How to Support a Loved One Undergoing Weight Loss Surgery

If you have a friend or family member that is contemplating weight loss surgery, you have a very important role to play. Your support and encouragement are tremendously important as your loved one faces not only surgery, but also the life changes he or she will need to make afterward.

Below, Dr. V. Kuzinkovas of Advanced Surgicare shares some ideas about how you can support your loved one during their weight loss journey.Read More

Surprising Benefits of Weight Loss Surgery

Weight loss surgery can help people who have been unable to lose a large amount of weight with diet and exercise. Procedures such as gastric bypass can jumpstart massive weight loss and help reduce the risks of obesity-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. However, there are also less obvious ways that bariatric surgery can help patients. In this post, Dr. V. Kuzinkovas of Advanced Surgicare discusses some of the surprising benefits of weight loss surgery.Read More

Activities to Enjoy in Sydney After Weight Loss Surgery

The results from massive weight loss surgery are life-changing. Patients feel healthier, happier and many say they feel inspired to travel and spend more time outdoors. And in a beautiful city like Sydney, we don’t blame them! In this blog post, the Advanced Surgicare team reveals some of Sydney’s popular attractions and activities to explore following weight loss surgery.Read More

Four Weight Loss Surgery Benefits You May Not Know About

As a leading bariatric surgeon in Sydney, Dr. V. Kuzinkovas of Advanced Surgicare meets with countless people who seek to lose massive weight. Many of these patients wonder what other benefits, if any, there are to bariatric surgery. Dr. Kuzinkovas is happy to say that there are plenty of benefits to bariatric surgery other than just weight loss. In this blog post, he shares four additional ways patients can benefit from bariatric surgery.Read More

How Obesity Increases Cancer Risk

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, almost two in three (63 percent) of Australian adults are overweight or obese, while one in every four children (25 percent) are overweight or obese. These statistics are especially alarming because of the effect obesity has on other health conditions, including cancer. In fact, research has shown obesity may increase the risk for certain types of cancers. In this blog post, Dr. V. Kuzinkovas discusses the connection between obesity and cancer in detail.

Obesity and Cancer Risk

It remains unknown exactly how obesity increases the risk for certain cancers, but growing research has pointed to several possible factors.

Fat tissue produces excess amount of the female hormone estrogen. High levels of estrogen have been linked to breast and endometrial cancer. Obese people also tend to have increased levels of insulin, which may promote the development of certain tumors. Fat cells may also have an effect on other tumor growth regulators. Researchers have also found that fat cells produce certain hormones that may promote cell growth. Another possible factor is inflammation; people who are obese tend to have inflammation throughout their body, which has been associated with an increased risk of cancer.

Obesity is associated with increased risks of the following cancer types:

  • Esophagus
  • Pancreas
  • Colon and rectum
  • Breast
  • Kidney
  • Thyroid
  • Gallbladder

Weight Loss and Cancer Risk

Several studies have found that avoiding weight gain and losing weight can decrease the risk of developing certain cancers, including colon, breast and endometrial cancer. In fact, if every adult reduced his or her body mass index by 1 percent, 100,000 new cases of cancer could be prevented, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology. The best way to lose weight is by pairing a healthy diet with a regular exercise routine. Other healthy lifestyle habits such as not smoking and getting a good amount of sleep regularly have been found to be helpful in maintaining an ideal weight.

At Advanced Surgicare, we are committed to helping patients live happier, healthier lives. We understand that losing weight can be difficult for several reasons. Dr. V. Kuzinkovas and his medical team at Advanced Surgicare have performed bariatric surgery on countless men and women to help them achieve their weight loss goals. You may be a candidate for bariatric surgery if you:

  • Have a BMI of at least 40
  • Have a BMI of at least 30 to 35 and at least one serious co-morbid health condition
  • Are overweight by about 20 kilograms or more

To learn more about your massive weight loss surgery options, schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Kuzinkovas. Please call 1 300 551 533 today.

Obese Women at Higher Risk of Developing Cancer

A recent study has just shed light on one of obesity’s most serious health effects. British researchers found that obese women are at far higher risk for cancer than women of healthy weight. This latest study adds to a growing body of research that links obesity to cancer and other serious diseases and conditions. Here, Dr. V. Kuzinkovas of Advanced Surgicare takes a look at the most recent findings.

What the Study Found

Researchers at Cancer Research UK found that obese women have a one in four risk of developing a weight-related cancer in their lifetime. The study also found obese women have a 40 percent higher risk for cancer than thinner women. Obese women are at higher risk for seven types of cancers, including:

  • Bowel
  • Gallbladder
  • Uterus
  • Kidney
  • Pancreas
  • Esophagus
  • Breast (post menopausal)

As of now, there is no one clear explanation for this increased risk, but researchers believe one possible reason may be because cancer is linked to a fat cell’s production of hormones, especially estrogen. Having excess fat can change the level of estrogen a woman’s body produces. The more estrogen produced, the higher the risk for certain cancers. Additionally, research has also found that too much fat around the stomach is linked to bowel, kidney, esophagus, pancreatic, breast and womb cancers.

Weight Loss Surgery Options

One way women suffering from obesity can lower their risk of cancer is by losing weight. Healthy lifestyle habits such as not smoking, exercising regularly and eating healthy can help maintain an ideal weight. However, losing a massive amount of weight can be difficult, especially for women. Hereditary disposition and hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy and menopause can affect a woman’s ability to lose weight.

If you are overweight and are having a hard time losing weight, Advanced Surgicare can help. Dr. V. Kuzinkovas and the entire medical team at Advanced Surgicare have helped thousands of women reach their weight loss goals through bariatric surgeries including gastric bypass and laparoscopic weight loss surgery. Dr. Kuzinkovas can determine which best surgical procedure and/or weight loss treatment plan will help you live a happier, healthier life.

Learn more about the different bariatric surgery procedures we perform by scheduling a one-on-one consultation. Please call us today at 1 300 551 533.

Study: Bariatric Surgery May Have Long-Term Benefits on Memory

Past research has found people with obesity are at a higher risk for cognitive function impairments, including memory loss. Because of this, a team of researchers in the United States decided to investigate whether bariatric surgery can improve cognitive function in people with obesity. Below, Dr. V. Kuzinkovas discusses the study’s findings in detail.

The Study

For the study, a total of 86 people with obesity were tested on their cognitive abilities. Of those participants, 63 had undergone bariatric surgery and 23 people did not. All participants completed a series of tests three times: before surgery, 12 weeks and 24 months after surgery. The tests examined several cognitive functions, including attention, strategizing, organizing, memory and language.

As predicted, the participants who had undergone bariatric surgery showed improved cognitive function, specifically memory, both 12 weeks and 24 months after surgery. Participants who did not undergo surgery did not show any changes in cognitive function. Because bariatric surgery patients showed improved memory 24 months after surgery, researchers believe surgery has long-term effects in cognitive function and can possibly lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

While it’s unclear why bariatric surgery patients showed improved cognitive function, researchers believe changes in blood pressure may be at least part of the explanation. Obesity increases the risk of high blood pressure, which in turn increases the risk of cognitive impairment. Researchers hope further studies can look at even longer follow-up periods to see if bariatric surgery patients still show improved cognitive function five or 10 years after surgery.

Start Your Weight Loss Journey with Advanced Surgicare

Dr. V. Kuzinkovas of Advanced Surgicare is a leading bariatric surgeon who has helped hundreds of patients achieve their weight loss goals and improve their overall health. To learn more about the different bariatric surgery procedures we perform, schedule a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Kuzinkovas by calling 1 300 551 533.