WLS doesnt work long term. October 4, 2010

in a new study done in the netherlands gastric banding (aka lap band) has been show to be inneffctive long term. For once the data needs little interpretation and is spelled out fairly openly in the beginning paragraphs:

(from Eating Disorders Review September/October 2010 Volume 21, Number 5)

“Adjustable gastric banding for obesity achieves only modest weight loss and even that benefit deteriorates over time, according to a report presented at the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery in Las Vegas, NV in June. Edo Aarts, MD, of Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem, The Netherlands, noted that 5 years after surgery, about 75% of his patients maintained a 25% excess weight loss. At 10 years, the success rate dropped to less than 33%. Surgeons at Rijnstate Hospital perform more than 800 gastric banding procedures annually, more than any other hospital in The Netherlands; more than 3,000 patients have had the procedure since it was introduced in the 1990s. Dr. Aarts and colleagues evaluated the long-term results of adjustable gastric banding in 201 patients who had undergone the procedure during the years 1995 to 2003; all had rigorous follow-up at 3-month intervals during the first year and then annually thereafter, and complete follow-up data was available for an average of 9.6 years.

Using excess weight loss of 25% or more to define treatment success, the Dutch surgeons found that about 80% of the patients retained weight loss during the first 3 years; after this there was a steady decline to 64% of patients at 5 years, and 20% at 10 years.”

Dieits dont work long term. period. the article goes on to talk about how “Control of diabetes, hypertension, and gastroesophageal reflux all deteriorated significantly over time. The incidence of new-onset diabetes and hypertension increased during follow-up, as did the proportion of patients requiring acid-suppression therapy.”

so event he medical resons for gastic banding or wls dont pan out long term. all you really have is a slower diet with more dramatic weight loss (and regain) in the long term.

Foody blogging September 14, 2010

well im back. sorry for the hiatus…things just got…overwhelming..to say the least. I’ve started blogging again bi weekly over Fierce Freethinking Fatties…and wnat to find a way to get back in the groove here again. I will try to post 2x weekly but i cant promise anything.

As part of trying to blog more i am going to start including foods that no person would EVER think a fatty consumes. But i do so on a regular basis. Not trying to advocate for weight loss or anything…..jsut trying out new foods. Todays star: quinoa. it’s an Incan grain (gogo love of south american archaeology…good at breakfast (do it up sweet) or at dinner (make it savory). it’s the only grain that is a complete protein all on its own (gogo vegans).

you cook it like rice: 1c grain to 2c water, add seasoning to the water, bring to a boil, then reduce and simmer covered for 15-20 min, or until it looks like the quinoa sprouted and all the liquid is gone. This morning I added a cut up apple, a handful of cranberries, cinnamon and ginger, salt and about a teaspoon of butter. yummy!