Dr. Feiz Speaks on the Risks and Benefits of Weight Loss Surgery

In response to the ongoing conversations surrounding weight loss surgery in Los Angeles, Dr. Michael Feiz has released a YouTube video explaining his thoughts on the procedure's risks and benefits.

First, he starts by noting that living with obesity is harmful to your health. He states:

"Obesity is the leading cause of death, second only to smoking. Weight loss surgery is the only reliable method to effectively lose the weight and live a longer and healthier life."

Dr. Feiz then goes on to mention that a bariatric procedure like the lap band or gastric sleeve can effectively cure many diseases that we relate with obesity, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea.

He then frankly and compassionately discusses the risks of weight loss surgery, which are similar to the risks of any surgery. However, Dr. Feiz has managed to minimize surgical risk at every avenue. This is because he exclusively dedicates himself to being a weight loss surgeon, which has led to him performing over 2000 weight loss procedures with no deaths or major complications. This is also what has led to him being declared a Center of Excellence bariatric surgeon.

To learn more about his qualifications and the ramifications of living with obesity, watch the full video below:

Keeping the Weight Off

According to the results of a new study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, people who have successfully achieved their weight loss goals can keep the pounds off by utilizing several different weight maintenance strategies. A survey of over three thousand participants revealed that a combination of anti-obesity drugs, meal replacement products and high protein diets are proven to be the most guaranteed ways of staying trim after a successful diet. According to Dr. Hemmingsson, a member of the research team that engineered the study, anti-obesity drugs should be avoided for their adverse side effects, but meal replacements and protein-rich foods are an effective way to stay trim over the long-term.

After undergoing a bariatric procedure, such as a sleeve gastrectomy or lap band surgery, it becomes necessary for people to adjust their eating habits to lose weight in a safe and healthy way. Dr. Michael Feiz has made healthy living a central component to his overall goals for patients. Dr. Feiz, is a leading weight loss surgeon in Los Angeles, employs social media and other mediums to remind his weight loss patients that healthy cooking and smart eating habits are the key to keeping weight off after obesity surgery. 

If you are interesting in learning more about the many outpatient procedures that Dr. Feiz performs in Los Angeles, contact the offices of Dr. Feiz and Associates today to schedule a free consultation with a specialist. You can reach us by dialing toll-free at1-800-868-5946, or visit us on the web at www.drfeiz.com.

Nothing "Fun" in a Fun Sized Candy

Halloween is looming, and it's time to face that time of year when the parties abound and the kids are out for trick or treating. Let's be honest, who hasn't wanted to join in the fun with the kids of unwrapping their "fun-sized" treats, and steal some of their candy loot? Well, Board-Certified Weight Loss Surgeon Dr. Michael Feiz warns patients that even though these little candy packages look harmless and that one or two won't hurt anybody, most of these packages contain about 100-200 calories, and of course those add up when you eat one after the other.

What's more concerning is that our nationwide obesity epidemic, which includes more than one-third of the adult population, also includes 18 percent of the nation's children, who have a BMI of 30+. Although these fun-sized candies seem appropriate for children, they only have a daily caloric necessity of less than 1600 calories for young children, and less than 2000 for older children. Obviously those fun sizes will add up even more quickly for the young ones than their parents, or those of us who simply like to snack on the sweets at work or parties! Keep in mind that Halloween can be fun without the indulging in too many of those calories bombs such as candy and cocktails. 

For a better alternative to the fun-sized candies, choose something else lower in calories (these examples are about 100 calories each), such as:

• 2 Dum Dum lollipops
• 4.5 Tootsie Roll "Midgees"
• 3.5 Twizzler Licorice candies
• 5 Starburst Fruit Chews
• 13 pieces of Candy Corn

To learn more about Dr. Feiz and weight loss surgery, visit www.drfeiz.com. 

Dr. Feiz is Happy to See Weight Loss Surgery Myths Busted

At Dr. Feiz & Associates, we're well known as the premier destination for weight loss surgery solutions in Southern California. While this is largely thanks to the impeccable experience of our chief surgeon Dr. Feiz and his team, it is also due to our rigorous work ethic every day. Fortunately, as a team with true passion for performing various types of weight loss surgery, we are happy to keep up with stories and opinions on bariatric surgery throughout the globe.

This genuine concern brought us to discover an interesting story from News4JAX, all the way out in Jacksonville, FL. The station features an interview with nurse Katherine Carr, who underwent the surgery herself, and David Podkameni, M.D., the Medical Director at the Bariatric Program at the Banner Gateway Medical Center, both of whom dispel a number of myths regarding gastric sleeve surgery and other weight loss surgeries.

"Probably the biggest (myth) I heard was taking the easy way out," Carr said, a sentiment that Podkameni agrees with.

"You still have to diet, you still have to exercise. It's not going to work by itself," says Podkameni.

Another common myth the two came across was that you can't have surgery if you have diabetes. In fact, those who undergo bariatric surgery are three-to-four times more likely to have their Type 2 diabetes go into remission, compared to those who only receive intensive medical treatment. Another is that the surgery is all cosmetic. "It has to do with change in metabolism," says Podkameni, "it has to do with influencing remission of diabetes, treating sleep apnea, treating high blood pressure, hypertension."

 At Dr. Feiz & Associates, we admire the forthright nature of Dr. Podkameni and nurse Carr. Sharing experiences with bariatric surgery goes a long way towards helping bring these important weight loss solutions into the mainstream, where more people can be helped.

For a free consultation, contact Dr. Feiz & Associates today at (310) 817-6911 or via our website.

The Shame of Shaming

It's amazing but, in this day and age, there are still people who believe we can socially stigmatize our way to a reduction in obesity. Those of us involved in weight loss surgery, and those of us who are dealing with weight issues understand one fact that people who are not intimately involved with weight issues might never come to understand: eating is nothing like smoking or drug use.

It's true that a certain amount of social stigma has been helpful in combating such substance addictions as cigarette smoking and perhaps alcoholism too. However, there is one major and glaringly obvious difference between these addictions and chronic overeating -- you can theoretically stop overeating, but you can't stop eating entirely. Moreover, without treatment, the urges only get stronger as you lose weight. No surprise then that a new study published in the journal, PLoS ONE, shows that the more obese people feel discriminated against for their weight, the more likely they are to remain obese.

The reason treatments like sleeve gastrectomy surgery have become necessary is that overeating might be similar to an addiction, but it simply can't be dealt with in the same way. We're all "addicted" to food in the sense that we need it to live and our body is constantly driving us to eat. What appears to be happening is that overweight people seem to have more persistent, harder to resist signals being sent to them.

Even here in looks-conscious Los Angeles, even the most well-off, and well-motivated, obese celebrity with access to the best trainers and nutritionists in the world might find weight loss next to impossible without a lap band in Beverly Hills. Clearly, then, shaming and discrimination is not what obese people need to help them lose weight. Most of them have plenty of that already. What overweight people need to lose weight is pretty simple: help.

The Link Between Alzheimer's and Obesity

Dr. Michael Feiz, board certified bariatric weight loss surgeon, noted that obesity is a worldwide disease that has serious short term and long term health consequences. 

The BBC report http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22479049 about the link between obesity and Alzheimer's is yet another reason that patients who are obese should seek help and medical advice on the best methods to reduce weight.