Study Shows Weight Loss Supplements Are No Magic Pill for Weight Loss

Cara Stewart, RD, LDN, member of the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery team, discusses a recent study about the safety and effectiveness of weight loss supplements.

Supplements that promise quick, easy and permanent weight loss can be tempting, but a new study published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism proves the old adage: “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” It turns out that weight loss supplements are no exception.

A recent study showed that there is no evidence of a link between supplements and significant weight loss. In fact, some products produce detrimental side effects, such as increasing the risk of stroke or heart problems.

Led by researchers at Oregon State University, the study looked at hundreds of weight loss supplements, including chitosan, caffeine, conjugated linoleic acid and soluble fiber. They found no direct link between these products and significant weight loss. They did find that a few products, including green tea, fiber and low-fat dairy supplements, showed modest weight loss of three to four pounds, but only when combined with a reduced-calorie diet.

The bottom line is that there is no magic pill for successful and sustained weight loss. If you have had weight loss surgery, and even of you haven’t, the key to losing weight and keeping it off is a healthy diet and regular exercise program.

- Cara Stewart, RD, LDN

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Bariatric Surgery Better Than Medication for Diabetes

A new study says people with type-2 diabetes may have more success in managing their diabetes with bariatric surgery rather than traditional medical therapies.

The study, published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine compared the standard treatment of medication, diet and exercise to weight-loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, for the treatment of type-2 diabetes.

“Research has already shown that gastric bypass surgery improves or resolves type-2 diabetes in days or weeks following surgery,” says Noel Williams, MD, director of the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program. “This new study shows that in addition to gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy has the same positive impact on type-2 diabetes and is more effective than medical management alone.”

During a sleeve gastrectomy, a sleeve-shaped tube is created from a small portion of the stomach and the majority of the stomach is removed. Food passes through the new stomach tube directly into the intestines. Nutrients and calories are absorbed from food normally, but patients feel full sooner and longer.

“It is important that patients choose an experienced physician to perform their weight-loss surgery,” says Dr. Williams. “The Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery program performs more than 500 procedures every year and more sleeve gastrectomies than any program in the Philadelphia region.”

Type-2 diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body cannot or does not produce enough insulin to manage blood sugar levels. Type-2 diabetes is often associated with obesity, though people of average weight may also develop the disease.

“Research is proving that weight-loss surgery reduces the co-morbidities associated with obesity,” says Dr. Williams. “Following surgery some patients quickly see their blood sugar level return to normal and they are able to stop taking insulin and other medications.”

The study also found bariatric surgery helped people lower their blood pressure and cholesterol.

Read more about the study here.

Learn more about weight-loss surgery at Penn, and how it may help you control your diabetes by attending a free informational session about weight-loss surgery. 

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Put Down that Remote: Increase Physical Activity without Turning off the TV

Cara Stewart, RD, LDN, member of the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery team, discusses a recent study that shows the health benefits of physical activity during television viewing. 

Have you been trying to figure out how to incorporate more exercise into your lifestyle?  A recent study published in the American College of Sports Medicine’s Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise journal shows that you don’t even have to turn off the television to fit in a daily workout.

Researchers found that stepping in place and walking on a treadmill during television commercials significantly increase physical activity and can actually constitute a workout. They studied a group of 23 men and women, ages 18 to 65 and representing a variety of weights, and measured their calorie expenditure at rest and at different levels of activity while watching television.

Their findings show that stepping in place during the commercials of one hour of television burns an average of 146 calories per hour and results in average of 2,111 steps. Walking on a treadmill at three miles per hour for the same time period burns an average of 304 calories per hour. Both represent significant increases in physical activity when compared to remaining sedentary, which produces minimal, if any, calorie expenditure. 

So, the next time you sit down to watch your favorite television program, try moving your feet during the commercial breaks! It is an easy opportunity to burn calories and become a healthier you without missing a single minute or episode of the television shows you love.

- Cara Stewart

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Lose Weight and Achieve a Better Quality of Life, Too!

David Sarwer, PhD, director of clinical services at the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders and member of the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery team, explains the psychosocial benefits of weight loss surgery.

The physical benefits of bariatric surgery include weight loss, improvements in obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension, but that’s only half the story. A growing body of evidence now shows the significant impact of bariatric surgery on psychosocial health and well being, particularly quality of life.

Many people with morbid obesity experience impairments in their quality of life, including persistent pain, low self-esteem and issues with social relationships, body image and sexuality. For individuals suffering from obesity-related diseases, the negative effect on their quality of life is only enhanced by their illness.

The good news is that research suggests that bariatric surgery can benefit mental and social well being in addition to facilitating weight loss and reducing typical metrics of obesity-related diseases like blood sugar and blood pressure.

In fact, a recent study conducted by the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program shows the psychosocial benefits of bariatric surgery begin earlier than previously thought. Patients reported significant improvements to quality of life as early as just 20 weeks after surgery.

These findings suggest the need for a broader view of the benefits of bariatric surgery. The transformation people experience after bariatric surgery often involves significant physical, psychological and interpersonal changes. It is important to consider – and prepare for – all the benefits, including better qualify of life, when deciding whether bariatric surgery is the right treatment option for you.

The Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program provides ongoing support groups to help you prepare for and successfully cope with post-surgical changes in your life. 

- David B. Sarwer, PhD

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Weight Loss Surgery Reduces Cardiovascular Risk

Cara Stewart, RD, LDN, member of the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery team, discusses recent study findings, which reveal the cardiovascular benefits of weight loss surgery and identify diabetes, not BMI, as the best indicator of cardiovascular risk.

Obesity is a well-known risk factor for a host of cardiovascular problems, including heart attack, stroke and heart disease, but a recently published study in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that weight loss surgery can significantly reduce that risk.

Researchers found that bariatric surgery lowered the risk of heart attack and stroke by 33 percent and the risk of death from heart-related causes by nearly 53 percent. The results are based on a Swedish study of over 4,000 obese adults that compared the outcomes of people who had bariatric surgery with those that did not.

The study showed that diabetes and risk factors for diabetes, including high blood sugar, were significant indicators of post-surgical cardiovascular benefit. Body mass index (BMI) before surgery and weight loss after surgery were not associated with reduced incidence of cardiovascular events, based on the study results.

Currently, candidates for bariatric surgery must have either a BMI over 40 or a BMI over 35 with one or more obesity-related condition, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnea.  The findings of this study highlight the importance of considering diabetes, in addition to BMI, when deciding whether bariatric surgery is the best treatment option.

- Cara Stewart, RD, LDN

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Penn Advancing Bariatric Surgery with Clinical Research

Jacque Spitzer, MSEd, research project manager at the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders and member of the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery team, explains the various ways patients can stay connected with the program after surgery.

There are many ways to stay connected with the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program after your surgery. In addition to regular follow-up appointments and an annual visit, many people choose to join Penn’s post-operative support groups or participate in clinical research programs.

As one of the leading research programs in the country, Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery is deeply committed to advancing medicine by finding new, improved ways help people with morbid obesity. At any given time, the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program conducts multiple research studies aimed at better understanding the underlying cause of severe obesity, developing new surgical techniques and finding optimal strategies for improving post-operative outcomes and success.

The first step in participating in clinical research involves learning about the study, asking any question you may have and providing informed consent if you choose to participate. Informed consent means getting all the information about the study and then making an educated decision about whether you want to participate. The decision is all yours and it does not affect the quality of care you receive from the program.

The next step in the process is a screening interview or visit to make sure you fit all of the requirements to participate in the study. Research studies vary greatly in the number of visits and types of activities that they involve. Some involve filling out a one-time survey while others involve repeated visits over months or even years. You learn about all of these parameters before deciding whether to participate.

Participating in clinical research provides the unique opportunity to contribute to the growing understanding of obesity and obesity-related diseases as well as obtaining access to the latest treatments. Click here for a list of all obesity and weight loss surgery research studies currently under way at Penn Medicine.

In addition, support groups provide an opportunity to meet other people who are on a similar weight loss journey, share experiences and offer support to one another. Staying in close contact with the team also allows them to quickly address any problems you may be having so you can stay on track with your post-operative lifestyle changes and achieve your weight loss goals.

- Jacque Spitzer, MSEd

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Bariatric Surgery's Halo Effect: Weight Loss for the Whole Family

Bariatric surgery improves the health and well-being of those who undergo surgery, but a recent study at Stanford University School of Medicine shows the positive impact actually extends to the entire immediate family. 

Researchers found that one year after a family member's gastric bypass surgery, other obese adults in the family lost an average of eight pounds and obese children had a lower body mass index than expected for their growth curve. The family members and children that participated in the study accompanied the bariatric patient to all pre- and post-operative clinic visits, including diet and lifestyle counseling. 

Adult family members reported improved eating habits with less uncontrollable eating, emotional eating and alcohol consumption. Both adults and children reported a significant increase in their activity levels. 

The results of this study come as no surprise to members of the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery team who have witnessed this pattern many times. After bariatric surgery, patients often report that their pursuit of a healthier lifestyle spurred changes for their whole family, including kitchen cabinet makeovers, healthier home-cooked meals and family fun nights that involve physical activity.

Family members and friends are always welcome to attend Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program information sessions and support groups to help their family members and to help themselves as well. 

Note: The study was published on Oct. 17, 2011 in the Archives of Surgery. 

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Learning and Sharing: Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery team heads to Orlando

David Sarwer, PhD, director of clinical services at the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders and member of the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery team, discusses Penn’s involvement with the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and attendance at the upcoming annual meeting.

In mid-June, several members of the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program head to Orlando. Instead of going on the rides at Disney World or enjoying the marine shows at Seaworld, we are attending the 28th annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), the largest bariatric society in the world.

The leading bariatric surgeons and health care providers from across the United States share the latest research, treatments, news and industry developments at the ASMBS annual meeting. During the week-long meeting, members of the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery team attend and present sessions about cutting-edge developments in the field of bariatrics.

Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery has been actively involved with the ASMBS since its inception over 20 years ago. All of Penn’s bariatric surgeons are members of the ASMBS as are various other members of the team, including program coordinators, dietitians and psychologists.

For the past several years, I have had the good fortune of serving as a co-course director of the behavioral health program at the meeting, which spans two days. During the program, I meet and talk with approximately 200 psychologists and mental health professionals who also specialize in the psychosocial care of individuals preparing for weight loss surgery. I am also presenting on various topics in the behavioral health program, including two original research studies under way at Penn Medicine.

Attending the ASMBS annual meeting and serving as co-course director of the behavioral health program are two of the biggest professional highlights of my year. I enjoy sharing Penn Medicine’s research studies and clinical developments with other professionals in the field as well as hearing about studies and advancements in their programs. The ASMBS meeting is a special opportunity for all bariatric health care providers to share and learn from each other so we can all continue to improve our programs and provide the most advanced and highest quality care to our patients.

- David Sarwer, PhD

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