What your patients eat may shape who they become A landmark study published in JAMA Network Open is giving pediatric providers new clinical ammunition for conversations about early childhood nutrition — and the findings go well beyond waistlines. Studies on the link between processed food and behavior have been around for a while and evaluate…
Cardiometabolic care is undergoing a transformation that includes the rise of prescribing GLP-1 receptor agonists as multisystem therapeutics. “Treating diabetes, cardiovascular disease and renal or hepatic dysfunction as isolated conditions is now an outdated approach in cardiometabolic care,” said Catrina R. Hancock, PA-C, physician assistant with Norton Heart & Vascular Institute. “Instead, treatment has shifted…
The Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) has accredited Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital, increasing the likelihood that patients’ insurance will cover weight loss surgery. While many factors play into an insurer’s decision, having the procedure at an accredited program and facility is a common requirement. Refer a patient To refer a patient…
A recent in-depth study looking at regional differences in childhood obesity rates found higher average body mass index (BMI) z-scores in the Midwest and lower average z-scores in the South and West, compared with the Northeast. The study, “Regional and sociodemographic differences in average BMI among U.S. children in the ECHO program,” looked at a…
Physicians understand the importance of continuing medical education (CME), because it keeps them abreast of new developments in their specialties. CME also can fill in the gaps of a traditional medical school education. That’s one of the reasons Meredith C. Sweeney, M.D., bariatric surgeon with Norton Surgical Specialists, attends conferences and seminars to further her…
Obesity affects approximately 70 million Americans. Kentucky consistently ranks in the top 10 states for obesity. According to Kentucky Health Facts, 32% of adults in Jefferson County are classified as obese. Yet physicians may be reluctant to discuss weight with patients. What is obesity? Obesity is a complex metabolic condition that is the result of…
Recommendations issued earlier this year by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) urge health care providers to guide pregnant patients with effective counseling to help them maintain a healthy weight and prevent excess weight gain. Gaining too much weight during pregnancy can lead to a higher risk of gestational diabetes, cesarean deliveries and high-birth-weight…
Survivors of the most common childhood cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), need long-term monitoring for obesity and other ongoing health consequences of their disease and treatment. “The etiology of obesity among ALL survivors is not fully understood, but the primary tumor, hypothalamic-pituitary axis damage from cranial radiation or chemotherapy, lifestyle modifications, and genetics all may…
How long will you have to stay in the hospital after weight loss surgery? The average is two to five days, but a Louisville physician is getting most patients home the day after bariatric surgery. There are several types of weight loss surgery. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) restricts a patient’s stomach capacity and limits the…
Norton Healthcare’s bariatric surgeons offer follow-up care to patients whose surgeons are no longer practicing, who are unhappy with their current situation or whose insurance has changed. We routinely see patients who have undergone gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy or lap band surgeries elsewhere. We will see almost every transfer. Patients who want to follow up…
In addition to substantial weight loss, studies have shown patients who undergo bariatric surgery experience a long-lasting and significantly better quality of life. With or without bariatric surgery, there are a lot of social factors affected by weight loss. They can be simple things such as being able to buy clothes off the rack or…
Norton Health & Wellness Center offers an individualized, 12-week program for overweight and obese patients looking to lose weight and improve their health. Patients enrolled in the 12-week program give a comprehensive medical history, have their body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage and waistline measured, and have screening lab work done. During the program,…