It’s been 7 years since my life took a drastic turn. I had Bariatric surgery. At my heaviest I was about 122kg. It was affecting my life. I had no energy, found it difficult to play on the floor with my grandbabies and walking was a huge problem. I think my success is hugely due…
1 Sept 2021 Dr Swanepoel and his team performed my bariatric surgery. Fast forward to today, 4 years later, I have lost a total of 82kg. Believe it not, that is the smallest win of this journey. My entire life has changed. In fact, my life feels like it only started now. The non-scale victories…
It doesn’t matter what you choose to do: join a gym; get a pedometer and take at least 10,000 steps a day; get up every 20 minutes and stretch; or join a dance class. Get active! Living a sedentary life slows your metabolism down, it makes it more likely that you will be overweight, and it…
Bariatric surgery can slim your body, but attitude and behaviour also play key roles in long-term weight loss, according to researchers from the Cornell Food and Brand Lab. They found that two years after surgery, those who reported increased enjoyment of exercise and eating healthy foods also were more likely to meet weight-loss goals. “Although…
How society treats overweight people can directly impact their health, according to researchers from the University of Rhode Island (URI), Kingston and the Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston. Their study reported that people who experienced weight discrimination over a ten-year period had twice the risk of high allostatic load, the cumulative…
Babies of women who have undergone bariatric surgery for obesity run a higher risk of preterm birth, according to an update from a study from the Karolinska Institutet and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. “Since obesity is associated with a higher risk of preterm delivery, we assumed that the weight-loss achieved by…
DIABETES specialists across the world are calling for a radical mind-set shift in treatment for Type 2 diabetes so that doctors can recommend bariatric surgery for patients. They say the surgery is close to the holy grail of a diabetes cure. Diabetes is a major cause of kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage, amputations, heart attack…
Preoperative variables have been the focus of numerous bariatric surgery studies. Now a study looking at postoperative factors demonstrates that assessing weight management practices and eating behaviors after surgery, as well as problematic substance use, can significantly affect how much weight a patient loses. James E. Mitchell, MD, from the University of North Dakota School…
Mental health conditions, such as depression and binge eating disorder, are common among patients seeking and undergoing bariatric surgery, according to a study, ‘Mental Health Conditions Among Patients Seeking and Undergoing Bariatric Surgery – A Meta-analysis’, published in JAMA. Although bariatric surgery is an accepted method of promoting weight loss in severely obese individuals, mental…
New research findings suggest for some, being married might actually work against patients’ quest to keep weight off, say investigators from Ohio State University. The researchers, led by Megan Ferriby, a graduate student in human sciences, concluded that the impact of weight-loss surgery extends to his or her romantic relationships and likely to the entire…
Mental health conditions, such as depression and binge eating disorder, are common among patients seeking and undergoing bariatric surgery, according to a study, ‘Mental Health Conditions Among Patients Seeking and Undergoing Bariatric Surgery – A Meta-analysis’, published in JAMA. Although bariatric surgery is an accepted method of promoting weight loss in…
Bariatric surgery can results in improvements in patients’ psychiatric behaviours such as eating behaviours, mood disorders and body image, although the mechanism as to why is not clear, according to a study by Portuguese researchers. Published in the Archives of Clinical Psychiatry (São Paulo), the paper ‘A psychiatric perspective view of bariatric surgery patients’, states…
Support Group Monthly Meeting Bariatric Surgery Support (BSS) is a Cape Town based Support Group for people seeking information and Support about Weight-Loss Surgery. We deal with a host of pre and post operation issues aimed at facilitating your journey to a healthier life style. When: October 27th, Durbanville Medi Clinic Venue: Durbanville Medi Clinic,…
A study evaluating the effects of bariatric surgery on obese women most at risk for cancer has found that the bariatric surgery eliminated precancerous uterine growths in those that had them. Other effects included substantial weight loss, improving patients’ physical quality of life (QoL), improving their insulin levels and ability to use glucose, and altering…
Although gastric bypass is known to result in a reduction in glucose levels, a study by researchers from Norway and Denmark has found that is it independent of weight-loss. According to the study authors from the Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway, and the Endocrinology Research Section, Copenhagen, Denmark, the paper, ‘Gastric…
Bariatric surgery is a popular and effective treatment for severe obesity but may have negative effects on the skeleton. This review summarizes changes in bone density and bone metabolism from animal and clinical studies of bariatric surgery, with specific attention to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), adjustable gastric banding (AGB), and sleeve gastrectomy (SG). Skeletal imaging…
RYGB and brain activity Study suggests that despite reduced food intake and improved food choices after RYGB, brain areas that are involved in reward anticipatory functions may be more active Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery may lead to changes in brain activity in regions that process reward and taste-related behaviours, according to a study on…
Researchers looking at how to tackle the UK’s obesity issue – have reported that patients are often treated the same regardless of how healthy they are, where they live or their behavioural characteristics. The study by researchers from the University of Sheffield and published in the Journal of Public Health, found those who have a…
Hello Everybody! Wow isn’t it amazing how quick time goes by? – Here we are Easter 2015 – I guess its very true that in life we need to make the most of all our gifts especially the gift of time… Bariatric Surgery Conference 2015 Talking about time – did we have a great time…
Researchers have shown that compulsive binging on foods that are high in fat and sugar can trigger specific molecular changes that can lead to hypertension. While other studies have examined the effects of binge eating on the brain, this study is thought to be the first to look at its molecular effects on the expression…
March 21 Lecture room 1 – saturday First plenary session : Chair Dr E Swanepoel 08h00 – 08h15 Welcome address & Opening Andre Potgieter 08h15 – 08h45 The latest news – SOS Study Prof Hans Lonroth 08h45 – 09h15 South African database Prof Tessa van der Merwe…
Now what ! Things were going fine until you notice the scale is moving in the wrong direction. Fear not my Bariatric Friend … Judy Kotze is our resident Bariatric Nutritional Specialist give her a call and she is bound to work out a diet plan that will get you back on track in no…
Next Meeting When: February 24th, Durbanville Venue: Medi-Clinic, Wellington Road, Durbanville Phone: 021 975 2594 Time: 18:00 RSVP: info@bariatricsurgerysupport.co.za
Life is great, and it can be much better when you put more of yourself into it. Feel the wonder of all that is, and then let that sense of wonder and awe motivate you to make something new and great from it all. The more you put yourself into life, the better life gets….
Weight-loss surgery has always been a topic of conversation and intrigue. After New Jersey Governor Chris Christie underwent Lap-Band surgery (in which a silicone band is placed around the upper part of the stomach to shrink it) in 2013, the media went crazy, questioning how much weight he’d lost, why he didn’t look even…
Bariatric surgery-induced weight loss induces remission of food addiction and improves several eating behaviours that are associated with the condition in extreme obesity, according to the study published in the journal Obesity. Although, bariatric surgery is believed to be one most effective available weight loss therapy for obesity and impacts on patients desire to eat,…
We talk a lot about dieting and burning off fat, but we actually have a lot of misconceptions about weight loss. Some people think fat is converted into energy or heat—a violation of the law of conservation of mass—while others think that the fat is somehow excreted or even converted to muscle. I was told…
Historically many medial aids have considered weight loss surgery as a cosmetic procedure and have not covered the costs of gastric bypasses. But medical schemes in South Africa are starting to pay out for par or all of weight loss related surgery provided that the physician establishes that the operation is medically necessary to preserve…
By now you have probably wondered what it takes to maintain your goal weight once you have reached it. Well as the saying goes a picture speaks a thousand words. Have a look at Sandi Loggenberg’s journey. It is pretty amazing – don’t you agree? According to Sandi it really is quite easy to…
The Bariatric Surgery Support Group Committee is made up of patients who have had surgery and who volunteer their time to share and support people seeking information and support about Weight-Loss Surgery. We deal with a host of pre and post operation issues aimed at facilitating your journey to a healthier lifestyle. We hold monthly…
Support Group Monthly Meeting Bariatric Surgery Support (BSS) is a Cape Town based Support Group for people seeking information and Support about Weight-Loss Surgery. We deal with a host of pre and post operation issues aimed at facilitating your journey to a healthier life style. When: Tuesday : 27 January 2015 – N1 City N1…
Cape Town – In a first for South Africa, live, interactive gastric surgery has been performed at a workshop on Thursday. The operation was screened to an adjacent boardroom filled with medical staff who discussed the procedure as it happened. Source: CAPE TOWN – In a first for South Africa, live, interactive gastric surgery has…
The Bariatric Surgery Support Group Committee is made up of patients who have had surgery and who volunteer their time to share and support people seeking information and support about Weight-Loss Surgery. We deal with a host of pre and post operation issues aimed at facilitating your journey to a healthier lifestyle. We hold monthly…
Obese youths have a nearly six fold risk of hypertension, according to research in more than 22 000 young people from the Prevention Education Program (PEP) Family Heart Study presented at European Society of Cardiology Congress by Professor Peter Schwandt from Germany. “The prevalence of hypertension and obesity in children and adolescents is continuing to…
Free Download :Bariatric Surgery Support Newsletter September 2014 Cosmetic Surgery helps with weight control Body contouring surgery to remove excess skin improves long-term weight control in patients after gastric bypass surgery, claims a study in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Since maintaining weight loss to…
Please note that due to some administrative constraints on our side The Bariatric Support Group Meeting will be held tonight…apologies for the short notice. Anyone intrested in Bariatric Surgery may attend. We will be having a Guest Speaker at tonight’s Meeting; Dr Vaughn Roux a Plastic Surgeon with a wealth of experience in this field…
Bariatric surgery may improve urinary incontinence symptoms in women, according to a study, “Long-term change in urinary incontinence among severely obese women following bariatric surgery,” presented at the American Urogynecologic Society and the International Urogynecological Association 2014 scientific meeting in Washington, DC. The study found that nearly half of women in a weight-loss surgery…
Thursday, June 26, 2014 – 12:23 Owen Haskins – Editor in chief, Bariatric News Gastric bypass surgery improves obese diabetic patients’ physical and mental health, more than an intensive weight loss programme involving lifestyle modifications over two years, according to the results from a study presented at the joint meeting of the International Society…
By: Rhine Barnes In August 2012, I wrote about my journey to hike the Otter Trail on the Tsitsikama coast. At the time I was 15 months post-operative and my weight had gone from 169kg to 105kg. This was the first really physically challenging thing that I had done in many years due to my…
Hi-there Everybody, We have a Bumper Newsletter for you this month – Attached is your FREE monthly issue jam-packed full of interesting news and useful information about BARIATRIC SURGERY. Also just a quick reminder that our APRIL Support Group Meeting will be held this coming Tuesday: When: Tuesday May 6,2014 – Durbanville Where: Room G08,…
The gastric bypass diet is designed for people who are recovering from gastric bypass surgery to help them heal and change their eating habits. Your doctor or a registered dietitian can help you with a gastric bypass diet by guiding meal planning. A gastric bypass diet specifies what type and how much food you can…
Weight-loss surgery, such as gastric banding, can dramatically reduce the rate of heart attacks and deaths among people who are obese, a new study shows. Researchers in the United Kingdom said their findings suggest that obese people at high risk for heart disease should seriously consider undergoing this type of procedure to lose weight. Read…
Do you need Bariatric Surgery? Don’t have Medical Aid… Losing weight isn’t easy — and for many severely overweight people, exercise and diet simply aren’t effective enough to shed significant weight. When all else has failed, many people start thinking about weight loss surgery, also called bariatric surgery. You likely have questions about…
Overweight and obesity are major worldwide health problems. By 2015 the World Health Organization predicts that more than 2.3 billion adults will be over-weight and 700 million will be obese. Nowadays there is a huge selection of traditional weight loss therapies, such as low-energy diets, different types of exer-cises, behaviour therapy and modification, pharmacological treatment…
Here’s a development to keep your eye on: Bariatric surgery performed on a small group of morbidly obese type 1s led to considerable weight loss, improved glycemic control, and improved metabolic profiles up to three years later. The surgeries, performed by doctors at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio on 10 patients, led to an average body mass index reduction of…
Gastric banding patients do not meet recommended daily requirements for important nutrients such as protein, vitamin D and calcium, despite receiving nutritional counselling over a three-month period, according to the outcomes of a study by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers “Our study clearly shows that there are issues regarding nutritional intake in gastric banding patients,”…
The Christmas Holidays are nearly upon us, and, like you, our Bariatric Surgery Support Group is looking forward to a well-deserved rest over the coming days. Before we break for festivities we would like to take the opportunity to thank all of our Members, The Support Group Committee, Dr Potgieter, Dr Swanepoel, Judy…
Bariatric Surgery Support South African Weight-Loss Surgery Support Group We Have a Fresh New-look Logo And Will Be Doing A Limited Edition Mug That Will Be Available To Buy. If You would Like A Mug Please E-mail info@bariatricsurgerysupport.co.za If we receive enough requests for this Mug we will have it made and couriered to all…
Patients who choose bariatric surgery compared to conservative weight loss treatment, had more positive expectations of the treatment outcomes and stronger beliefs in their ability to achieve these outcomes, according to researchers from the Oslo Bariatric Surgery Study (OBSS) The paper, ‘A comparison of behavioral and psychological characteristics of patients opting for surgical and conservative…
Evidence of the link between excess body weight, risk of colorectal cancer Wednesday, October 28, 2015 – 14:0 Speaking at the 23rd United European Gastroenterology Week (UEG Week 2015) in Barcelona, Spain, professor John Mathers, Professor of Human Nutrition from the Institute of Cellular Medicine at Newcastle University in the UK, revealed evidence linking excess body…
Two-year outcomes from the Diabetes Surgery Study have found that although the addition of gastric bypass to lifestyle and medical management in patients with type 2 diabetes improved diabetes control, adverse events and nutritional deficiencies were more frequent in the surgical group of patients. The paper entitled, ‘Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for diabetes (the Diabetes Surgery…