As our nation and world continue to battle COVID-19, one thing has become clear. Those with certain underlying medical conditions, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control, are at higher risk for severe illness. 

According to the Obesity Society, this includes seniors, people with pre-existing respiratory and cardiac disease, and those with compromised immune systems. People who are obese have a greater chance of being in each of these categories and should therefore be considered at increased risk for severe disease as well. (Find a large list of resources about this topic on their website.)

So what does all of this mean? It is more important than ever to fight obesity and help as many people as possible get healthier. Even as we continue to go through this pandemic, it’s not too late to start making changes for those who are obese. For those who are at risk of becoming obese, it’s crucial to stop that from happening.

At Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery, we want to do everything we can to help you get healthy and stay healthy. This may be the right time to finally commit to having weight loss surgery and jump start your journey toward better health.

More about obesity

For years, obesity has been a growing health problem affecting millions of people across the U.S. Poor eating habits, high levels of stress, environmental factors, and some genetic factors contribute to weight gain for many people. Without proper intervention and treatment, weight gain can escalate to dangerous levels, leading to a heightened risk of diseases, health problems, significant physical disability, or even death.

We typically divide obesity into these categories, using Body Mass Index (BMI):

• Class 1: BMI of 30 to < 35
• Class 2: BMI of 35 to < 40
• Class 3: BMI of 40 or higher and more than 100 pounds over what is considered an ideal body weight

Obesity is a complex and progressive disease that increases your risk of developing comorbidities and weight-related health problems, as well as interfering with your ability to perform many daily physical functions.

Health risks & conditions associated with obesity

We consider obesity to be a chronic disease, and if left untreated, it can lead to the development of one or more serious health problems. Common conditions associated with obesity include:

• Type 2 diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Osteoarthritis
• Sleep apnea and other breathing disorders
• Reproductive problems
• Stroke
• Fatty liver disease

What you may notice is that many of the conditions listed above are also underlying medical conditions that make people more likely to suffer severe outcomes with COVID-19. Obesity can also negatively affect your immune system, a critical component to fighting the virus. The ties between obesity and the novel coronavirus are unmistakable. 

How to start fighting obesity today

If you are obese, what can you do right now — TODAY — to start getting healthier and increasing your immune function?

• Decrease your calories — Cut out simple carbohydrates such as sweets, candy, baked goods, sugar-sweetened beverages, jams, jelly, etc.
• Decrease excess “bad” (saturated or trans) fats — These are commonly found in commercial baked goods, processed or fried foods, cheese, whole, and 2% milk, ice cream, cream, fatty meats, butter, and margarine. 
• Increase fruits and vegetables — Aim for two cups of whole fruit per day and at least three cups of vegetables per day.
• Increase low-fat dairy and protein — Drink or eat three cups of low-fat (1% or skim) dairy per day. Eat two to three ounces of lean meat or beans with two meals per day.
• Increase water — Drink at least 60 to 80 ounces of water per day.
• Increase exercise — It can be challenging for those who are obese, but more physical activity of any kind will be helpful.

Your next step: weight loss surgery

While we want you to start getting healthier right now to reduce your risk of suffering from COVID-19 and other diseases and conditions, you may need more help to lose weight. Obesity is a progressive disease because the excess weight gain causes a number of hormonal and metabolic changes in the body that increase the risk for even greater fat accumulation over time, making it difficult to fight using diet and exercise alone.

At Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery, we have several tried and true methods of weight loss surgery, including gastric sleeve surgery, gastric bypass surgery, and the LAP-BAND. We work to educate our patients about their weight loss options, as well as life after surgery. 

To learn more about these options and begin the journey to improving your health, schedule a consultation with us today.

Want to start fighting against obesity?

Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery is a caring group of professionals who specialize in all types of bariatric surgery, including gastric sleeve surgery. We have the resources to help you prepare for surgery, undergo successful surgery, and recover after, including personalized plans for diet and exercise that will help you learn healthy habits that you can pass on to your family. Give us a call to set up a consultation at 205-833-6907. 

Many of our patients at Birmingham Minimally Invasive come to us wanting to get healthier for their families. Moms and dads want to be able to play with their kids, and through gastric sleeve surgery and our other weight loss surgery options, many people achieve this goal.

Getting healthier serves as a positive example for children, which is important since today many kids are overweight or obese. If you focus on becoming healthier yourself, you can then turn your attention to making sure your entire family is leading a healthy lifestyle.

We know it’s hard though. You are busy, kids are busy. During this time of back to school, life gets even busier. But a healthy, active lifestyle can help keep kids at an appropriate weight, while also preventing health issues, such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, and high blood pressure.

Creating healthy habits for your family

The earlier you can create healthy habits, the better. Children imitate their parents, so it’s important to set a good example. And being an example is the key. You don’t want to make kids feel bad about their weight or focus on it too much as this can create self-esteem issues that may take root at a young age and progressively get worse over time. But if your family has always been active and eaten healthy foods, it will naturally be good for their health, including their weight.

This all sounds great, but how exactly do you accomplish it? What does it look like practically to lead your family in a healthy lifestyle? What should you focus on the most as kids go back to school?

Here are several things to think about.

• It starts with what you buy. If you buy junk food, your family will eat junk food. If you buy healthy foods, that’s what they will eat instead. Your shopping cart should be full of healthy foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables and whole-grain items. We do not recommend purchasing or serving kids low-fat foods since they may contain unhealthy added ingredients, including added sugar. 
• Actually pay attention to portion sizes. If you have been overweight or obese, you may have eaten portions in your past life that were much too large. It may even be that your parents served you portions that were too large. Resist the urge to give kids portions that are too big. Read the nutrition facts label and serve the appropriate amount. If a child asks for more carrots or apples, it may be fine to serve seconds, but for many types of foods, they may not need more.
• Eating meals together as a family really does matter. Especially on busy school mornings or evenings, it may be easier to serve children their meals at different times or in front of the TV but resist the urge to go this route. Eating together has many important benefits related to health and nutrition, but it’s also a time to connect and communicate.
• Think about what they drink. In our society, juice and sodas are the norms for many families. But these types of beverages should be limited or not offered, especially for kids. Instead, fill reusable bottles with water and serve a glass of milk with meals at home. Children should not drink diet beverages of any kind. 
• Focus on fueling their bodies. This may vary by child depending on what activities they are involved in throughout the day, but every child needs a nutritious, filling breakfast. This will refuel their body after a long night, and provide energy to help them get through their day. If your child has snacks throughout the day, send something that will also help refuel them. For example, a candy bar or packet of cheese crackers will not do them much good, but fruit, nuts, cheeses, and peanut butter will help keep them going longer.

Other ways to encourage kids to be healthy

While what your children eat is very important, there are many other factors that go into a healthy lifestyle for you and your family. Getting enough sleep and not having too much screen time each day are factors to consider as well, and physical activity is tied to both of these.

Physical activity should be part of your family’s daily routine. Kids may be involved in sports or other activities at school, and you may go to the gym to work out every day. But you should also make time to be active together. Maybe this is a family walk or bike ride in the evenings. Maybe this looks like running around and playing games in your yard after dinner. 

Find what works for you and prioritize this time of physical activity. It will mean that kids are spending less time on screens, and it will also help their bodies feel tired and ready for a good night’s sleep at the end of the day. 

We always love seeing parents who want to get healthier for their families. We encourage you to focus on yourself first if you need to, and weight loss surgery may be the answer. When it comes to diet plans, exercise plans, and the entire recovery process, we will be with you every step along the way.

There are many things to think about if you are considering weight loss surgery. One question that often comes up during consultations with patients is excess or loose skin. Will they have excess skin after losing a significant amount of weight, and how bad will it be? Will it make them look older?

After weight loss surgery, many patients do lose so much weight that they end up with loose or sagging skin. Why is this? When you gain weight, your skin expands around the new mass that your body is adding. When you lose weight, your skin may not have enough elasticity to shrink back down.

While this can be an issue for some, there are solutions and things to know to hopefully relieve any fears you may have about excess skin after weight loss surgery.

Problems with excess skin after weight loss surgery

When it comes to how much excess skin you will have, each person is different. The amount of loose skin you’ll have after weight loss surgery depends on some factors outside of your control, like your weight, age, smoking history, and your genetics. To what extent excess skin bothers you varies as well. It’s totally normal for it to be a big issue for some, while others aren’t bothered by it much at all. A common concern is that saggy skin increases the appearance of premature aging.

However, the problems that arise from excess skin are not always simply cosmetic. Excess skin may cause chafing and rashes, especially when it rubs against other folds of skin or when it stays moist. With saggy skin, folds often rub against themselves, and these folds may be harder to keep clean. Over time, the top layer of your skin (epidermis) tears, and this creates irritation from chafing. This chafing can pave the way for infections. Wearing clothing that’s not as likely to chafe can help.

Addressing excess skin after weight loss surgery

If you’re worried about loose skin after weight loss surgery, whether for health reasons or because you’re concerned about how it may look, it’s important to know that there are several ways to minimize sagging skin after surgery. Here are some of the basics:

• Eat a balanced diet with plenty of vitamins — A balanced diet with plenty of protein and vitamins can help you keep the weight off and retain lean muscle. This diet may help to some degree to minimize loose or excess skin. Also, be sure to drink plenty of water, which will help make your skin healthier and possibly improve elasticity. 
• Exercise — Exercise can prevent loose skin after weight loss surgery. When you lose lean muscle mass, you may increase the looseness of your skin. When you build muscle, you actually fill out your skin more.
• Take care of your skin — Your skin is an organ, and if you want to avoid loose skin after weight loss, taking care of it can help. This includes using sunscreen regularly when outdoors, using moisturizers, and drinking plenty of water to keep your whole body hydrated.
• Cosmetic surgery (if none of the above are enough) — After losing 100 or 150 pounds, it is realistic to expect that you may still have some excess skin. Cosmetic surgery removes excess skin and fat from your body. A tummy tuck after weight loss surgery is one of the more common procedures. If you’re looking at this option, it’s important to go with a reputable plastic surgeon. The American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons is a good place to start, and we will be happy to make a recommendation.

Excess skin is often made worse or better by your overall health and skin health, in particular. If you ignore your skin, diet, and exercise, you may end up with more loose, saggy skin. But if you take care of your skin and your body overall, you can end up with tight skin that will look good even after you lose weight.

If you are concerned about excess skin or have other questions about weight loss surgery, let us know!

At Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery, we are happy to answer all questions you may have about weight loss surgery and the possibility of excess skin that may result in the appearance of premature aging. Visit us today at http://www.bmisurgery.com/ or give us a call to set up a consultation at 205-833-6907. 

It’s summertime, and for many, this typically means vacations to various destinations. This shouldn’t be any less possible for those who have had weight loss surgery. 

The type of vacation you take might depend somewhat on where you are in the recovery process. A more restful trip might be appropriate if you’ve had surgery recently, while those who are several months or years out from surgery may be ready for a much more active option.  

How to have a healthy vacation

Being able to go on vacation is part of what weight loss surgery is all about! It can help you get to a place where you can be more active and enjoy life to the fullest. This is our hope for all of our patients, and we want you to enjoy your trip without stress or anxiety, especially over what you will be able to eat. 

Here are a few tips to help you enjoy your time away while also sticking to your healthy lifestyle. 

1. Consider where you will go carefully. While it might be restful, a cruise and their notorious buffets might not be the best choice for someone who has recently had weight loss surgery.. Instead, a tropical location where there will be plenty of opportunities for outside activity and healthy fresh fruits and vegetables might be better. 
2. Research ahead of time. There are many things you can do to prepare. Research dining options at your hotel; look up other dining options in the area; find out what fruits and vegetables are in season locally; make sure you know if your room has a refrigerator or kitchen; plan easy meals and snacks; and look for places where you can shop for healthy food options. 
3. Use what you learn to make a plan. Through your research, maybe you find out that you will have a small kitchen, and there’s a local market close to your resort. Instead of feeling like you should always eat out, plan to prepare a few easy meals yourself. You may also want to plan ahead for having plenty of water and healthy snacks for spending time at the beach or pool and while doing other activities, such as hiking. Do you have a reusable water bottle, and do you have a backpack or bag where you can keep everything? These are the details to think about. 
4. Take along some of your favorite healthy staples. Depending on how far you are traveling, you may be able to pack more food, including perishables, or not much. Staples like raw nuts or tuna packets will probably work for any trip, and if you can take a cooler along with you, fresh fruits, vegetables, and other options may work as well. 
5. Prioritize drinking water. Drinking enough water every day is very important after weight loss surgery, so this is something you cannot relax about too much. You will feel better and find it easier to stick to your healthy habits if you drink enough water each day on vacation and while traveling. Remember that we often recommend that our patients do not drink while eating meals, so plan ahead for that if you can.
6. If appropriate, plan an active trip. If you are far enough along in your recovery, focus your trip on all kinds of activity. This might simply mean exploring your vacation destination on foot as much as possible. Also consider options such as hiking, zip-lining, biking, snorkeling, and much more. Take advantage of the fact that you can do all of these things now!

While planning and research will go a long way, it’s very normal to want to indulge while on vacation, and that’s okay! Prepare for this if possible, but know that you might come across an awesome ice cream shop or an item on a menu that you just can’t resist. This is also a part of living that’s important, and we want you to be able to smartly indulge occasionally. Make sure it’s just that though — an indulgence. Then get back to your healthy habits without guilt or shame. Remember that you know what to do, even on vacation. 

If you desire the opportunity to get healthier so you can vacation again, contact us to learn more about which weight loss surgery option may be best for you.

Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery is a caring group of professionals who specialize in all types of bariatric surgery, including gastric sleeve surgery. Visit us today at http://www.bmisurgery.com/ or give us a call to set up a consultation at 205-833-6907. 

When diet and exercise haven’t worked to help you lose weight, it might be time to consider weight loss surgery. This may be even more important if you have other serious health problems known as comorbidities, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and more.

While this is the more technical explanation of why you might need to have weight loss surgery, we want to focus on some of the more unique and relatable reasons many of our patients made this life-changing decision. We see so many successes, and people are often happy to share their results. 

Read on for some compelling reasons why you might want to consider weight loss surgery based on experiences from our patients. 

Technical reasons for weight loss surgery

First, let’s get a little more technical information out of the way. The weight-loss surgeries we offer at Birmingham Minimally Invasive include gastric sleeve surgery, gastric bypass, and LAP-BAND. Collectively, these types of surgeries are known as bariatric surgery, and they involve making changes to your digestive system.

The overall reason for any bariatric surgery is to help you lose excess weight and reduce your risk of potentially life-threatening weight-related health problems.

Generally speaking, bariatric surgery could be an option if your body mass index (BMI) is 40 or higher (extreme obesity). It may also be an option if your BMI is 35 to 39.9 (obesity), and you have a serious weight-related health problem, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or severe sleep apnea. 

Personal reasons for weight loss surgery

While these technical reasons are extremely important, and you will go through an extensive screening process with us to determine the best option for you, there is often more to the story. 

For example, one of our patients, Lisa, decided to get weight loss surgery for her health:

“I had gradual weight gain year after year, Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, unpredictable blood sugar, and I was passing out at work. My cardiologist told me that my number one priority was losing weight. He said I had literally taken years off of my life by not eating healthy and exercising.” Lisa had gastric bypass surgery. Her heaviest weight before meeting Dr. Long was 324, but one year after surgery, she weighed 150. Eventually her weight was 134.

Another patient of ours, Tami, decided to get bariatric surgery because she was missing out on her life: 

“Before surgery, I was miserable. I was unable to do certain things with my son. I had trouble breathing. I struggled to get off the sofa and out of bed. I even had trouble tying my shoes. I couldn’t fit on a roller coaster. I couldn’t cross my legs, and I was sweating all the time. I saw my entire family affected by weight-related health issues, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, diabetes, you name it; I could tell it was just a matter of time before the same thing happened to me.” Tami had gastric sleeve surgery and lost over 100 pounds.

Patti has gastric bypass because over the years she had a hard time losing weight.

I was on so many diet plans and even tried diet pills. None of it helped. Nothing seemed to work for me. I would lose maybe 20 pounds, but then eventually gain it back and, after a while, I became frustrated with the whole process.” Four years after surgery, she was able to eat pretty much anything she wanted. She eats smaller portions, but she says she does everything Dr. Long suggests and has stayed successful. 

Natalie was uncomfortable with herself after gaining weight. 

“I stopped wanting to go out and it got to the point where all I did was go to work and come home. Once I realized I was over 200 pounds, I said, ‘Okay that’s it.’” Natalie had gastric sleeve surgery and was able to get back to a comfortable, healthy weight.

Doctor supervised diets didn’t work for Marco.

“ I just felt like all these diets were all wrong for my body makeup. Every diet I tried, it seemed like I would lose some weight, and then it would just pack right back on.” Marco had gastric sleeve surgery, and after surgery, he stuck to what Dr. Long and staff told him to do. He saw the weight come off!

Jessica started considering weight loss surgery because of her knees. 

“It had actually gotten to the point where I could barely walk anymore. My knee surgeon told me the only other thing that could be done was a knee replacement, but, unfortunately, insurance wouldn’t cover it because I was only 40 years old at the time. While my knee surgeon got me on a weight loss plan, I began doing some research of my own. That’s when I did a Google search and came across Dr. Long at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery.” Jessica had gastric bypass and was able to return to wearing the same size clothes she wore in high school.

As you can see, success looks different for everyone. But the reasons for weight loss surgery look different too. Whatever your reasons are, they are valid, and we would love to discuss them with you.