SSM Weight-Loss Institute

Cancer and Obesity: What's the Relation?

Studies linking obesity to various health-related problems have become more prominent in the past decade.  Many Americans are aware that obesity can increase the risk of developing heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and diabetes. But, what many aren’t aware of is the relationship between obesity and cancer. Obesity can increase the risk of a number of cancers, including those occurring in the breast, colon, kidney, and esophagus. 

Obesity
Obesity is measured based on a formula of height and weight called body mass index (BMI). Your weight in kilograms divided by your height in meters squared equals your BMI. The National Institutes of Health categorize those with a BMI of 30 or greater as obese. Studies show that causes of obesity are primarily a sedentary lifestyle and the overeating food high in calories. Improving dietary habits and exercising regularly are the best ways to overcome obesity.

Obesity and Cancer
Epidemiological studies show that obese people increase their risk of cancer by 1.5-fold. This may seem like a small number, but it results in about 90,000 cancer-related deaths per year. The risk of liver cancer is 4.5about four times greater.  Obese people have excess fat cells; their body is in a chronic inflammatory state, producing excess growth hormones, increasing the likelihood of cancer.

What You Can Do
Prevention is the best method for reducing your risk for cancer. Begin a daily exercise routine and modify your diet so that you’re consuming more fruits and vegetables to get the valuable vitamins and nutrients you need to maintain a healthy body. Losing body fat will decrease the likelihood of many other diseases, as well.

For help starting a healthy diet regimen, contact SSM Weight-Loss Institute. We can design a specialized program to fit your weight-loss goals. Call us at (314) 266-4206 to get started on your weight-loss program.

Debunking Bariatric Surgery Myths

Bariatric surgery has advanced greatly in the last couple years, but there are still a number of ideas about bariatric surgery that confuse people. If you are considering bariatric surgery as your weight-loss method, the following list of common myths will help you learn about what you can expect.   

Long Hospital Stays: While older methods of bariatric surgery required that the patient stay in the hospital for a few days, newer methods are more efficient. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, one of the most popular weight-loss procedures, makes minimal incisions and doesn’t require an overnight stay.

High Risk: Today, finding an experienced surgeon to perform minimally invasive surgeries is much safer, and the many benefits of bariatric surgery outweigh the risks of being obese.

It Stops After the Procedure: Many people think bariatric surgery is an easy solution without realizing that losing the weight requires a serious transformation to a healthier lifestyle. Bariatric surgery is an aid to losing weight, but lifelong alterations to meal and exercise choices are essential.

Health Status: You don’t need severe health problems to qualify for surgery. Your health status will be assessed by your surgeon to see if you are eligible bariatric procedures.

Long Recovery: In some cases, people return to normal activity within a few days, though the average recovery is one to two weeks. There will be small incisions from the surgery and you will be able to eat a variety of foods.

For more information on bariatric surgery, contact SSM Weight-Loss Institute. We offer a number of procedures, like laparoscopic gastric banding and bypass surgery and sleeve gastrectomy to aid in your weight-loss. We also provide non-surgical treatments, such as medically supervised diet and exercise programs. Get started on your transformation to a healthy life; call us at (314) 266-4206.

Your Weight Loss Starts Today

Weight loss is about adapting new habits for life.  The weight-loss program that you choose should make you feel healthy and satisfied. There are little things you can do to get started today. 

• The United States Department of Agriculture shows what a healthy plate should look like for each meal you partake in.
• The Harvard School of Public Health demonstrates what we should be eating and why American plates are too large.
• Learn why water is essential for our lives and how it helps with weight-loss management in this article.
• While adults need at least 150 minutes of exercise a week, experts say it’s perfectly fine to put in this effort just ten minutes at a time.
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers proper information on losing weight.

Call SSM Weight-Loss Institute at (314) 266-4206 to learn more about the different weight-loss programs that can get you the rest of the way. 

Which Weight-Loss Plan is Right for You?

There are many weight-loss options out there, from surgical to non-surgical. The resources below provide more information on gastric bypass surgery and non-surgical weight loss to help you find the plan that is right for you.  Get started on your weight-loss path today; call SSM Weight-Loss Institute at (314) 266-4206.

• The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services provides a quick guide to daily exercise for optimal health.
• The United States Department of Agriculture developed “MyPlate” to teach Americans the food proportions that should be on their plate.
• Check out the Health Management Resources site for more information on their weight-loss programs.
• The Mayo Clinic explains the ins and outs of gastric bypass surgery from why it’s done through preparation.
• The National Institutes of Health recommends a diet for after gastric bypass surgery.

Obesity Risk: High Cholesterol

Pursuing a surgical or non-surgical weight loss solution is more than a cosmetic choice. Obesity, defined as having a body mass index of 30 or higher, is a contributing factor in a number of diseases and severe complications. These risks can be decreased by slimming down and adapting healthier lifestyle choices. The following article will discuss how obesity relates to high cholesterol and what you can do about it.

What is Cholesterol?
Every cell in your body contains cholesterol. It’s a wavy, fat-like substance that works to make hormones, vitamin D, and to help your digestive process. Your body makes enough cholesterol on its own to handle this job, but the foods you eat contain cholesterol, too.  When you consume too much cholesterol, your body becomes oversaturated, which causes a wide range of problems.

Causes
At least one in three American adults is obese, meaning they have too much body fat. Excess fat makes it more difficult for your blood to circulate and for you to maintain proper fluid levels in your body. Saturated fats and a sedentary lifestyle—two common causes of obesity—also increase your cholesterol. High cholesterol can lead to heart disease because the excess cholesterol can develop into plaque that clogs arteries.

Solutions
The best way to reduce your cholesterol level is through a proper diet and exercise program. Surgical weight-loss procedures can be a great start to eliminating body fat, but adapting a healthier lifestyle should be your ultimate goal to gain control of your cholesterol. Overcoming obesity is possible with the right solution.

If you’re ready to commit to a healthier lifestyle, contact SSM Weight-Loss Institute. We offer enhanced bariatric surgery options and medically supervised diet and exercise programs to help bolster your wellbeing. For more information on our services or to schedule a consultation, call (314) 266-4206.