Weight loss through ileal transposition is accompanied by increased ileal hormone secretion and synthesis in rats. (1/10)

Bariatric surgeries, such as gastric bypass, result in dramatic and sustained weight loss that is usually attributed to a combination of gastric volume restriction and intestinal malabsorption. However, studies parceling out the contribution of enhanced intestinal stimulation in the absence of these two mechanisms have received little attention. Previous studies have demonstrated that patients who received intestinal bypass or Roux-en-Y surgery have increased release of gastrointestinal hormones. One possible mechanism for this increase is the rapid transit of nutrients into the intestine after eating. To determine whether there is increased secretion of anorectic peptides produced in the distal small intestine when this portion of the gut is given greater exposure to nutrients, we preformed ileal transpositions (IT) in rats. In this procedure, an isolated segment of ileum is transposed to the jejunum, resulting in an intestinal tract of normal length but an alteration in the normal distribution of endocrine cells along the gut. Rats with IT lost more weight (P < 0.05) and consumed less food (P < 0.05) than control rats with intestinal transections and reanastomosis without transposition. Weight loss in the IT rats was not due to malabsorption of nutrients. However, transposition of distal gut to a proximal location caused increased synthesis and release of the anorectic ileal hormones glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY; P < 0.01). The association of weight loss with increased release of GLP-1 and PYY suggests that procedures that promote gastrointestinal endocrine function can reduce energy intake. These findings support the importance of evaluating the contribution of gastrointestinal hormones to the weight loss seen with bariatric surgery.  (+info)

Clinical implications of obesity with specific focus on cardiovascular disease: a statement for professionals from the American Heart Association Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism: endorsed by the American College of Cardiology Foundation. (2/10)

Obesity adversely affects cardiac function, increases the risk factors for coronary heart disease, and is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The risk of developing coronary heart disease is directly related to the concomitant burden of obesity-related risk factors. Modest weight loss can improve diastolic function and affect the entire cluster of coronary heart disease risk factors simultaneously. This statement from the American Heart Association Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism reviews the relationship between obesity and the cardiovascular system, evaluates the effect of weight loss on coronary heart disease risk factors and coronary heart disease, and provides practical weight management treatment guidelines for cardiovascular healthcare professionals. The data demonstrate that weight loss and physical activity can prevent and treat obesity-related coronary heart disease risk factors and should be considered a primary therapy for obese patients with cardiovascular disease.  (+info)

Preventing type 2 diabetes mellitus. (3/10)

Type 2 diabetes is a serious, costly, and increasingly common disease. Several conditions commonly seen in family medicine settings confer increased risk of developing diabetes. Among these conditions are impaired glucose tolerance, impaired fasting glucose, obesity, gestational diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and menopause. We here present the results of a systematic review of the literature examining the evidence for different strategies aimed at preventing type 2 diabetes in patients with these conditions. The strongest evidence supports an intensive lifestyle intervention designed to induce modest weight loss. The greatest degree of prevention, based on lesser quality evidence, may be imparted by bariatric surgery. Metformin and troglitazone have appreciable evidence in specific populations, and orlistat and acarbose have slightly less evidence among obese patients, for preventing diabetes. Ramipril, captopril, losartan, pravastatin, and estrogens show some very preliminary promise for preventing diabetes in patients treated for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and menopause, but each needs a more rigorous evaluation. Although more questions remain to be answered, family physicians now have tools available to help our patients lead lives free of diabetes.  (+info)

Predictors of weight loss and reversal of comorbidities in malabsorptive bariatric surgery. (4/10)

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular and metabolic comorbidities are dramatically increased in severe obesity, a condition highly resistant to nonsurgical therapy. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to identify predictors of weight loss and reversal of comorbidity in obese patients undergoing malabsorptive bariatric surgery. DESIGN: Morbidly obese men and women (n = 107) were studied before and 2 y after biliopancreatic diversion (BPD). Body composition, serum lipid profile, oral glucose tolerance, and blood pressure were measured. Insulin sensitivity was determined by use of a euglycemic clamp. The length of the small intestine was measured during surgery. RESULTS: Intestinal length was 671 +/- 99 cm, and the residual absorbing intestine after BPD ranged from 54% to 24% of initial length. Patients lost an average of 36% of their initial weight, with approximately 50% of them reaching a body mass index (in kg/m(2)) < 30. Serum cholesterol decreased (from 4.58 +/- 1.11 to 3.34 +/- 0.73 mmol/L; P < 0.0001), as did serum triacylglycerols (from 1.52 +/- 0.59 to 0.88 +/- 0.35 mmol/L; P < 0.0001), whereas insulin sensitivity rose 150% (from 26 +/- 4 to 64 +/- 11 micromol . min(-1) . kg fat-free mass(-1); P < 0.0001). Diabetes (in 23% of patients before surgery) and hypertension (in 83%) were reduced (by 88% and 96%, respectively) after surgery. In a multivariate model (including sex, age, intestinal length, presence of diabetes, insulin sensitivity, and initial fat mass), age and diabetes were independent, negative predictors of weight loss, whereas initial fat mass was a strong positive predictor (r(2) = 0.51). CONCLUSIONS: Two years after BPD in morbidly obese patients, comorbidities are largely corrected and insulin resistance is fully reversed despite persistent obesity. Initial fat mass, but not residual intestinal length, is the strongest predictor of weight loss after BPD.  (+info)

Obesity: changing the face of geriatric care. (5/10)

Statistics suggest that more and more older Americans are carrying extra weight-an estimated 40% of individuals between the ages of 60 and 69 have a body mass index >30 and 30% of persons between ages of 70 and 79 years are obese. Obesity, coupled with the challenges of aging, leads to an unfortunate burden of chronic disease, functional decline, poor quality of life, and an increased risk of being homebound. Physical assessment of the elderly obese patient should include measurement of height, weight (to determine body mass index) and waist circumference (to address central obesity) and consideration of vascular, skin, and mobility issues. Weight management strategies such as diet and hydration should balance nutritional requirements with weight loss; particular attention to protein needs in chair- and bedbound patients is necessary. Additional approaches such as exercise, bariatric weight loss surgery, and weight loss medication should be considered on an individual basis related to their inherent risks in this population. Weight loss/management options framed from an interdisciplinary perspective can improve quality of life for these patients and their caregivers. Research specific to obesity in this age group is warranted.  (+info)

Update in the management of obesity. (6/10)

Significant increase of obesity prevalence in almost all countries in the world recently has had obesity as a global health problem, and WHO in 1998 defined it as "the global epidemic". Simply, obesity is defined as an excessive fat accumulation in fat tissue due to imbalance of energy intake and expenditure. Body mass index is a simple method for defining the degree of overweight and obesity, however, waist circumference is the preferred measure of abdominal obesity because it has greater relationship with the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Body fatness reflects the interactions of development, environment and genetic factors. The role of genetic factors has already existed, nevertheless, environment factors are likely more important in developing obesity. Increased mortality among the obese is evident for several life-threatening diseases including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, gallbladder disease, and hormone-sensitive and gastrointestinal cancers. Risks are also higher for some non-fatal conditions such as back pain, arthritis, infertility and, in many westernized countries, poor psychosocial functioning. Obesity is not only threatening health, also impacts on high economic and social cost. Effective prevention of obesity should be focused to high risk individuals or groups. Individuals who have some existing weight-related problems and those with a high risk of developing obesity co-morbidity such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes should be a key priority in this prevention strategy. Although weight loss in obese persons of any age can improve obesity-related medical complications, physical function, and quality of life, the primary purpose for weigh-loss therapy may differ across age group. The current therapeutic tools available for weight management are: (1) lifestyle intervention involving diet, physical activity, and behavior modification; (2) pharmacotherapy; and (3) surgery. Moderate weight loss (5-10% of initial weight) by any programs is a realistic target in management of obesity associated with improvement of risk factors of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.  (+info)

Twelve-month effectiveness of a parent-led, family-focused weight-management program for prepubertal children: a randomized, controlled trial. (7/10)

BACKGROUND: Parenting-skills training may be an effective age-appropriate child behavior-modification strategy to assist parents in addressing childhood overweight. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to evaluate the relative effectiveness of parenting-skills training as a key strategy for the treatment of overweight children. DESIGN: The design consisted of an assessor-blinded, randomized, controlled trial involving 111 (64% female) overweight, prepubertal children 6 to 9 years of age randomly assigned to parenting-skills training plus intensive lifestyle education, parenting-skills training alone, or a 12-month wait-listed control. Height, BMI, and waist-circumference z score and metabolic profile were assessed at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months (intention to treat). RESULTS: After 12 months, the BMI z score was reduced by approximately 10% with parenting-skills training plus intensive lifestyle education versus approximately 5% with parenting-skills training alone or wait-listing for intervention. Waist-circumference z score fell over 12 months in both intervention groups but not in the control group. There was a significant gender effect, with greater reduction in BMI and waist-circumference z scores in boys compared with girls. CONCLUSION: Parenting-skills training combined with promoting a healthy family lifestyle may be an effective approach to weight management in prepubertal children, particularly boys. Future studies should be powered to allow gender subanalysis.  (+info)

Following up nonrespondents to an online weight management intervention: randomized trial comparing mail versus telephone. (8/10)

BACKGROUND: Attrition, or dropout, is a problem faced by many online health interventions, potentially threatening the inferential value of online randomized controlled trials. OBJECTIVE: In the context of a randomized controlled trial of an online weight management intervention, where 85% of the baseline participants were lost to follow-up at the 12-month measurement, the objective was to examine the effect of nonresponse on key outcomes and explore ways to reduce attrition in follow-up surveys. METHODS: A sample of 700 non-respondents to the 12-month online follow-up survey was randomly assigned to a mail or telephone nonresponse follow-up survey. We examined response rates in the two groups, costs of follow-up, reasons for nonresponse, and mode effects. We ran several logistic regression models, predicting response or nonresponse to the 12-month online survey as well as predicting response or nonresponse to the follow-up survey. RESULTS: We analyzed 210 follow-up respondents in the mail and 170 in the telephone group. Response rates of 59% and 55% were obtained for the telephone and mail nonresponse follow-up surveys, respectively. A total of 197 respondents (51.8%) gave reasons related to technical issues or email as a means of communication, with older people more likely to give technical reasons for non-completion; 144 (37.9%) gave reasons related to the intervention or the survey itself. Mail follow-up was substantially cheaper: We estimate that the telephone survey cost about US $34 per sampled case, compared to US $15 for the mail survey. The telephone responses were subject to possible social desirability effects, with the telephone respondents reporting significantly greater weight loss than the mail respondents. The respondents to the nonresponse follow-up did not differ significantly from the 12-month online respondents on key outcome variables. CONCLUSIONS: Mail is an effective way to reduce attrition to online surveys, while telephone follow-up might lead to overestimating the weight loss for both the treatment and control groups. Nonresponse bias does not appear to be a significant factor in the conclusions drawn from the randomized controlled trial.  (+info)

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