It’s been an ongoing debate for years: whether plus-sized models in place of the often very thin women we’re used to seeing in magazines is better for women’s body image issues. This was a recent topic of conversation on a popular news publication’s website and I was fascinated as I read through the comments about […]

Among the most important things to come out of the annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) is the research presented there. This information helps surgeons around the country and across the globe gather, debate, interpret and utilize the latest findings and recommendations to benefit their patients. This year’s meeting […]

In many of my posts, I often discuss that the most powerful tool that patients can have in their fight against obesity is education. It’s true. Clinical studies have proven that when patients are educated about the range of factors that can accompany obesity, they are more likely to make healthier choices that help them […]

The recent news of yet another celebrity signing an endorsement/weight loss deal has hit the news and again leaves me worried about how fickle our society can be as it follows its “biggest (weight) losers.” You may have heard that Jessica Simpson has signed what reports are indicating is a multi-million dollar deal with Weight […]

First, let’s generally define what is meant when the term ‘fat tax’ is used. In essence, this is any tax or surcharge placed upon foods or beverages that are deemed to be fattening. Later in this post, we’ll look further into how this broad interpretation can lead to problems. For now, let’s just say that […]

Vital Signs. You can be sure these standard measurements of our most basic body functions (body temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate) will be taken on just about every visit you pay to a physician. And with good reason. These metrics tell your doctor a lot about your overall health. If you’re body […]

Most men and women suffering from obesity know how it feels to be judged by their physical appearance. The self-hating commentary coming from within many obese men and women is often repeated by the outside world.Almost every person today knows that obesity is a common problem for the American population. Unfortunately, knowing about a problem […]

Though bariatric surgery isn’t new to the weight-loss discussion, I still find the perception of it among the public remains fraught with misconceptions and misguided information. And of course, the main- stream media can sometimes seem to help and hurt the flow of accurate information on the subject, all at the same time. There have […]

As I surgeon, I’m often fascinated and sometimes disheartened by the lack of empathy some patients receive from others (medical professionals, colleagues, family members and friends) when it comes to their decision to undergo bariatric surgery. Yes, as with any surgical decision, bariatric surgery has risks. But when I think about all of the procedures […]

With recent news of Carnie Wilson’s decision to undergo a LAP-BAND procedure following her gastric bypass surgery 12 years ago, the risks and benefits of “follow-up” bariatric surgeries are being discussed in the media with renewed interest. While I appreciate healthy dialogue on the subject of weight-loss surgery, I also want that dialogue to be […]