Blog
19th Jun, 2020
If you're investigating metabolic surgery, it's likely that outcomes and efficacy are important to you. In the case of the gastric sleeve, a common question is whether it always works. The short answer is no, because nothing always works. But there is very encouraging data showing that it almost always works. And it works way better, and is much safer, than doing nothing or continuing… Read more »
12th Jun, 2020
Based on scientific evidence, both AARP and The American Geriatrics Society have warned against the routine use of common bladder-control medications called anticholinergics. Millions of Americans are commonly prescribed anticholinergic drugs to treat bladder and bowel leakage, and overactive bladder (OAB). Some of the common drugs are known by names Detrol, Ditropan, Enablix and Vesicare. A large British study has found evidence that anticholinergic medications… Read more »
5th Jun, 2020
1. It’s not your fault that the gastric bypass failed. I know that everybody tends to blame themselves, but the science and the evidence support a very different conclusion. The truth is that the problem is a result of the intersection between a person’s genetics and the obesogenic environment. That’s it. Huge changes in everything we grow and prepare and consume, combined with many other factors… Read more »
2nd Jun, 2020
In a pair of large and recently completed studies, sleeve gastrectomy earned more praise as the safest thing to do if you are battling obesity. In one study of over 117,000 individuals, sleeve gastrectomy was found to result in tremendous long-term weight loss compared to non-surgical treatment. In the 2020 publication by Arterburn and colleagues, medical weight loss without surgery resulted in a grand total… Read more »
29th May, 2020
Bowel leakage or fecal incontinence is a surprisingly common problem. But as common as it is, the fact that it's also a solvable issue 90% of the time isn't as well known. Bowel leakage affects tens of millions of Americans, and it varies a great deal in its severity. Treatments for fecal incontinence likewise vary to match the severity of a person's experience. If you're… Read more »
22nd May, 2020
I recently received a gratifying email from the United States Patent and Trademark Office informing me that my invention of a novel device for use in surgery was granted a U.S. Patent. If you are familiar with the patent process, you may know it is a long journey. The new device, Non-Provisional Patent Serial No. 15/838,057, H & H Reference No. (88537.0006), is designed to… Read more »
15th May, 2020
Contrary to conventional wisdom, bladder leakage is not “normal” at any age. It affects tens of millions of men and women, and it ranges from a minor nuisance to a major problem that significantly diminishes health and quality of life. Fortunately, treatments have improved greatly in recent years, to the point that the problem is solvable for at least 90% of people. Today, we’re reviewing… Read more »
8th May, 2020
Over the last five years, we’ve had an opportunity to evaluate procedures for tightening or revising the stomach after prior gastric bypass. We’ve learned a great deal, and we’ve been able to improve the procedures that jumpstart weight loss and lead to better health. Today, I’m sharing an update to gastric bypass stomach pouch tightening without surgery. The Stretched Stomach Pouch For the millions of… Read more »
5th May, 2020
Contrary to popular opinion, losing weight and keeping it off isn't about willpower. Not really. Mostly today it's about biology – our genetic blueprint up against an obesogenic environment. But there are people who successfully fight against all the elements of our food and environment that conspire to make us fat: people who exercise a lot every day and eat lower carbs, focusing on vegetables… Read more »
4th May, 2020
In the midst of the global pandemic, patterns are beginning to emerge, particularly in relation to people who are most at risk of hospitalization and complications. According to the CDC, high-risk individuals include the severely obese — people with a body mass index, or BMI, over 40. It’s a telling inclusion, particularly given current demographic breakdowns on coronavirus. Increasingly, these breakdowns are tracking the BMIs… Read more »