Colorado Bariatric Surgery Institute

A common fear and complaint of bariatric surgery is postoperative hair loss. Nutrition can have a great impact on hair health because when forced to make a choice, the body will shift nutritional stores to vital organs like the brain and heart and away from the hair.

Hair loss can have many causes. Nutritional issues aside, bariatric surgery patients already have two of the major risk factors for hair loss including major surgery and rapid weight loss. These alone can account for hair loss seen right after surgery. In the absence of nutritional issues, hair loss will stop once the body has healed from surgery and the rapid weight loss slows and stops. Hair will then begin to re-grow. It is because of this that we encourage post bariatric surgery patients to have patience and keep up good nutritional intake and their hair will grow back once weight loss steadies. There is little evidence that early hair loss is preventable because it is most likely caused by the surgery and rapid weight loss. When preparing for surgery just be aware that this is a potential temporary side effect.

If you find that you hair continues to fall out once your weight loss has steadied (usually after a year for bypass and two to three for lap band) then you should consult your nutritionist to determine if there are any nutritional deficiencies occurring. Things that your nutritionist will look at include iron, zinc, protein and biotin. Never hesitate to contact our office if you have questions or issues related to this topic. That is what we are here for.

Identifying the difference between physical hunger and emotional hunger can be difficult. The following lists can provide you with clues to determine the origin of your hunger.


Signs of Physical Hunger Include:

Hunger begins some time after last meal and builds slowly
Physical discomfort such as stomach pains, rumbling sensation, headache
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Irritability or difficulty concentrating
Satisfied by any type of food
Is alleviated by eating
Eating leads to a feeling of satisfaction

Signs of Emotional Hunger Include:

Hunger begins suddenly, regardless of last meal
No physical sensations
Often associated with a "taste for" or craving a certain food
Eating many times in an attempt to find the "right" food which will satisfy the hunger
Persists despite fullness
Eating leads to feelings of guilt and shame

Learning to differentiate the type of hunger you are experiencing is a powerful tool in weight control. Stay tuned for future posts on how to handle head hunger without sabotaging your success.

Bariatric Advantage has come out with a new form of calcium to help increase supplement compliance among bariatric patients. We recommend 1500 mg of Calcium Citrate per day for Gastric Bypass patients and 1200 mg for Lap Band patients.

Calcium Crystals are a unique form of calcium that dissolves readily in water and most other liquids leaving minimal taste. This form, Calcium Lactate-Gluconate, has a bioavailability comparable to Calcium Citrate, but is neutral pH and has very high solubility in water making it perfect for a drink mix. In addition, each serving of Calcium Crystal contains a full 600 mg of Calcium and 500 IU of vitamin D3 to support bone health. You can add this delicious product to plain water or another drink of your choice as an easy and effective way to meet your daily needs for calcium and vitamin D. Calcium Crystals are available in Tubs or convenient individual serving Packets in unflavored and Lemon-Lime.

Keep your eye out on the website http://www.bariatricadvantage.com/ for future products. Bariatric Advantage has bought the rights to manufacture the discontinued line of Citracal™ “Creamy Bites” in all three flavors. They hope to have the product available on-line within the next three to four months.

We also encourage you to check out our e-store at http://www.coloradobariatric.com/ . We have made some adjustments to the Gastric Bypass Kits. All kits will now include chewable iron and we replaced the sublingual vitamin B-12 with B-50 complex. This way you can be ensured your body is getting all the B-vitamins in one supplement. If you have any questions about vitamin or mineral supplements please feel free to call the Dietitian at 303-839-6370.

The creators of the LAP-BAND system have started a truth about obesity health education campaign with Guiding Light actress Caitlin Van Zandt and New York Times best-selling author of "YOU: On A Diet" and co-founder of RealAge.com, Dr. Michael Roizen. In this campaign, Caitlin will share her inspiring story of how she lost 65 pounds since receiving the LAP-BAND System in February, to help others understand the availability of treatment options beyond diet and exercise.

They officially launched their campaign today with a media tour in New York City, where Caitlin, Dr. Roizen, Dr. Fielding and Caitlin's mother Barbara, who also has a LAP-BAND System, were interviewed by several high-profile national media outlets, such as Newsweek, Fitness magazine, Family Circle, Ladies™ Home Journal, US Weekly, Women's Day, ABC News Now, Health Corner with Leeza Gibbons, USA Radio Network and FOXNews.com, representing more than 80 million media impressions.

In addition to the media campaign, they also launched our campaign Web site available at www.realage.com/lap-band/ where consumers can learn more about obesity and treatment options, like the LAP-BAND System and follow Caitlin's personal account of her weight-loss journey.

As a post-surgical bariatric patient, you have a lot on your mind. Managing stress, increasing physical activity and making time for healthy eating are just a few of the lifestyle changes which accompany bariatric surgery. As the weight comes off, many patients find themselves getting busier and busier, as they are able to participate in a wider variety of activities, and have the stamina to keep up with friends and loved ones. It can be tempting to skip follow-up appointments in favor of something more exciting or productive. However, regular attendance at follow-up appointments is an important part of taking care of your body and mind following surgery.

Gastric Bypass patients are expected to return to the clinic to meet with medical staff, nutrition and social work at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year following surgery. Lap-Band patients, although they meet with medical staff more frequently for fills, are still epected to follow-up with nutrition and social work at 3 months, 6 months and 1 year. Both populations should be see by all staff annually for the first five years following surgery.

Regular meetings with your support team are important not just when things are going wrong. The best time to catch a problem is before it occurs. Regular visits allow your health care team to screen you for common issues that you may not be aware of. They give you a chance to ask questions, and allow staff to support you in staying on track by correcting small problems before they become major issues.

A 2007 article in Reuters Health summarized the results of a study which analyzed the connection between attendance at follow-up appointments and weight-loss success. The study found that the patients who kept all of their appointment for 3 years lost an average of 74% of their excess body weight. Those who kept all appointments for only the first year, lost an average of 60% and those who missed appointments within the first year only lost 56% of their excess weight.

The message is clear. The benefits gained by regular clinic visits far outweigh any hassle associated with follow-up appointments. Protect the investment you have made in your health by making sure you schedule and attend the appropriate appointments.

Labels: follow-up

For those of you who live on the Western slope i wanted to let you know that there is an ongoing support group in Grand Junction for those who have had or are thinking about having bariatric surgery. The dates are as follows:

3rd Thursday of the month at the Community Hospital 2021 North 12 street, Grand Junction, 7PM-9PM

upcoming meeting are:
Thursday September 18th- 7pm-9pm
October 16th
November 20th,
December 18th and
January 15th

Dixie Gilbert is the organizer and if you have any questions please contact her at 970-255-0380 or dixiegilbert@juno.com


Allison Van Fleet FNP-c

Most people trying to lose weight aren't surprised at the recommended behavioral changes. Whether your goal is to lose 150 pounds following a gastric bypass, or you are trying to maintain your current weight, the prescription is familiar: Increase physical activity and modify eating habits. A recent article by Cynthia K. Buffington, PhD in Bariatric Times, however, explores an often neglected aspect of weight control- the connection between sleep and weight (click here for the article).

Dr. Buffington cites multiple studies about the relationship between sleep deprivation and weight gain. The research finds that adults who get less than 7 hours of sleep per night (the average American got 6.9 hours in 2001, according to the National Sleep Foundation), are at an increased risk for multiple health problems, including obesity. In fact, for each sleep hour under 7 an adult chronically loses, there is a correlating increase in body fat of 2.8%.

The reasons for this correlation are varied. Behaviorally, sleep deprivation increases the amount of time an individual is awake and potentially consuming calories. Additionally, lack of sleep contributes to cravings for sweets and calorie dense foods. Energy available for physical activity is decreased. Biologically, sleep deprivation creates changes in the endocrine system, effecting many of the hormones (such as ghrelin, leptin and cortisol) which play a role in hunger and satiety as well as rate of fat storage.

This research indicates that, along with diet and exercise, good sleep hygeine is essential to good health and optimal weight regulation. The optimal amount of sleep for adults is between 7-9 hours per night. Adults who are consistently getting fewer than 7 hours of sleep need to evaluate where they can make changes in order to accommodate this essential life function.

Labels: sleep