- Men's Health, Weight Loss, Women's Health, Wellness, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAt 47, Andrew Henderson was frustrated by decades of struggling with weight loss and tired of ever-increasing doses of medication for his diabetes. So he enrolled in one of AAMC’s weight loss seminars and—with careful guidance from Alex Gandsas, MD—determined that surgery was the right option for him. Just weeks after his gastric sleeve procedure, Andrew was well on his way to a healthier life. When I first went to the seminar I was 402 pounds and that’s the biggest I’ve ever been. I had tried different diets. I work out. I exercise. I did everything my doctors asked since 2000, but I hadn’t lost any weight. I would come down to 380 and then I’d put the weight on again. I was compliant with my sugar, but my system gets used to the medication and then my doctor would have to put me on more medication. I said to myself ‘I’m getting tired of this. I had the surgery December 6, 2013, and now, a month later, I have lost nearly 50 pounds. When I came home, I was on a liquid diet. After about two weeks, my diabetes doctor said he wanted to take me off the insulin and I’ve been doing well with that. The surgery made a great difference. I have more energy, but I need to keep my protein level up. I know I have to eat smaller meals. You have to make your mind up to change things that you like. I don’t do fried foods. I’ve been eating fish and chicken. My meal plans have really changed, but then the nutritionist in the program helps with that. You have to be compliant and it grows on you. I just started working out a little more. I’m getting ready to start the hospital’s exercise plan that is part of the program for this kind of surgery. My twin brother is going to go through the procedure as well. We’re getting ready to retire in a few years and we want to be healthy. We have been carrying this weight for a long time and we need to make a change.0
- Weight Loss, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogChildhood obesity is a debilitating disease that can affect children physically and mentally. As a child, it’s easy to gravitate toward snacks that come in bright, colorful wrapping or grab a tasty, sugary drink without thinking much of the long-term effects. But, if your child combines consistent poor diet choices with other factors, this can lead to childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic in the U.S., with the percentage of children and adolescents affected by obesity tripling since the 1970s. Data shows one in five school age children and young people in the U.S. has obesity, making it the most common chronic disease of childhood, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Parents should be aware of factors that contribute to childhood obesity. These include genetics, metabolism, eating behaviors and physical activity, sleep schedule and negative events that a child might have experienced. There are health risks linked to childhood obesity that can have a harmful effect on the body in more than one way. Obese children can experience high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, breathing problems and joint discomfort, among other conditions. Obese children are also susceptible to psychological problems, such as depression, anxiety and low self-esteem. It’s important that you help your child develop a healthy relationship with food from the very beginning. My best advice for parents and guardians is to keep it practical, primarily focusing on nutrition and physical activity. Here are some steps in preventing childhood obesity: Develop a healthy relationship between a child and food. Focus on the health factor, not the body factor to prevent developing a negative relationship between a child and food. Be careful how you talk about weight. Tell your child you want to help them focus on eating foods that are healthy. Eat healthy. Eating five or more servings of fruits and veggies per day can reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, cancer and early death. Get more hours of exercise per day. I recommend 60 minutes every day. This includes walking or any other aerobic activity. An easy way to make exercise fun is for your child to get involved in a team sport, play with other children in the park or go biking. If you yourself practice this, your child will be more likely to do it and develop it as a habit. Remember, they look up to you! Stay away from sugary drinks and snacks. Focus more on the produce aisle and stay away from high sugar drinks and high calorie snacks. Limit these to special occasions so your child begins to develop the habit of having these every once in a while and not as frequently. Instead, try a new fruit or vegetable every month. Practice mindful eating. We tend to eat more when we’re distracted. Instead of watching TV, practice mindful eating and being present. This also allows for more family time and having conversations with each other. Sleep. This is very important. If your child sleeps less than nine hours a night, he or she is more likely to be obese. Make sure your child has a regular sleep schedule. This will also help your child have the energy he or she needs to get through the day. If needed, consider seeing a nutritionist. It won’t be an overnight change, but you can start by changing your child’s diet and encouraging healthy weight loss (no more than two pounds a week if they’re a child or adolescent, and no more than one pound per month if they’re between two and five to make sure they get the nutrition they need to grow). When you make these little changes, you’re setting them up to make good decisions for the rest of their lives. Author Deon Edgerson-George, MD, is an internal medicine physician and pediatrician at Luminis Health Primary Care.0
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- PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIn an increasingly fast-paced, technology-driven world, teen stress, depression and anxiety are on the rise. A survey by the American Psychological Association found that younger Americans report the highest level of stress among all age groups. In addition to peer, academic, social and family pressures, the holiday season can bring seasonal stressors. Less daylight. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a common cause of the blues in the winter months due to a decrease in sunlight. Changes in schedules and routines. Teens are already overscheduled these days. Holiday festivities and family get-togethers can make for an even tighter schedule. Financial worries. Adults aren’t the only ones stressing over finances. Not only do teens pick up on our worries and react to them, they often have the same worries, like how to pay for college or what to do after graduation. And during the holiday season, there is the added financial strain of gift giving. Changes in diet and sleep routines. The holiday season comes with extra sweets and indulgences. In moderation that’s not usually a problem. But too much sugar can have a negative impact on blood sugar and mood. Increased grief about divorce, death, or other family changes. The holidays are often a reminder of loved ones that are no longer with us. Some stress, sadness and anxiety are normal feelings around the holidays. But sometimes seasonal stress can be enough to cause clinical signs of depression and anxiety. It can be hard to distinguish normal teenage angst from signs of something more serious. Here are some signs to look out for: General health complaints, especially frequent headaches and stomach aches. An increase in irritability or moodiness. Declining grades at school. Losing interest in things they used to enjoy. Changes in eating and hygiene habits. Behavioral changes such as acting out or isolating themselves. Good self-care can help combat stress and prevent it from becoming a more serious problem. Here are some things you and your teen can do: Get active. Exercise is a great way to reduce stress. Something as simple as taking a walk helps. Rest. Teens need between eight to 10 hours of sleep a night but rarely get it. Creating a nightly routine is a good way to start better sleep habits. Eat well. The holidays can wreak havoc on a healthy diet. Remember to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein and drink lots of water. A healthy diet can help regulate your mood. Meditation, breathing techniques and yoga are great stress relievers. Giving back can foster gratitude and help your teen gain perspective. Slow Down. Take time to slow down and enjoy the season. Stress isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, it can motivate us to work harder and be more efficient. However, prolonged stress can have a negative impact on our physical and emotional wellbeing. If you notice yourself or your teen continuing to feel overwhelmed with stress, sadness or anxiety beyond the holiday season, it is important to see a mental health professional. Originally published Dec. 28, 2017. Last updated Dec. 16, 2019.0
- Men's Health, Patient & Family Advisors, Weight Loss, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogMark Goss knows how hard it can be to lose weight and keep it off. At age 34, the Annapolis resident and business owner weighed just over 350 pounds. When his primary care doctor warned him that he was headed for early heart disease and stroke, he knew it was time to get healthier for the sake of his wife and two young daughters. After years of trying a number of weight loss programs that didn’t work for him, Mark was inspired when he attended a free seminar held by AAMC’s Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery Program. The program’s emphasis on forming healthy, lifelong habits made sense to him. After undergoing surgery in 2014, he lost more than 100 pounds, his weight has remained stable, and he has a new, healthy lifestyle that he knows he can sustain. “If you are serious about long-term weight loss and getting healthy, the AAMC weight loss surgery program provides an outstanding tool for making the changes that can save your life,” says Mark, who now provides peer support to new and prospective AAMC bariatric patients. “I’m sure it saved mine.” Even Biggest Losers Gain Recent research has shown just how difficult it can be to sustain weight loss like Mark’s. In one study, detailed in a May 2016 New York Times article, researchers followed a group of contestants from the reality TV show “The Biggest Loser” for six years after their weight loss. During those years, the contestants’ metabolism actually slowed down. It became harder than normal for them to burn calories, and most regained their weight. “Weight loss surgery provides an added advantage to diet and exercise as the only proven, long-term weight loss solution for patients struggling with obesity,” says Alex Gandsas, MD, director of AAMC’s Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery Program. “But a focus on overall wellness and long-term support is another crucial factor for success. We’ve found that patients do so much better in a program that will support them for the rest of their lives. Surgery is only one of the components on the journey along with nutrition, psychological counseling and medically supervised exercise.” No more medication Mark was a candidate for sleeve gastrectomy, one of two minimally invasive weight loss surgeries offered at AAMC. The small stomach pouch his surgery created now provides a fail-safe against overeating, he says. “I can comfortably eat one plate of food, and immediately after that I have an amazingly full feeling.” Prior to the procedure, he had a complete medical evaluation and physical fitness training. After surgery, program dietitians prescribed him a diet that he says helped him break an addiction to junk food. He also entered the AAMC Bariatric Optimization Program, a carefully monitored exercise regimen. “The program gave me the building blocks I needed to continue exercising on my own with a personal trainer,” he says. He continues to work out regularly and stays away from unhealthy foods. All in the family Mark’s journey has also had a profound effect on his family’s health. His wife has lost nearly 100 pounds with diet and exercise, and his daughters now ask for the healthy foods they see their parents eating. In addition, the once sedentary family is now active and the kids are enrolled in sports programs. “We are where we should have been to begin with,” he says. “The surgery was a catalyst for a life change.” Mark now helps guide the program and supports others in his role as a patient and family advisor. And if he needs help, Mark knows he can contact his AAMC team with any questions, concerns or complications. He credits this support as a key factor in his ongoing success. “Everyone’s really friendly and just an email away,” he says. “I struggle the same as everyone, and moderation is still the key. But it’s easy now that I have the mindset and the knowledge to keep my weight under control and to stay fit,” Mark says. “It’s up to the individual to capitalize on the opportunities this program offers, and AAMC makes it easier.” AAMC surgeons also perform complex hernia repair procedures in combination with weight loss surgery.0
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