Addiction transfer, or cross addiction, after bariatric surgery occurs when individuals trade compulsive eating for other compulsive behaviors. There is also strong evidence of a biological reason for cross addiction. Studies show various forms of transfer addiction in up to 30 percent of patients who have had bariatric surgery. For these patients, food is no longer being a source of comfort, distraction, reward or escape. Other behaviors or substances now substitute for eating, and can become problematic. “Process addictions,” such as gambling, shopping and sex addiction can occur, as well as addictions to alcohol and other drug abuse. In some cases, after a period of initial remission, food addiction can reoccur. Some of the risk factors that show an individual may be affected by transfer addiction include: …
How You Can Volunteer Your Time in Support of the OAC
This week, we’ve shared with you about why it’s important to volunteer for the causes you care about. In addition, we’ve also shared with you about the various work of our OAC volunteers, and how it’s because of their dedication and hard work that we’ve been able to continue our mission of supporting all individuals affected by the disease of obesity. If you’ve felt inspired by this week’s blog series and wish to show you support for the OAC as well by serving as a volunteer, you’re in luck! Continue reading to learn about the various ways that you can support our organization by volunteering your time: Share OAC Resources with Your Community The OAC has a variety of free educational resources that we provide to individuals …
The Patient’s Perspective on the Effects of Transfer Addiction
As a psychologist who specializes in treating bariatric patients, I’ve worked with many people suffering from post-op addiction issues. Because of the influx of patients I was seeing with cross-addiction, I began to offer a “Bariatric Recovery” group. This group meets on a biweekly basis and offers a mixture of psychoeducation, processing, accountability and support. I recently asked the participants in this group for feedback about their struggles, including what they would want others to understand about their addiction, advice they would give to others and what has been most helpful in their journey toward recovery. I’ve found in my many years of working with addicts of all types, that they can be our best teachers about the disease they battle. Here are some of …
Don’t Wait: Why You Should See a Doctor About Your Weight
Have you ever wondered why it is so hard to lose weight, or why it is even harder to keep it off, despite all of your best efforts, and hard work? You are not alone. Recently, scientists have discovered that obesity is a chronic, relapsing and very complicated disease. There are many reasons for this. Think of your family — did your brothers, sisters, mom or dad ever struggle with weight? There has been a lot of evidence lately that point to genetics as source for weight struggles in many families. In fact, there is a gene called “FTO gene” that specifically puts an individual at risk for higher weight and higher body fat (adiposity). Understanding obesity as a disease gives doctors the ability to look beyond …
Does my doctor understand obesity? The Differences between an Obesity Medicine Specialist and a Primary Care Physician
Obesity is a disease, like diabetes or high blood pressure — a fact that was recognized by the American Medical Association in 2013. Because obesity can be perceived as like many other diseases that you would see a primary care physician for, it seems only natural to ask your primary care physician to help you with your weight, doesn’t it? Why then do so many physicians give uninformed answers ranging from “Eat less, exercise more!” to “Push away from the table and close your mouth?” Often, patients leave their doctor’s office feeling more demoralized and frustrated than before they had asked for help with this sensitive issue. As a family physician, I completed four years of medical school and three years of …
One Common Belief: What to Expect at Your First Appointment with an Obesity Medicine Specialist
Each office will look different. Each treatment plan will be individualized. Each Obesity Medicine Specialist (Bariatrician) will have a unique educational journey that has led them to this medical field. But there is one common belief that unites all Obesity Medicine Specialists: they all apply scientifically studied medical interventions and compassionate counseling to all of their patients who are affected by the disease of obesity. An Obesity Medicine Specialist has committed educational time to deepening his or her understanding of the complex disease of obesity and is eager to help you. However, unique circumstances will dictate how an individual provider can offer Obesity Medicine services. As a result, you may find a wide variety of office settings, office hours, medical insurance coverage, staff and primary medical specialty …
The OAC’s Convention Scholarship Fund: A Dream Becomes a Reality
A longtime dream for the OAC became a reality in 2012 when we hosted the organization’s Inaugural Your Weight Matters National Convention in Dallas, Texas. A meeting that was truly the first of its kind, the OAC’s Convention has grown to be the leading patient educational event that brings high-quality, evidence-based education intended for the everyday layperson to individuals in search of the right information on weight and health. For the past four years, we have welcomed with open arms thousands of individuals who made the personal decision to seek this unique opportunity to experience in-person education and interact with the foremost experts in the field. We have had the honor to hear countless testimonies in which attendees described the meeting as “the best education,…
Why It’s Time to Stand Up to Charles Barkley’s Fat-shaming and Weight Bias
Editor’s Note: Last week, the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) was alerted by a dedicated OAC member, Abby Lentz, to a weight bias issue in the media. In 2015, the OAC spoke out against NBA analyst Charles Barkley, and he has once again targeted women in the San Antonio area for their weight and size. Mr. Barkley made disparaging remarks on a recent Inside the NBA broadcast on TNT about women affected by obesity. As a result of these insensitive, weight-bias fueled comments, the OAC has called for TNT to suspend Charles Barkley and for the NBA to encourage Mr. Barkley to make a public apology. One dedicated OAC member, Sarah Bramblette, has spoken out publicly about how Mr. Barkley’s comments not only affect her as an individual …
Organic Life: Eight books about organic food systems
I did an interview last year with Rebecca Straus of Organic Life about books of interest to the magazine’s readers. I never heard what happened to it but learned from a recent tweet that it is now available online. So consider this a late catch up. Marion Nestle’s Favorite Organic Books: Eight reads to get you thinking about where your food is coming from. Organic Life, September 11, 2015. Food advocate Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition and food studies at New York University, has long been outspoken in her support of organic farming and opposition to GMO crops. Her books and articles on how science, marketing, and society impact food choices and obesity have influenced everyone from Michelle Obama to Michael Pollen, who named her the …
The Guardian’s article on the “sugar conspiracy”
I mentioned yesterday that whenever something comes out saying that “everything you thought you knew about nutrition is wrong,” it’s a sign that some skepticism may be in order. Here is another example: The article on the “sugar conspiracy“ by Ian Leslie published in The Guardian. This strongly criticizes the work of Ancel Keys, whose work was largely but by no means exclusively responsible for the diet-heart hypothesis linking excessive intake of animal fats to heart disease risk. I love conspiracy theories as much as anyone else and appreciated how the author made his case for this one. My sense of his article was that it had grains of truth (Gary Taubes and Cristin Kearns, for example, report that Keys had funding from …
How much is the soda industry spending to defeat public health?
Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Mike Newall says the beverage industry is spending a lot of money (“flowing like a Big Gulp”) to defeat the City Council’s soda tax initiative—$2.6 million so far (but see footnote below). Here’s the catch – this time around, the beverage barons only have to win over City Council. There are 17 Council members, so that comes out to about $152,000 in ad dollars each. Philadelphia is a battleground Big Soda cannot afford to lose. The soda industry spent more than $10 million to fight soda tax measures in San Francisco (the industry succeeded) and in Berkeley (the industry lost—76{7920e18cf5186565893a18d1f69fa52bf2806dc683a7bfcea51d671d2f7d8125} of voters were for the tax). But what I really want to know is how much the soda industry …
At last! Menu labels in 2017!
Wonder of wonders, the FDA at last has issued its Final Guidance on Menu Labeling to go into effect a year from now. Why astonishment? New York City has had menu labeling since 2008. The national process started in 2010. Here’s the chronology: YEAR DATE ACTION 2010 March 23 President Obama signs the Affordable Care Act which includes a provision requiring chain retail food establishments with 20 or more locations to provide calorie information for standard menu items. July 7 FDA publishes Federal Register notice soliciting comments and suggestions Aug 25 FDA requests comments on “Draft Guidance for Industry: Questions and Answers Regarding Implementation of the Menu Labeling.” 2011 Jan 25 FDA withdraws draft implementation guidance; announces intent to exercise enforcement discretion until rulemaking process is complete; requests comments. April 6 FDA issues proposed rule. May 24 …