Leading Bariatric Center in Dominican Republic Educating Patients on Weight Loss Surgery

Find affordable, advanced bariatric surgery at the leading bariatric center in Santo Domingo.

The Bariatric Surgery Center of Dr. Pablo Garcia offers advanced surgical options including gastric sleeve, gastric balloon, gastric bypass, and gastric plication.

Read more... Leading Bariatric Center in Dominican Republic Educating Patients on Weight Loss Surgery

Excessive Sugar Consumption Culprit in Nation's Obesity and Diabetes Epidemics

n Washington, U.S. food regulators are raising awareness to how much sugar manufacturers are adding to their products — beyond the sweetener that unsurprisingly exists in raw ingredients.

Does making a distinction risk unnecessary misperception?

Learn More... Excessive Sugar Consumption Culprit in Nation's Obesity and Diabetes Epidemics 

Lose the Weight with the Right Household Wares

Weight gain is an inevitable fact of life. Unless we lead a healthy lifestyle, work out as often as we can or think about our waste line in all aspects of our life—we are all bound to join the fat camp one way or another.

Home set-up and furniture fixtures can have a weighty impact on inhabitants’ waste line and health well-being; that’s why it is pivotal to pick the right home ware to set you on the right track to keep a slim physique and maintain healthy lifestyle habits.

With these simple, inexpensive and no-frills home items, you can achieve the desired weight and a lean figure—for less time and cost.  

From small plates, to sturdy furniture; pick work-out friendly furniture to help you watch your weight and live well without weight.     

Read the rest of the story here: Household Items to Help You Lose Weight

Travel to Canada for Gastric Balloon

Canada has always been a location for Americans to travel to - from the Niagara Falls to the picturesque seaside and greenery of Vancouver.

Now Americans find gastric balloon as a reason to travel to Canada for weight loss.

The Intragastric balloon procedure is not yet FDA approved in the United States.  It is often for patients who are not obese enough for Bariatric surgery but need to loose 20 - 40 lbs.

Learn more about the risks and options when you read the full story here:  Americans Travel To Canada for Gastric Balloon

No Surgery Weight Loss Solution in 15 Minutes or Less

Could it be?  Finally?  A weight loss solution that doesn't require surgery?  According to a new procedure being done by doctors in London, it is true.

This potentially huge discovery could help put an end to obesity and diabetes once approved.

Read the full story here:  The 15-Minute Gastric Balloon

The 10 Most Popular WhereismyDoctor.com Stories of 2011

A whole lot happened in the world of health care last year, and WhereismyDoctor.com was there to inform you about it.

Here are the top 10 most read stories for 2011:

1. Infertility Tourism: Gender Selection in Cyprus Draws UK Patients - Gender selection was a controversial infertility topic in 2011. Regardless, the procedure was very popular in Cyprus, especially among British patients.

2. Americans Travel for Breast-Enhancing Macrolane in Mexico - Also known as the 30-minute boob job, Macrolane made headlines last year as a non-surgical way to enhance the breasts, calves and buttocks. Since it's not FDA approved for use in the United States, many American patients had this procedure done in sunny Mexico.

3. Bariatric Surgery Risks Include Divorce? - As global obesity numbers continue to grow, more patients are undergoing bariatric surgery. Although this procedure has been successfully performed for more than 20 years, experts are still learning about the side effects; one of the most prevalent ones is divorce.

4. Are More Men Seeking Plastic Surgery? - First it was "manscaping" and now it's "Bro-tox". Thanks to the increase in men undergoing cosmetic procedures like Botox and hair transplants, these are the terms you're likely to hear for many years to come.

5. Orthopedic Breakthrough: Possessed Hand - The amazing PossessedHand controls a person's hand movements through a remote device. This breakthrough may be useful for stroke survivors and other patients with paralysis or nerve damage, but we'll just have to wait and see.

To learn about numbers 5 through 10, read the full article here: The Top 10 Most Read Health Stories of 2011

Reclaim Your Health with Weight Loss Surgery in South Korea

Obesity is a major problem in many countries throughout the world.

The extra weight can wreak havoc on the body, causing health problems like  diabetes, heart disease, stroke, dementia, orthopedic problems, vision problems and more.

As awareness grows about the consequences of obesity, many people are stepping up and taking back control of their health. While diet and exercise might work well for some, morbidy obese individuals might need a medical jump-start to begin their weight loss journey.

Bariatric surgery is one effective option, helping patients to shed a lot of weight in a short period of time. Although the surgery is expensive in the United States, this shouldn't limit patients if they are ready to take this important step and undergo gastric bypass, lap band, or gastric balloon surgery.

One affordable option is bariatric surgery in South Korea. With an advanced medical system, expert weight loss doctors, and high success rates, South Korea is one of the most popular weight loss medical tourism destinations in the world.

To learn more, read the full article: Jump-Start Your Life with Bariatric Surgery in South Korea

Thailand Offers Plastic Surgery and More for Medical Tourists

Thailand is a beautiful country, full of unique cultural, culinary and adventure experiences for the millions of travelers that visit each year.

This Asian country is also a hotspot for medical tourism, offering some of the best, affordable health care in the world.

It is estimated that more than 1.5 million medical tourists travel to Thailand annually to undergo a variety of elective and non-elective medical procedures.

Among the most popular fields of medicine in Thailand are plastic surgery, cosmetic dentistry, cardiology, oncology, orthopedic surgery, bariatric surgery, and organ transplantation. JCI accredited and certified hospitals, world-class doctors and a serene environment make Thailand one of the most ideal places to have surgery on the planet.

To learn more, read the full article: Health Tourism Goes Far Beyond Plastic Surgery in Thailand

Obesity Rates in India on the Rise

According to a 2010 study by the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), one in five men and one in six women in India are overweight.

Obesity is better known as a "Western" problem where modern lives are more sedentary and include fat-filled processed foods; not in India, a country with one of the highest malnutrition rates in the world.

However, India's booming economy has brought a new level of affluence to certain parts of the population, and with money, comes problems.

One of those is obesity, and in some parts of India, obesity rates are as high as 40 percent!

Because of this, bariatric surgeons in India are seeing an influx of patients looking to treat their obesity with weight loss surgery, and also to combat obesity-related illness, including diabetes and heart disease.

To learn more, read the full article: Obesity in India - Growing Economy Sparks National Health Crisis

Weight Loss Surgery Proves Beneficial for the Whole Family

Whether gastric bypass, gastric band, or gastric balloon, weight loss surgery patients tend to lose a whole lot of weight following the procedure.

This brings about many health benefits for the individual, and a new study shows it also affects family members in a positive way.

Dr. John Morton, director of bariatric surgery at the Stanford School of Medicine told HealthDay, “We knew that obese family members and spouses increases your risk of being obese. We thought, ‘Well, can we make this work in reverse?’ And that’s exactly what we found.”

The study results illustrated a 'ripple effect' among family members; the patient loses a major amount of weight, and the family follows right behind. Eating and fitness habits changed for the better, which is really encouraging news for millions of families dealing with obesity today.

The researchers said, “If one family member makes drastic lifestyle changes following surgery, it is possible that other family members will adopt similar healthy habits.”

To learn more, read the full article: Bariatric Surgery - A Health Boost for the Entire Family

Body Contouring Surgery: Important After Major Weight Loss

Hundreds of thousands of Americans undergo dramatic weight transformations each year.

Weight loss surgery is the most popular way to jump start a healthy lifestyle, with 220,000 procedures performed by weight loss surgeons each year.

However, some plastic surgeons believe that there's more to major weight loss than simply shedding pounds.

Generally, following a significant weight loss, the body has a surplus of stretched out, sagging skin, which is difficult to correct with diet and exercise.

Body contouring plastic surgery is a very effective way to reduce extra skin, to tone and tighten the body, motivating patients to keep the weight off by boosting their confidence.

A new study shows that 75% of weight loss patients aren't made aware of options like  body contouring while recovering from weight loss surgery, but this group of plastic surgeons hopes to change that.

To learn more, read the full article: The Benefits of Body Contouring After Major Weight Loss

Psychological Support Helps Weight Loss Surgery Patients Succeed

Many people don't realize that weight loss surgery is much more than a physical thing.

There are a lot of psychological issues that go hand-in-hand with obesity and bariatric surgery recovery.

Many weight loss surgery patients seek help because of an unhealthy relationship with food, which often stems from a mental health issue.

Most weight loss surgery clinics require a full psychiatric evaluation prior to undergoing gastric bypass or gastric band (lap band) surgery. This way, they can work out their issues with food beforehand and go into surgery with a positive mind; which makes recovery much more successful in the long run.

To learn more, read the full article: Support is Essential for Weight Loss Surgery Patients

Do-It-Yourself Surgery: A Terrible Idea!

There are many things people can do themselves without needing the help of a professional. Home improvement, clothes making, and car repair are just a few popular DIY topics, but surgery should NOT fall into this category.

By judging from a recent list of DIY surgery horror stories, the idea of at-home surgery is very real, and very scary.

The story that set off this discussion was about a man who attempted to surgically remove a hernia, using only a butterknife and a cigarette. Around the same time other bizarre stories came out about people injecting store bought silicone into their faces and buttocks, and who can forget the DIY gastric bypass surgery kit sold on Amazon.com?

If there's anything to be learned from these people, it's DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME.

Leave the surgery to professionals. There's a reason they endured at least 10 years of medical school to get a license to operate.

To learn more about the DIY surgery trend, read the full article here: DIY Surgery - Don't Try This at Home!

Should Obese Kids Be Removed From Their Homes?

America is getting fatter, and the obesity debate is heating up.

Experts are working to find a solution for this deadly health trend, and one obesity expert, named David Ludwig, reported his opinion this week.

Ludwig thinks severely obese children should be taken out of their homes and away from their parents to prevent future obesity-related health problems from occuring.

Many people see this as harsh, but Ludwig has seen the proof of this method's success with his own eyes. Experts say that the act of removing a child from his parents can leave him with mental health problems for life.

So is it worth it? Can the government and the American people work together to come up with a solution that brings families closer, while at the same time, promote a healthier lifestyle for everyone?

To learn more, read the full article here: Who's To Blame For Childhood Obesity?

Obesity in Babies: Yes, please, I am eating for two!

 Many toddlers in the US are suffering from obesity and weight problems, a widespread epidemic that has long been besetting adults, and now transcended to children. The new disturbing trend is now affecting toddlers and teenagers, who far exceed the average weight for their age and height.
Poor nutrition provided by the parents is one of the most important factors behind childhood obesity in the US. However studies found that obesity can be linked to hypometabolism, a digestion disorder where fat burns slowly and therefore causes rapid weight gain. Another study suggests the mother’s eating habits, weight gain and gestational diabetes during pregnancy are also major contributors for obesity in toddlers.

Learn more about obesity in babies and teenagers: Obesity and Babies: Fat for Life?