Thursday, January 17, 2008

An Implant That May Aid in the Obesity Fight

In the future, there may be another weapon in the fight against obesity. Doctors in San Antonio are testing a device that is implanted in the abdomen. The device works as follows: As food begins to enter the stomach, the device sends signals to the stomach walls indicating that the stomach is full, before the stomach is full.

The device is called Tantalus. The device is built by MetaCure, a company in Israeli. The device is implanted in the abdomen by bariatric surgeons, using minimally invasive techniques. Small incisions are made in the body, and surgeons insert special surgical tools and cameras into the small incisions to do the surgery.

Minimally invasive surgery is known to reduce hospital stays and complications, since there is less trauma to the body during the operation. At least 300 patients are part of implant trials now underway in San Antonio. And at least one patient has reported a loss of 3o pounds.

We believe that this technology should be monitored by weight loss and bariatric weight loss centers. If it proves successful, it could be an important tool in the fight against obesity. And this device should be included in a weight loss center's strategic management discussions.
-----------------------------------------------

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Weight Loss for Quality of Life Improvement for Those Obese Persons with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is sometimes aggravated by too much body weight. A recent report in the Clinical Rheumatology Journal shows that obesity diminishes the quality of life for those with rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, it appears that weight loss programs directed at obese persons with rheumatoid arthritis may be a feasible service for weight loss or bariatric centers to offer.

The journal report indicated that even when adjustments are made for factors such as age and sex, obesity was shown to be an independent factor in lowering the quality of life for those with rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, in their marketing campaigns, bariatric or weight loss centers should consider emphasizing the benefits of weight loss for those obese patients who also suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.
---------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe to Overfat Strategy Blog by Email