Over the past few weeks, I’ve seen article after article condemning Paula Deen for her recent revelation that she has diabetes, and her subsequent endorsement of a major pharmaceutical company that manufactures the medication she takes to manage her condition. As a physician, what celebrities do with their lives is of much less significance to […]

It seems these days that there’s a national observance for just about everything. Some are critically important like breast cancer awareness and diabetes education. Yet others, like National Hamburger Month (yes, it’s apparently real and observed in May) don’t seem that important at all. I recently came across an article that said this week (January […]

You’re probably thinking the answer’s easy: Don’t eat cookies! That’s a good start. But Cookie’s message can go much deeper, to an issue at the heart of the obesity epidemic in the United States. I happened upon an episode of Sesame Street the other day and caught the tail end of a segment involving Cookie […]

As a physician, it’s my job to care for patients using the knowledge I have gained in my education and experience. Part of that experience is staying up-to-date on the latest news, studies and facts surrounding the complicated issue of obesity. In performing some recent internet research in this regard, I came across this 1959 […]

At the most recent ASMBS meeting, there was talk about recognizing morbid obesity as a possible addiction to food, especially carbohydrates and sugar. In two of my lectures, the speaker used the word relapse when talking about weight regain after bariatric surgery. While this may be controversial to some, I found it long overdue!

Most of you all know our physicians perform the Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass, Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy and the Laparoscopic Adjustable Band. Many of you may not know, however, that the physicians from Surgical Associates also perform a wide variety of general surgery. General surgery includes surgery of the breast, gall bladder, colon and rectum, hernia repair,thyroid,and […]

When someone is obese or morbidly obese, that person may face a number of major health issues, including increased chances for heart disease, strokes, diabetes, and other cardiovascular issues. Weight loss surgery options have increased in popularity, helping many people improve their overall health and achieve a trim and more athletic appearance. It should come […]

In December the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, which is part of the CDC, released a report comparing obesity rates from 1988-1994 and from 2005-2008. The report found that the”prevelence of obesity increased in adults at all income and education levels”

Around New Years, most people look back and reflect on the previous year. There are usually a lot of accomplishments to feel good about, and also the list of things we still have not done, or wish we could do better. If you are overweight, losing weight is usually at the top of the list […]

November is American Diabetes Month, a time to communicate the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of diabetes prevention and control. For the past 20 years, diabetes rates have been increasing rapidly and it is quickly becoming Americas new health epidemic. It is listed as the 7th leading cause of death in the US and […]