Bradley Waggoner, MD

Exercise Counters Negative Effects of Weight Regain, MU Researchers Find

With the obesity rate rising for American adults and children, health concerns such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease are a frequent reality. Although obesity itself is a major risk factor for disease, most of the threat may be associated with a cluster of risk factors called the metabolic syndrome (MetS). Losing weight can improve health and reduce these risk factors, but many people have difficulty keeping the weight off. Now, University of Missouri researchers have found that exercising during weight regain can maintain improvements in metabolic health and disease risk.¹

In the study, individuals who didn’t exercise during weight regain experienced significant deterioration in metabolic health, while those who exercised maintained improvements in almost all areas. The MU study, led by Tom R. Thomas, professor in the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology in the College of Human Environmental Sciences, is the first to examine the role of exercise in countering the negative effects of weight regain on MetS and overall health status.

“Although many people are successful at losing weight through diet and exercise, the majority of them will relapse and regain the weight,” Thomas said. “The findings of this study indicate that regaining weight is very detrimental; however, exercise can counter those negative effects. The findings support the recommendation to continue exercising after weight loss, even if weight is regained.”

In the study, overweight men and women with measured characteristics of MetS were given a diet and aerobic exercise plan that included supervised exercise five days a week, for 4-6 months. After losing weight, participants underwent programmed weight regain and were separated into two groups, one that exercised and one that didn’t. The non-exercise group experienced rapid deterioration in weight-loss induced benefits to metabolic health. The exercise group maintained improvements in almost all measures, including LDL and HDL cholesterol, oxygen consumption (VO2max), blood pressure and glucose. Exercise didn’t maintain blood cholesterol and abdominal fat loss.

“It’s clear that the message to lose weight isn’t working because so many people regain weight; a new message is to keep exercising and maintain your weight to reduce disease risk and improve overall health,” Thomas said. “Don’t worry so much about losing weight, but focus on exercising and maintaining your current weight.”

The study will be published in the Journal of Applied Physiology in April. Thomas, adjunct professor in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, completed the study in collaboration with MU researchers in the Department of Internal Medicine; the Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology; the Harry S. Truman VA Medical Center; and the Department of Educational, School and Counseling Psychology.

***

¹University of Missouri News Bureau. http://munews.missouri.edu/index.php

* * *

If you are considering weight loss surgery, you owe it to yourself to choose a physician who is not only highly skilled, but caring and compassionate as well. Many physicians out there will treat your obesity. Dr. Waggoner will treat you!

Contact Bradley Waggoner, MD:

• If you are ready to set-up an appoint to discuss your weight loss options.
• Reserve your seat at the next free informational seminar outlining your obesity surgery options (including lap-band system procedures) and meet Bradley Waggoner in person.

If you'd like to set-up an appointment to further discuss your weight loss surgical options, please contact us.

Life Threatening Diseases and Obesity

Why You Need to Conquer Your Obesity Problem¹
The fact is if you are obese, the odds that your life will be shorter and possibly quite painful is an uncomfortable truth to face. You probably already know, this but did you know that the following diseases are directly linked to obesity?

Cancer
Recent studies suggest that those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) more than 40 (morbidly obese) had death rates from cancer that were 52 percent higher for men and 62 percent higher for women, as compared to rates for normal weight men and women.

Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease causing deterioration of the joint cartilage.

Heart Disease
Heart disease is any disorder that affects the heart's ability to function normally.

High Cholesterol
Lipid disorders are when you have excess fatty substances in your blood.

Gallbladder Disease
Gallbladder disease includes inflammation, infection, stones or obstruction of the gallbladder.

Diabetes
Diabetes is a life-long disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood.

Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a condition characterized by episodes of stopped breathing during sleep.

Stroke
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel (artery) that supplies blood to the brain bursts or is blocked by a blood clot.

¹Obesity Cancer Coalition. "Obesity-Related Conditions From A-Z." <http://www.obesityaction.org/resources/oacnews/oacnews2/obesityrelatediseases.php>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you are new to this blog space, welcome!
Here in this space you will find information not only about bariatric surgery options such as LAP-BAND System surgery, but you will also learn more about how to deal with your obesity problem as well as what to expect before and after your surgery. You are also invited to attend one of our free informational seminars on LAP-BAND surgery. During the course of the seminar you'll have the opportunity to meet with Dr. Bradley Waggoner, other prospective patients such as yourself, as well as patients who have had bariatric surgery.