result from the procedure...and we know that all the good advice in the world is nothing compared to the power of a good example.

Combating Obesity and Its Health Risks

As more research and studies are conducted to better understand the causes and risks of obesity, the results all tend to have a similar message; obesity leads to a number of life-threatening health problems. We at Dr. Feiz & Associates stay up to date on the latest discoveries so that we can continue to help patients significantly improve the overall quality of their lives through the latest and best bariatric surgery procedures.

Recently, new research has revealed that obese individuals with type 2 diabetes are at a much greater risk of developing liver cancer. Obesity has also been linked to a number of other health conditions such as osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, and heart disease. That's why, now more than ever, it's important to address obesity so that patients can improve their health as well as their quality of life.

Many of our patients have experienced significant health improvements after losing their excess weight following a bariatric surgery, such as a sleeve gastrectomy. Apart from higher levels of energy and increased mobility, patients have also noticed that a variety of their health conditions have improved or have even been completely resolved.

Losing weight isn't just about looking better, it's also about reducing our risks of developing life-threatening health conditions and living happier and healthier lives. There are a number of bariatric surgery procedures that can provide patients with significant health improvements and long-term results. It's up to us to continue to make solid efforts to maintain our weight and keep our health in check so that we can experience the best that life has to offer.

The Science of Hunger

If you're a veteran of traditional weight loss courses, you've probably encountered the efforts to help overweight people distinguish between a psychological craving and actual hunger. Still, more and more the evidence we're seeing here at Dr. Feiz & Associates is pointing to the very strong likelihood that, especially for severely obese people, the distinctions between these feelings may, very often, be close to meaningless.

An extreme example of what we're talking is exemplified in the case of 13 year-old Alexis Shapiro. Recent news stories have told of the the success of bariatric surgery in treating obesity caused by uncontrollable bouts of hunger. As a 9 year-old, young Alexis had a brain tumor removed. Unfortunately, along with the tumor, doctors also had to remove the brain's hypothalamus, which largely controls the body's appetite and metabolism. The result was a rare condition, hypothalamic obesity, caused by the girl's suddenly uncontrolled appetite.

This syndrome is an extreme example of how powerful the brain is in terms of creating the feeling of hunger, a drive which really can be all but uncontrollable...even if we know intellectually that we've had enough to eat. Indeed, while hypothalmic obesity is rare, it appears that nearly everyone who loses any weight deals with an increase in the production of certain hormones, most notably ghrelin, that tell the brain we're hungry and create a feeling all but identical to actual need-driven hunger. This may be be a major reason why it is so difficult to lose weight and to keep that weight off over the long term.

As we've mentioned many times before, this hormonal link may be a significant reason that a sleeve gastrectomy may be especially effective for many patients.That particular surgery removes a large portion of the stomach, including a section, the fundus, believed to be responsible for the production of ghrelin. All in all, it's a sign that we should be spending a lot less time shaming people with weight problems for gluttony and a lot more time examining the role of the brain and hormones in driving overeating.

In the meantime, if you or a loved one is dealing with severe obesity sustained by persistent feelings of hunger, it might well be time to consider weight loss surgery in Los Angeles or one of our other Southern California offices.

A Consultation is the Best Way to Know For Sure

Generally, the guidelines for who is eligible for weight loss surgery in Los Angeles is if a person has a BMI of over 40, or a BMI over 35 in conjunction with several comorbidities such as heart disease and diabetes. Yet, every person is different, and one needs to be able to adapt the necessary lifestyle changes that weight loss surgery encourages. The only way to know for sure if weight loss surgery is right for you is with a consultation with Dr. Michael Feiz at his offices.

Once it is determined that you are a good candidate for weight loss surgery, you will be able to work with Dr. Feiz to determine which weight loss procedure is right for you. While the majority of patients see the sleeve gastrectomy as the best option for them, every patient’s path must be determined on a case by case basis. After that is figured out, the next step is working with your insurance to see what your coverage options are for the procedure cost. And, once that is figured out, then your weight loss journey can truly begin!

More and More Patients are Finding Success with Revision Surgery

Weight loss surgery with Dr. Feiz & Associates has helped countless patients lose their excess weight and keep it off. Yet, some gastric band patients have had difficulties getting to their ideal weight. But, instead of giving up on their weight loss journey, they know that the best option is to opt for revision surgery to turn their gastric band into a sleeve gastrectomy.

Dr. Feiz has years of experience performing laparoscopic gastric sleeve surgery, which has the added benefit of limiting the hunger cravings by limiting a patient’s hormones. One of the reasons why we get hunger cravings is that the stomach releases a hormone called ghrelin whenever it is empty. Because the sleeve gastrectomy involves removing a sizable portion of the stomach, a lot of the area where ghrelin is released is also removed, resulting in less of the hormone released into your bloodstream.

This type or revision surgery is quickly gaining popularity, as the gastric sleeve is the fastest growing method of weight loss surgery in Los Angeles. And, thanks to his skill and years of experience, there is no better choice of surgeon than Dr. Feiz.

Snacking Done Right

Believe it or not, there are many causes that can lead to obesity, but most of them involve overeating. Overeating, in of itself, can be a complex topic because it too can have many underlying factors that very from person to person. Sometimes it’s a simple matter of impulse control, sometimes it’s a symptom of a much larger issue like depression or anxiety. Whatever the case, it’s something that most of us do at some point or another, and it’s rarely a good thing. Some of us eat meals with portions that are too big or too calorie dense, or eat too frequently, but for many of us it’s all about snacking. Here are 3 tips about snacking that can help you keep that weight off and live a healthy lifestyle.

1. You’re probably just thirsty. Did you know that that feeling of hunger you’re getting in between meals might actually be a sign of dehydration? How many glasses of water do you drink a day? It might not be enough. The next time you feel a pang of hunger when you’re waiting for a meal, try downing a glass. You might be surprised how quickly the hunger subsides. 
2. Eat a fruit. Fruits are tried and true and the go-to food for healthy eating.They’re easily portable, and can fill you up in a good way. Make it a policy to keep a few apples or oranges on you and have at it if you can’t wait until lunch
3. Make it don’t buy it. There are all kinds of healthy snacks you can make at home, and they’re almost always going to be better than the convenience store impulse buy of a bag of chips. Try making your own cheese crisps, trail mix, or rice crispy treats. Try a few from here: http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/recipe-collections-favorites/quick-easy/healthy-snack-ideas

When it comes to your health and weight, Dr. Feiz and Associates care. For anyone suffering from severe obesity, a procedure like a sleeve gastrectomy is proven to offer positive results. In the meantime, watch your snacking!

 

 

Tools to Fight the Battle Against Obesity

An article that we linked to earlier today highlights the fact that many experts agree on obesity being a disease that cannot be easily “cured” with just diet and exercise. There are many biological and hormonal problems that stick with people their entire life, across multiple years and multiple diets. Experts agree that weight loss surgery in Los Angeles is a great tool that can have lifelong benefits in the fight against these hunger cravings.

There is no better choice than Dr. Feiz & Associates when picking a surgeon to perform your sleeve gastrectomy, both because of his proven skill as a surgeon, and because of the spectacular post-surgical support that our staff provides to help guide you through your weight loss journey.

The sleeve gastrectomy procedure, as performed by Dr. Feiz, helps both physically by limiting the size of the patient’s stomach, but also hormonally. The stomach omits a hormone called ghrelin that travels to the brain and gives off signals that give people food cravings. Because the sleeve gastrectomy involves removing a portion of the stomach which omits ghrelin, the procedure reduces the amount of ghrelin that reaches the brain, therefore reducing hunger cravings.

No One Does it Alone

A new study which found that people lost more weight in an online weight loss program when they participated in its more social aspects is nice to hear, but far from surprising. At Dr. Feiz & Associates, we're keenly aware that human beings are social animals and almost no one achieves their weight loss goals on their own. The more social support we receive during our weight loss efforts the better.

The fact of the matter is that, even with the help of an outstanding weight loss procedure such as a sleeve gastrectomy, permanent and significant weight loss requires a great deal of effort and commitment. Having the support of the people most important to us is, of course, a major help. At the same time, it's also not a bad thing to make new "weight loss buddies." There's definitely something about being able to compare notes with others who are undergoing a similar struggle.

Of  course, weight loss is also a great deal easier when our appetite for excessive food has been subdued. The combination of outstanding weight loss surgery in Los Angeles and social support from both those closest to us and more casual friends can be just about unbeatable.

Forming Healthy Eating Habits is the Key to Weight Loss Success

If you've seen the patient testimonial page on Dr. Feiz's website, it's clear that weight loss surgeries like the sleeve gastrectomy procedure are highly effective ways for obese patients to lose weight. But, simply getting the procedure is by no means a cure-all solution. Weight loss surgery is designed to curb hunger cravings so that it is easier for people to eat less. It is up to them to make sure that they are actually eating less. What's also important is to develop the habit of eating food that is generally healthier than what many patients ate before their surgery.

The time following weight loss surgery is also the best time to commit to a healthy diet and form lifelong healthy eating habits. While there is an old adage that says it takes 21 days of doing something to form a good habit, research conducted at the University of London shows that the average good habit is formed in closer to 66 days. This means that if weight loss surgery patients can commit to eating right for just over two months following their surgery, then eating right will come much more naturally to them across the rest of their life! A healthy lifestyle is closer than you think!

Why Sleeve Gastrectomy is the Fastest Growing Weight Loss Procedure

There are many types of weight loss surgery that have been proven to help patients lose weight, but not all of them are growing in popularity at the same rate. This is because the gastric sleeve procedure is a happy medium between the Lap Band and Gastric Bypass procedure. The gastric bypass is shown to help patients lose the most weight, but that it is only because it is the most drastic procedure that fundamentally alters the way patients digest food. And, unlike the Lap Band procedure, the sleeve gastrectomy does not require implanting a foreign object in the body, but still produces incredible weight loss results.

Dr. Feiz is an expert at performing the gastric sleeve procedure using minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery methods. Patients of Dr. Feiz & Associates who undergo weight loss surgery in Los Angeles have tremendous things to say about both the expert care and the unmatched results they receive. 

While more and more patients are turning to the gastric sleeve procedure with Dr. Feiz to jump start their weight loss journey, it is true that no one procedure is best for every patient. If you are interested in learning more about your weight loss surgery options, don’t hesitate to schedule a con
sultation with Dr. Feiz today.

The Most Important Weight Loss Tool

When we discuss such issues as the various types of weight loss surgery with patients, one question that almost never comes up is which organ of the human body plays the most important role in weight gain and weight loss. That's likely because we all intuitively know it's not the stomach, but the brain. "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so," wrote William Shakespeare and no words were ever more self-evident.

This came up today in a Forbes piece about six science based "tips" -- really, more like facts -- about weight gain and weight loss that writer Alice Walton feels are salient. To us, by the far the most important was the final item, which began thus:

...when it comes down to it, it’s not the body or the metabolism that are actually creating overweight or obesity – it’s the brain.

Ms. Walton goes on to discuss how poor habits can lay down certain types of neural pathways that may lead to more poor habits, and how that can be reversed to a greater or lesser degree with good habits. That may be well be true, and it's a fascinating thought. But we would have liked to see a brief reference there to the research being done on a hormone called ghrelin. It's a substance that works directly on the brain to stimulate the feeling of hunger we all know so well, and which overweight and obese people seem to feel even when they have consumed plenty of calories.

As we've mentioned before, sleeve gastrectomy surgery removes the portion of the stomach responsible for the body's production of ghrelin (the fundus). It's one reason we believe we may be seeing so much consistent success with this surgery. While other surgeries can also be very effective, and they have their own advantages, their impact on the brain may be less intense.

Of course, every patient is different. If you're reading this and interested in pursuing a weight loss procedure, and are curious about a gastric sleeve or lap band in Los Angeles we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch with us by phone at (800) 868-5946 or through our contact page.

Strength of Weight Loss Surgery Community Helps Success

Here at Dr. Feiz and Associates, we truly believe that a strong support structure is the key to success following any of the types of weight loss surgery. A patient who undergoes bariatric surgery with Dr. Feiz will have a dedicated team of professionals ready and willing to help them when they need it most. Whether it's a dietary concern, a question about a particular aspect of a surgery, or simply a doubt creeping into their minds, Dr. Feiz always provides a kind and knowledgeable ear that get his patients back on track, feeling informed and great about themselves.

Many of the patients who come to Dr. Feiz for a sleeve gastrectomy or a lap band in Los Angeles will also join an online community dedicated to bariatric patients, either on their own or by using a page recommended by the doctor himself. Here, people can speak openly and connect on a deeply personal level, helping to eliminate the common feelings of isolation that can often spring from being obese in our culture.

It's simply amazing how helpful and caring the weight loss surgery community is. Sharing recipes on Pinterest, blogging about your highs and lows, and giving each other words of encouragement on online forums are all incredible ways to pay it forward, helping to guarantee the success of another person's sleeve gastrectomy, lap band, or other type of bariatric surgery. Dr. Feiz and his associates thank these people for their excellent work!

Bariatric Surgery May Become Acceptable for Moderately Obese

More and more information is becoming available on bariatric procedure, especially as obesity-related research continues to gain in popularity. Dr. Michael Feiz, weight loss surgeon known for operations like the gastric sleeve and lap band in Los Angeles, keeps his ear on the ground when it comes to these developments. Knowing the recent news on bariatric surgery allows Dr. Feiz to offer more comprehensive health care to his patients, especially when they are undecided between different weight loss procedures.

One recent study was done on whether weight loss procedures could be effective for patients with lower BMIs. Usually performed on people with BMIs over 40, the study discussed those with BMIs over 35 and an obesity-related condition such as diabetes. It, like many other studies coming out of hospitals and universities around the world, revealed that weight loss surgeries like the sleeve gastrectomy alleviates factors like type to diabetes, high blood pressure high cholesterol, sleep apnea, and more. Dr. Feiz strongly believes in bartiatric surgery as a tool for bettering the health of his patients.

Research on post-bariatric patients may even prevent surgery in the future. Scientists study how the body changes after a weight loss surgery and then they try to figure out how to copy those results chemically. For example, the gastric sleeve reduces the production of the hormone that causes hunger by removing part of the stomach, but tests have also shown that gene expression changes after surgeries as well. Scientists can eventually figure out how to chemically reproduce these effects and reduce this hormone, known as ghrelin, through medication or other ways. Dr. Feiz places his faith in these scientific innovations and can't wait to offer them once they become reality.

Creative Ways to Assist Weight Loss

Patients will come to the office of Michael Feiz, MD, FACS looking to reclaim their health through weight loss surgery. These people have tried everything, including diet and exercise, to no avail. In fact, one of the requirements for a bariatric surgery is that the patient has tried to lose weight in other ways. Once approved for a surgery like the sleeve gastrectomy or lap band, the journey begins for Dr. Feiz' patients. Here are three creative ways to lose weight that can help promote the effects of a weight loss procedure:

Money for weight loss.

Cash incentive, especially when shared by groups, have been shown to help weight loss, as shown by a University of Pennsylvania study. Many groups of friends or coworkers have also found success through diet pools, where those who keep their fitness commitment win a collective pot.

Weight loss apps.

A recent UK NHS study showed that overweight users of a smartphone app lost three times as much weight as paper diary users. The app used kept track of caloric intake, exercise, and sent weekly updates to users. This doesn't surprise us; knowledge and keeping notes always helps weight loss and using something we have on us all the time anyway makes the process easier (the study said that paper diary users only wrote in their journals about once a week, compared to every other day for the app users).

Hula hoop as exercise.

Kelly Osbourne recently attributed part of her weight loss to having a girls night in where they all exercise through a hula hoop workout. Not only is this an incredibly aerobic and midsection workout; it also brings some fun back into exercise. Find something you enjoy doing—no matter how silly—that counts as a workout and find the joy in exercise again!



Dr. Feiz understands that weight loss doesn't just magically happen after a bariatric surgery; it takes hard work and commitment to a nutrient-rich diet. Plus, a patient's weight loss, while rapid at first, must be confidently maintained and improved on through this dedication. Dr. Feiz keeps tabs on his patients throughout the post-surgical time period, making sure they are losing weight, maintaining healthy habits, and staying aware of their psychological health. To go on this journey with Dr. Feiz and his fantastic team, call 310-817-6911 today to schedule a free consultation.

It's the Vacuum Cleaner's Fault!

In a world full of extremely difficult issues, you can depend on the media to give you very easy answers. Studies with incomplete data make the front page and it seems like every online news story points to some kind of magic bullet in terms of either the cause or the cure for obesity. As practitioners of weight loss surgery, we're especially annoyed by stories that point to a truly tiny data point and extrapolate it into something immensely larger.

An excellent example of building these molehills into mountains is a story we saw entitled "Obesity: Is the Vacuum Cleaner to Blame?" The topic was a study that looked at such labor-saving cleaning devices as the Roomba and tried to assess their impact on the nation's collective weight problem. The study was funded by Coca-Cola and it's easy to see why the nation's #1 distributor of sugary sodas was interested in looking at the exercise end of the weight equation. As long as we're focusing on even one very minor reason Americans are getting less exercise than we used to, we're not talking about all those empty, non-filling calories so many of us become almost literally addicted to on on our way to becoming candidates for obesity surgery.

These news stories are pointless because we already know that lack of exercise is a major issue for most of us in this world of sedentary work and leisure time pursuits. We also know exactly as well that doing away with Roombas won't get us any closer to dealing with the root issues of weight. After all, every moment that disc-schaped robot saves us from sweeping and operating a vacuum is more time we could just as easily be spending at the gym or a dance class as sitting in front of the television or the laptop.

In the very same way, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to draw big conclusions from a study that tries to look at the cost-effectiveness of bariatric procedures but looks at only two of several available operations and completely ignores sleeve gastrectomy. It's not that the data isn't valid, it's just that it examines only the tiniest part of the data that's out there. Obesity is a big problem, and the answer to it is going to be a little larger than a vacuum cleaner or a very partial and preliminary study.

New Standards for Bariatric Surgery?

Up until pretty recently, the fairly universal standard for health insurance coverage of weight loss surgery was a BMI (body mass index) of 35. However, today's news (also featured on our Facebook page today), tells us that the Cleveland Clinic, which is ranked as one one the top four hospitals nationwide, now considers people with BMIs as low as 30 to be candidates for bariatric procedures. There is another proviso, however. They must also have type 2 diabetes, an increasingly common illness and one that is more serious than a lot of people think.

While 30 on the BMI scale is the lowest possible measurement considered obese, the growing evidence of the effectiveness of obesity surgery against diabetes has obviously been a major factor in the Cleveland Clinic's decision. Moreover, considering the possible outcomes of type 2 diabetes, which range from heart disease to outright destruction of the kidneys, especially when combined with high blood pressure, it seems to us that it's more than past time for a reevaluation of when a bariatric procedure is medically beneficial or even, in some instances, necessary.

Of course, all patients are different and BMI by itself is something of a blunt instrument when measuring obesity. Still, patients who may be only mildly obese may be excellent candidates for a sleeve gastrectomy, a lap band, or other less invasive procedures. Bariatric surgery isn't for everyone, but if you've seen what diabetes can do to a person over the course of a lifetime, you might agree that perhaps more people cold benefit from it.

Information, Misinformation, Exaggeration...So What?

There's been a lot of talk all over the media this week about an article in the highly prestigious New England Journal of Medicine called "Myths, Presumptions, and Facts about Obesity." Considering our successful efforts at combating obesity through using the latest techniques in weight loss surgery, this is obviously a subject of interest to us. We certainly applaud the effort of the very large number of experts who collaborated on this study.

Still, looking at the way the article is being covered in the mass press, it's easy to see one reason why so many overweight people feel like traditional weight loss efforts are nearly pointless. So many conclusions appear vague and, worse, unhelpful. Sure, it's interesting to hear that reports that the amount of calories that some people think they are burning with certain types of exercise might be exaggerated. Still, we think most dieters know intuitively that you'll only burn 500 calories in just 15 minutes of jogging if you are something very near to a professional athlete. Similarly, it turns out that breastfeeding might not be as effective a preventive of obesity as some once thought -- but, giving the rise in obesity is concurrent with the rise in breastfeeding, a lot of us already had a pretty good idea that the practice is no magic bullet when it comes to obesity.

We're not sure what kind of effect this kind of coverage has other than reinforcing what we already know -- getting fat is easy for many of us and losing weight through diet and exercise is really hard. The good news is that, at least for some people, such outstanding bariatric procedures as the sleeve gastrectomy really are making a tremendous difference in people lives.  Moreover, the growing evidence that the hormone ghrelin lies behind our seemingly eternal urges to overeat is directly related to many types of obesity surgery in which the fundus, where most ghrelin is produced, is removed.

What does this all mean? We're not sure, but clearly there's a need for information about obesity and health that's actionable. We've already got enough confusion and despair in the weight loss world.