Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which a person has one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while sleeping. There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed. Of the three, obstructive sleep apnea, often called OSA for short, is the most common. As a result of the disruption in…
The findings of the 2 year interim report of the APEX (Lap-Band AP Experience) study show encouraging results for obese patients with type 2 diabetes. Designed in 2008, the APEX study is a multicenter, prospective, open-label, 5-year assessment of severely obese patients undergoing the LAP-BAND AP System surgery. In the report, researchers are presenting data…
Two new studies on the brain have provided a better understanding of how exercise affects our desire to eat. The first study, conducted by researchers at California Polytechnic State University, looked at how exercise affected what is called the ‘food-reward system’ region of the brain, in 30 physically-fit young adults. They looked at the participants’…
Millions of obese Americans are unable to achieve sustainable weight loss through diet and exercise alone, yet are unable to receive bariatric surgery, or would be better suited to a less extreme option than surgery. We have on-going hope that this gap in obesity treatment could potentially be filled by an anti-obesity drug. However, the…
Heartburn and other symptoms of acid reflux seem to be much more common than they were a decade ago and according to the largest studies ever to examine the issue, weekly heartburn and other symptoms of acid reflux have increased almost 50 percent over the past decade. Acid Reflux Disease or Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)…
There are several effective surgical procedures available to treat obesity. Our goal at Oregon Weight Loss Surgery is to help you find the surgery that is best for you, whether it’s gastric banding, gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, or possibly, the newer and investigational procedure, Gastric Plication. The procedure is also referred to as laparoscopic greater…
Is the notion of the “Freshman 15” weight gain a myth? A new study from the Ohio State University’s Center for Human Resource Research found that most students do not in fact gain 15 pounds in their first year of college, and on the contrary, almost a quarter of students actually report losing weight during…
Last week, Dr. Emma Patterson joined other leading bariatric surgeons as an expert speaker and panelist at the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery’s (ASMBS) 2nd annual Fall Educational Event. Because she serves on the Executive Council, she also attended an ASMBS Executive Council meeting there. The meeting included a review of the past…
It’s no surprise that childhood obesity is a major concern in our country. Experts are pushing for improvements in school cafeteria food options, increased physical activity, and limiting TV and video game time at home. Most of these efforts are aimed at reducing the level of overweight and obese school-aged children. However, a new report…
Dr. Emma Patterson and Emma Squillace, co-founders of Doctors of Weight Loss, have brought together top bariatric surgeons from around the country to provide one of the best available resources for individuals who want to understand the latest research, news, and options for weight loss surgery. “The popularity of bariatric surgery has increased exponentially. As…