Articles

Mindset Over Weight: Resetting Your Brain

Learn more about weight loss surgery at Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians www.RMAP.com (801) 268-3800

“Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.” – Lao Tzu

Who else feels like their emotions sometimes seem to come out of nowhere and have a mind of their own? Even though it may seem as though we have no control over our emotions, we do! We have more control than what we sometimes like to acknowledge. It’s important and necessary to think where our emotions come from. Our thoughts—and emotions—both positive and negative, become our beliefs and feelings that affect our habits and daily life.

The Power of Words

You have probably heard the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words shall never hurt me.” For some, no matter how hard they try, words and thoughts can be just as powerful and harmful as physical hurt. More often than not, it’s our own words and thoughts discouraging ourselves about ourselves. What we think and tell ourselves matters.

Throughout our lifetime we are conditioned, and soon our thought process becomes so automatic that we don’t even realize we’re thinking in a certain way! Our thoughts become feelings, and feelings seem to come out of nowhere, which then tends to turn into actions. Before you know it, our thoughts have become so habitual that it takes continual training to stop and recognize the negative thoughts we have, priming our feelings and emotions to take action. Whether it be us getting irrationally angry, anxious, depressed, sad—we develop habits, healthy or destructive, to cope with our emotions.

Negativity of Harmful Thoughts

Emotions such as fear, sadness, and anger are a basic part of life, and everyone will experience them at one point in life. For most individuals, it can be a struggle dealing with these emotions successfully. We usually react to these emotions in the heat of the moment instead of pausing to think on how to act. According to Mental Health America, here are a few ways people might deal with negative emotions:

Denial: Sometimes a person might not be able to accept a certain emotion or truth, and denial is used as a defense mechanism against situations and circumstances that are painful and overwhelming.
Withdrawal: This is a coping mechanism used when a person no longer wants to be around or participate in events and activities with others. It’s a self-protective measure for when people are experiencing emotions that might make them uncomfortable. They might be feeling shame, guilt, anger, and fear. Withdrawal can lead to extreme loneliness, depression, anxiety, and anger.
Bullying: An unwanted, aggressive behavior, such as bullying, involves a real or alleged power imbalance. Both those who bully or are bullied could have potential lasting difficulties.
Self-harm: If a person feels as though they have no control over their emotional pain, sometimes they will turn to self-harm. This can be in the form of causing themselves physical pain instead, self-imposed starvation, bouts of overeating and self-induced vomiting, or putting themselves in unsafe situations or demonstrate dangerous behavior.
Substance Abuse: A person might use alcohol and/or other drugs to aid the emotions they feel. It could be to make them feel better or “numb” painful situations.

The good news is that with time and coaching, we can learn to identify and challenge our automatic negative thoughts. We can train our minds to identify our triggers, feelings, and thoughts. Although it may seem overwhelming at first, it’s very important to identify the motivation for changing one’s habits. You need to find and recognize your “Why?”

Retrain Your Brain

It may seem impossible, but when you feel yourself start to engage in negative self-talk or thinking, try to remember a few of these tools listed below to curb the negativity:

Turn Negativity into Positivity: When negative thoughts start to pop in your brain, we might start to accept the thought process and allow it to control our mindset and mood. However, according to research by Mayo Clinic, positive thinking improves our psychological well-being and can lower levels of depress and distress.¹ Ask yourself if the negative thought is really true, or is it helpful in any way? Would you say it to a friend you cared about? This can help change your focus and challenge your negative thought.
Become a Morning Person: I know what you’re thinking, you can’t even begin to function without your cup of coffee (which should be de-caffeinated for weight loss surgery patients)! But hear me out, your thoughts begin to take form the instant you wake up, so it’s important to develop a morning routine that helps you take control of those thought patterns.

: Let some natural light in
: Exercise
: Drink a full glass of water
: Meditate
: Avoid scrolling social media

National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) says that doing a constructive morning routine can help to increase your energy, productivity, and positivity.²

Learn What Triggers You: Certain people, places, things, and events in life can set in motion a stream of negative thoughts. This brings about the “Act, don’t react.” Take a few breaths, remember your questions to ask yourself, and steer your thoughts into a different direction. If you need to, remove yourself from the situation completely. Do what you need to do to clear your thoughts and bring yourself to feel comfortable.
Be Mindful of Your Thoughts: To be aware of your negative thoughts is simply knowing that they do exist, and you will have them. Remember that your thoughts are just that…thoughts. Practicing mindfulness daily can help us become aware of what we are feeling and what our bodies truly need. Yes, our bodies do listen to our thoughts! It will believe anything and everything our minds tell it. Being mindful of your thoughts can help re-direct negative thoughts and thinking. Even though you won’t be able to always stop your mind from having negative thoughts, that’s okay, because thoughts are just thoughts.

: To learn more about practicing mindfulness exercises, click here.

Ask for Help: Whether it’s a friend, family member, or a professional, do not feel ashamed by needing to ask for help. Therapy with a psychologist or counselor, or even meeting with a nutritionist or dietician can be very beneficial! There, they can provide exercises and tools to help change thinking patterns from negative to positive in a healthy way.

Changing our mindset on our bodies, weight, self-image, worth, and habits is possible! We can learn to rewire our brains to change habits, and in turn make healthier choices and think more positive thoughts. Our brains are very complex and one of the most difficult to understand. As your mindset changes, your life will, too.

www.RMAP.com
Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians
801-268-3800
1160 East 3900 South, Suite 4100
SLC, UT 84124

Resources

Mayo Clinic Staff, “Stress Management”, Mayo Clinic, 2022, https://www.mayoclinic.org/health-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/positive-thinking/art-20043950
Luna Greenstein, “The Power of a Morning Routine”, National Alliance on Mental Illness, 9 Aug. 2017, https://www.nami.org/blogs/nami-blog/august-2017/the-power-of-a-morning-routine

The Connection Between Sleep and Weight

Mar 1 By rmap nurse

Learn more about weight loss surgery at Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians www.RMAP.com (801) 268-3800

It is well known that losing weight—or regain after bariatric surgery—is hard. Keeping weight off and maintaining can be just as challenging. There are few studies out there in the medical community still trying to straighten out the connections between sleep and weight, but there are some which emphasize the potential weight loss benefits of a good night’s sleep and negative health impacts of sleep deprivation.

New research suggests that adults who are better rested consume significantly fewer calories than those who are chronically sleep-deprived. A study published by JAMA Internal Medicine finds that people who sleep less consume more calories and foods that are high in calories. This is compared with people who sleep for longer periods.¹

The study concludes with the participants who slept an hour longer each night consumed an average of 270 fewer calories each day and lost about a pound compared to control group participants, who gained just under a pound on average.

The Link Between the Stomach and Your Appetite

True or false: Your appetite is linked to your stomach. Answer: False. Your appetite is actually controlled by the neurotransmitter’s ghrelin and leptin, not your stomach. The hormone ghrelin promotes hunger and increases appetite. The hormone leptin contributes to the sensation of feeling full. The body will naturally increase and decrease the levels of these neurotransmitters throughout the day, signaling the need to consume calories.²

Obesity and Sleep Deprivation

Depending on the cause, chronic sleep disruptions increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and irregular heartbeats.³

Past studies show that people who get less than 6 hours of sleep at night are more likely to be diagnosed as obese, though it’s difficult for these studies to determine cause and effect.⁴ Obesity in itself can cause an increase risk of developing conditions that interfere with sleep, such as sleep apnea. Though it’s unclear if not getting enough sleep is the cause of obesity, and/or if obesity is causing people to sleep less. Commonly, sleep-deprived individuals tend to choose foods that are high in calories and carbohydrates.⁵

Sleep and Losing Weight

Research shows that not getting enough sleep while trying to lose weight can sabotage the amount of weight lost and encourage the tendency to overeat.⁶ When treating obesity in adults, medical experts encourage improving sleep quality.

Sleep and Physical Activity

When you aren’t getting enough sleep, it can result in having less energy for exercise and physical activity. Exercise is essential and necessary to maintain weight loss and overall health. For example: walking, running, weightlifting, dancing, swimming, sports, etc. Listen to your body to see what time of day works best for you when working out in response to how well you sleep. For some individuals, exercising too late in the day can interfere with how well they rest at night.

Ways to Help Improve Sleep

It’s important to try and get adequate sleep, as well as quality sleep, as part of a healthy weight plan. Here we have put together some tips and suggestions that could help improve your sleep:

Keep to a regular sleep schedule
Sleep in a dark room; purchasing blackout curtains can help with blocking out light and noise
Don’t eat right before bed
Reduce stress
Become an early bird
Keep a sleep log
Monitor sleep times with wrist actigraphy devises such as smartwatches
Limit use of electronic devises at least 1 hour before bed
Turn temperature to a comfortable number
Exercise regularly

Healthy Looks Different for Everyone

Remember that good health and healthy looks and feels different for everyone. Health is a lifelong journey that includes not only healthy habits and eating nutritious foods, but by also having a healthy relationship with your body. Work closely with your doctor’s guidance, as well as keeping your own personal decisions in mind.

www.RMAP.com
Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians
801-268-3800
1160 East 3900 South, Suite 4100
SLC, UT 84124

Resources

Esra Tasali, MD, Kristen Wroblewski, MS, Eva Kahn, MS, et al Jennifer Kilkus, MS, RDN, Dale A. Schoeller, PhD, “Effect of Sleep Extension on Objectively Assessed Energy Intake Among Adults with Overweight in Real-life Settings”, JAMA Intern Med., 2022; 182(4):365-374. Doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2021.8098, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2788694
Karine Spiegel, Esra Tasali, Plamen Penev, Eve Van Cauter, “Brief Communication: Sleep Curtailment in Healthy Young Men is Associated with Decreased Leptin Levels, Elevated Ghrelin Levels, and Increased Hunger and Appetite”, Ann Intern Med., 2004 Dec 7; 141(11):846-50, doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-141-11-200412070-00008, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15583226/
“Losing Weight, Especially in the Belly, Improves Sleep Quality, According to a John Hopkins Study”, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/losing_weight_especially_in_the_belly_improves_sleep_quality_according_to_a_johns_hopkins_study
Yili Wu, Long Zhai, Dongfeng Zhang, “Sleep Duration and Obesity Among Adults: A Meta-analysis of Prospective Studies”, Sleep Med, 2014 Dec; 15 (12):1256-62, doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2014.07.018, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25450058/
Stephanie M Greer, Andrea N Goldstein, Matthew P Walker, “The Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Food Desire in the Human Brain”, Nat Commun, 2013;4:2259, doi: 10.1038/ncomms3259, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23922121/
Marie-Pierre St-Onge, Andrew McReynolds, Zalak B Trivedi, Amy L Roberts, Melissa Sy, Joy Hirsch, “Sleep Restriction Leads to Increased Activation of Brain Regions Sensitive to Food Stimuli”, Am J Clin Nutr, 2012 Apr;95(4):818-24, doi: 10.3945/ajcn.111.027383, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22357722/

Daniel R.’s Gastric Bypass Story

Feb 8 By rmap nurse

My journey started earlier in the year when I ended up at the ER for high blood pressure. I wasn’t feeling good and went to urgent care, and my blood pressure was at 299, so they sent me to the ER where I spent the night. After that, I set up an appointment to establish a regular doctor.

On the first visit, the doctor said with my weight, sleep apnea, prediabetes, and high blood pressure, that he recommended weight loss surgery. I told him I had already considered that and was looking into going to Mexico to do it. He told me that a lot of insurances cover [weight loss surgery] if it was medically necessary, and so I put in my paperwork with his recommendation. Part of that was to lose weight on my own first, which I lost 40-ish pounds in about a month. I saw a dietician and psychologist at St. Mark’s and then I got approved. I was super excited and nervous. I wanted to better my health so I can be around longer for my son, Daniel Cruz.

I finally got my surgery date, and a week before, my wife and I found out we were expecting a second child! That just backed up my decision even more that I was doing the right thing.

The week right after surgery, I ended up at the ER twice because my blood pressure dropped down to 43 and got severely dehydrated. I tried my hardest to stay hydrated, but it is very difficult to consume water for the first few weeks. It gradually got easier. At that point, I got taken off all my medicine and no longer needed my sleep apnea machine to sleep. I no longer snore while sleeping either! I only take my multivitamins and calcium chews!

I quickly started losing lots of weight and dropping sizes in clothes. Before I knew it, I went from using 5XL shirts and size 50 jeans to my current L-XL shirts and size 34 jeans. I can sit and put one leg on top of the other, which I had not done for over 20 years!

I also started being able to go on long walks and not be suffocating trying to catch my breath. I have been implementing better behaviors for my son as well.

I really enjoy playing with my children and being able to do more activities with them that I was not able to before. It’s always crazy and fun seeing people I had not seen for a long time, and seeing their reaction to my drastic changes.

For me, the only complications I had was the first week post-surgery, like I mentioned before. Besides that, I have been very blessed and lucky with my results. My goal the first year was to lose 150 pounds, and I hit that goal. This year, I am trying to lose another 30-50 pounds so that I can do skin removal surgery, then I want to get back into bodybuilding like I did when I was fresh out of high school!

There are times when I feel like I don’t recognize the person I see in the mirror, but inside, I am the same person, but better and healthier than before my surgery.

–Daniel R.
Surgeon: Dr. Rodrick D. McKinlay
Surgery: Gastric Bypass Roux-en-Y
Surgery Date: 12/13/21
HW: 433
SW: 397
CW: 253
TWL: 144

Stress and Weight Gain

Feb 8 By rmap nurse

Learn more about weight loss surgery at Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians www.RMAP.com (801) 268-3800

Stress brought on by challenges or demands that lead you to feel worried, frustrated, anxious, or upset can cause the body to react in a negative way. Not only can stress affect your physical health, it can impact your emotional and psychological health as well.

You could be familiar with the terms “emotional eating,” “stress eating,” “head hunger,” or “emotional hunger.” Any of these terms can affect your weight loss. When people stress-eat, they often keep eating even though they are no longer hungry. It could be hard not to mindlessly eat, not paying attention to how much or what they eat.

Eating in response to unpleasant or uncomfortable emotions most often means turning to “comfort” foods, such as ice cream, chocolate, cookies, cakes, potato chips, and fried foods to name a few. When people are in emotional turmoil, hardly are salads, veggies, or a type of protein-packed snack reached for. When foods are high in calories and low in nutrition, it is a recipe for some type of weight gain.

It’s no secret that life is stressful. How often have you found yourself saying, “life just happened,” or “I’m dealing with a lot of stress right now.” If you turn to food to make yourself feel better, feel like food makes you feel safe, or a quick fix to heartache or loneliness, these are indications that it could be from an emotional-eating standpoint and not actual physical hunger.

The bottom line is that stress can lead to the release of hormones such as cortisol, which stimulates your fat and carbohydrate metabolism, creating a surge of energy in your body, increasing your appetite. Elevated cortisol levels can cause cravings for sweet, fatty, and salty foods.¹

Ways to Help Manage Stress

Identifying how you feel, recognizing what you need, and choosing what to do instead of grabbing for unhealthy food options is an imperative habit to form to help avoid stress-eating. You could be thinking that’s easier said than done, but with committed effort and resilient determination, you can develop this new habit over time and keep up with your weight loss, too!

Practice Relaxation: This can be done through mindfulness meditation, yoga, or deep breathing. These options can help bring hormones down to normal levels.

Consume High-Quality Foods: Even though you might be having cravings or want a “quick fix,” try to aim for whole, plant-based foods. These foods will be turned into energy instead of being converted into fat and stored by the body.

Exercise: Getting out for a daily walk, run, or getting into the gym is an excellent way to manage stress hormones. Any type of movement, such as dancing, swimming, sports, hiking, etc. is considered exercising. So, make it fun and enjoyable to do!

Getting Enough Sleep: Following a regular sleep routine calms and restores the body. Sleep also decreases cortisol levels, which if you remember, cortisol is accountable for your fight or flight reaction to danger, increasing your heart rate in anticipation of a fight. Is has been studied that getting less than five hours of sleep a night has been linked to cortisol-related issues, such as high blood pressure.² Try to get at least 7-9 hours of sleep each night to avoid the rise in hormone levels.

Support Groups: Participating in groups provide an excellent opportunity to be surrounded by others who likely know and understand similar situations you could be experiencing. It is a judge-free zone where you can talk openly and honestly. You can express your feelings while getting feedback from fellow patients who can share their experience, and can give helpful tips which could work for you too. Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians (RMAP) believes it very beneficial to our patients to provide group therapy for all patients who wish to be supported in this way.

For more information on our support groups and how to join them, please visit here.

It is imperative to take care of yourself and prioritize yourself, which means taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical and mental health. These are just a few examples to help you begin implementing healthy habits into your daily life.

Don’t forget the most important thing during your life time…which is YOU!

www.RMAP.com
Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians
801-268-3800
1160 East 3900 South, Suite 4100
SLC, UT 84124

Resources

William Shaw, PhD; Susan Labott-Smith, PhD, ABPP; Matthew M. Burg, PhD; Camelia Hostinar, PhD; Nicholas Alen, BA; Miranda A.L. van Tilburg, PhD; Gary G. Berntson, Phd; Steven M. Tovian, PhD, ABPP, FAClinP, FAClinHP; and Malina Spirito, PsyD, Med, “Stress effects on the body”, American Psychological Association; 2018 Nov 1, https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/body
Leproult, G. Copinschi, O. Buxton, E Van Cauter, “Sleep loss results in an elevation of cortisol levels the next evening”, 1997 Oct; 20(10):865-70, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9415946

The Negativity of Weight Stigma and Bias

Jan 25 By rmap nurse

Learn more about weight loss surgery at Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians www.RMAP.com (801) 268-3800

Have you ever been judged by others for your weight, and/or for your bariatric surgery? If so, you know firsthand the negative and harmful effects of weight stigma and bias.

The World of Obesity Federation defines weight stigma as “the discriminatory acts and ideologies targeted towards individuals because of their weight and size. Weight stigma is a result of weight bias. Weight bias refers to the negative ideologies associated with obesity.”

Weight stigma can result in devastating emotional responses such as depression, low self-esteem and anxiety, which can lead to even more potential consequences. However, weight stigma can affect more than the emotional health, but also on social and physical health. Some individuals have reported to intentionally avoid social gatherings or settings in order to remain isolated away from fear of being criticized.

Effects of Stigma on Physical Health

We know some of the emotional effects stigma can cause, but what about physical health?

Treatment: Some might avoid medical care for problems they are experiencing. This will cause barriers to the treatment and strategic prevention of obesity for the patient.

Eating Behaviors: According to Canadian Medical Association (CMA), weight stigma and shaming can actually cause eating disorders, such as binge eating, emotional eating, restrictive eating, weight cycling, and eating anxiety.¹

Stress: It has been studied and shown by the research of the American Psychological Association (APA) that stigma correlates with increased stress hormone levels. Stress, long-term or chronic, can have serious effects on our bodies, including the musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, nervous, and even the reproductive systems.²

Self-Harm or Suicide: In some instances, weight stigma is so severe that it has led to self-harm or suicidal ideations and acts. Although no studies to date have investigated the topic of body weight and suicide ideation, the prevalence of both obesity and suicide ideation has risen in the last several decades suggesting that obesity may increase the risk of suicide ideation.³

Places Stigma Can Take Place

The environment can also play a part in weight stigma—the chairs at the movie theaters, restaurants, and airlines are not designed to accommodate people with obesity. Medical tables and gowns are also sometimes unable to accommodate patients with obesity.

Schools and Educational Environments: According to Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), bullying has become an epidemic. In a national survey of overweight sixth-graders, 24% of the boys and 30% of the girls experienced daily teasing, bullying or rejection because of their size.⁴ But not only are students victimized, teachers can also commonly be victimized by their peers. For more information on bullying, please visit the following web sites:
- Education.com
  www.education.com/topic/school-bullying-teasing
- National Institute of Health
  nih.gov/news/health/sep2010/nichd-21.htm
- Centers for Disease Control
  cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/electronic_aggression.htm

Workplace: It has been shown that employees who are obese or who carry excess weight are frequently treated poor or unfairly in the workplace.⁵ This can include unfair hiring practices, lower wages (women affected by obesity earn 6% lesser, and men earn 3% lesser, for work identically performed), harsher discipline from employees, wrongful termination, and negative stereotypes (for example: laziness, less competent, undisciplined, less ambitious, less productive).The article continues with some employers beginning to impose financial penalties, such as charging employees who are obese more in healthcare costs until they are able to reduce their body mass index (BMI).

Personal Relationships: This topic could by far be argued to be the most harmful to people affected by obesity. Being criticized by spouses/partners, parents, siblings and children, are the most common source of stigma comments, and can be the most damaging comments made, intentionally or not.

Healthcare and Medical Settings: Research done with support from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK) have shown that many healthcare providers strongly regard people with obesity with negative attitudes and stereotypes.⁶ This way of thinking can influence judgment, interpersonal behavior and decision-making, as well as person perceptions, and can then impact the care they provide to patients with obesity. Some healthcare providers can view obesity as an avoidable risk factor that hinders their ability to treat and prevent disease.

Social Media: Weight discrimination has increased significantly in the United States, as much as 66% between 1995 and 2006, and 71% of adolescents reported being bullied about their weight in the past year.⁷ Social media, such as Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, or Twitter could have both negative and positive influences on weight stigma. It has a potentially notorious role in both worsening and reducing weight stigma. In a study of college-age women at Utah State University, exposure to “thin-ideal” magazines and sites provoked higher body dissatisfaction, negative effect, eating disorder symptoms, and decreased self-esteem.⁸

Combating Weight Bias

Tackling weight stigma and bias requires a united effort from everyone. There are many ways to help prevent bias and get involved with the movement. This can be done starting with individual actions in your daily life, and ranges all the way down to speaking out for those who might think their voice doesn’t matter, or are being bullied or teased.

Use respectful language when talking to or about people affected by obesity. “Fat jokes” and certain vocabulary words are harmful and support society’s stigma. Modeling respectful language is a way to influence others to do the same.

Educate yourself and others to help understand that obesity is a disease with compound causes. This can also help harmful weight-based stereotypes and bullying in any setting.

The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) have a Weight Bias Task Force that will take on any social media platform which displays weight stigma and bias in the media. You can contact them if you see any examples of weight-based stereotypes by going here.

We here at Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians (RMAP) encourage you to get involved, become educated, and help to make a difference in lessening weight stigma and bias. Use your voice, stand up for others, and help reduce the negative stigma associated with the disease of obesity.

If you or someone you know needs help, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support, please don’t wait or hesitate to reach out.

Call or text 988
Chat at 988lifeline.org

www.RMAP.com
Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians
801-268-3800
1160 East 3900 South, Suite 4100
SLC, UT 84124

Resources

Lauren Vogel, “Fat Shaming is Making People Sicker and Heavier”, Canadian Medical Association, v.191 (23); 2019 Jun 10, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6565398/
William Shaw, PhD; Susan Labott-Smith, PhD, ABPP; Matthew M. Burg, PhD; Camelia Hostinar, PhD; Nicholas Alen, BA; Miranda A.L. van Tilburg, PhD; Gary G. Berntson, PhD; Steven M. Tovian, PhD, ABPP, FAClinP, FAClinHP; and Malina Spirito, PsyD, Med, “Stress Effects on the Body”, American Psychological Associated (APA), https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/body
Carlyn Graham, Michelle Frisco, “The Relationship Between Obesity and Suicide Ideation Among Young Adults in the United States”, SSM Popul Health, 2022, Jun, 18: 101106, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9079098/#:~:text=Obesity%20is%20highly%20stigmatized%20in,suicide%20ideation%20among%20young%20adults
JoAnn Stevelos, MS, MPH, “Bullying, Bullycide and Childhood Obesity”, Obesity Action Coalition, Winter 2011, https://www.obesityaction.org/resources/bullying-bullycide-and-childhood-obesity/
“Weight Bias in the Workplace”, Obesity Action Coalition, 2015, https://www.obesityaction.org/wp-content/uploads/Weight-Bias-in-the-Workplace.pdf
SM Phelan, DJ Burgess, MW Yeazel, WL Hellerstedt, JM Griffin, M van Ryn, “Impact of Weight Bias and Stigma on Quality of Care and Outcomes for Patients with Obesity”, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK), 2015 Apr; 16(4): 319-326, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4381543/
Olivia Clark, Matthew M. Lee, Muksha Luxmi Jingree, Erin O’Dwyer, Yiyang Yue, Abrania Marrero, Martha Tamez, Shilpa N. Bhupathiraju, Josiemer Mattei, “Weight Stigma and Social Media: Evidence and Public Health Solutions”, 2021 Nov 12; 8: 739056, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8632711/
Nicole Hawkins, P Scott Richards, H Mac Granley, David M Stein, “The Impact of Exposure to the Thin-Deal Media Image on Women”, 2004 Spring; 12(1):35-50, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16864303/

Upcoming Educational Seminars for February 2023

Jan 25 By rmap nurse

Learn more about weight loss surgery at Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians www.RMAP.com (801) 268-3800

If you or someone you know is considering weight loss surgery, we invite you to attend a free educational seminar.

Here you will learn from our education team, including one of our bariatric surgeons, information specific to Gastric Bypass, Gastric Sleeve and Duodenal Switch (DS) surgery. In this seminar we discuss benefits, risks and expected outcomes of weight loss surgery. You will also have a chance to ask the surgeon your specific weight loss surgery questions.

Hear more about weight loss surgery from each of our surgeons.

Dr. Steven C. Simper
Dr. Rodrick D. McKinlay
Dr. Nicholas J. Paulk
Dr. Douglas C. Greer

Upcoming Seminars:
– *Due to Tuesday, February 14th being a holiday, this seminar date has been canceled*
– Tuesday, February 28th @ 5:30 PM

In-person space is limited so give us a call today at (801) 268-3800, or join us virtually via WEb-Ex by signing up here.

www.RMAP.com
Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians
801-268-3800
1160 East 3900 South, Suite 4100
SLC, UT 84124

Bariatric Surgery Aftercare

Jan 11 By rmap nurse

Learn more about weight loss surgery at Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians www.RMAP.com (801) 268-3800

The surgeons and staff here at Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians (RMAP) want to see our patients achieve their goals, as well as have a lifetime of success with their new tool and healthy behaviors we have educated them on. We seek to be a partner in your journey for health, not just for the first year of weight loss, but for life. This could be means of annual bloodwork, support groups, continuing education of the bariatric world, and annual follow-ups. We want to help keep you on track and provide a place for you, our patients, for when you feel overwhelmed. Bariatric surgery is life changing, and it will change your way of living for the rest of your life!

Your follow-up care with us is important! It is to help us monitor your health and weight status, but also assist you in establishing patient-selected incremental goals as well as long-term goals.

There are numerous reasons as to why you should continue to follow-up with your surgeon and bariatric clinic after weight loss surgery. Here we have listed three of the top reasons why:

Annual Bloodwork: Bloodwork is important after bariatric surgery so that we can monitor your vitamin levels and overall health. We can see if anything looks amiss, causing unusual symptoms you might be experiencing, any deficiencies developing, or the reason why some unexplained or unwanted weight loss or gain could be happening.

We have our patients do annual bloodwork every year after surgery. Your family physician or our office can order them once to two weeks before your annual visit. The tests you need are:

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
Lipid Profile
CBC with diff
Vitamin B-12 level
Thiamine (Vitamin B1) level
Folate
Hemoglobin A1c

***You must be fasting 6 hours prior to blood draw.

Duodenal Switch patients
Get all of the labs listed above PLUS

Vitamin A level
Vitamin D level
Protime

Mail or fax a copy of these tests to our office. The tests will be reviewed by your surgeon and placed in your chart. Fax number: (801) 268-3997.

Keeping You on Track: After the weight loss stage, it can be easy to lose focus of the guidelines and education materials we have provided for you. Understanding that the necessary adjustments to your present behaviors are yours to make, we are here to help in any way we can! Having someone else following your achievements and setbacks could help you stay on track with your weight loss results and maintenance goals. We could provide education and our professional advice if you find yourself straying, getting off track, or becoming overwhelmed with the anatomy changes of weight loss surgery.

Your Overall Health: In addition to getting bloodwork done annually, our surgeons and medical staff members like to follow our patients to continue monitoring their health in general; the positives—no more CPAP, remission of diabetes, doing activities you were unable to do before—but also the complications that can occur after surgery—vitamin deficiencies, gas, diarrhea, bowel blockage, hernias, excess skin. Additional testing could be necessary after surgery, so keeping your follow-up appointments with us is essential.

Post-Op Visits

You should schedule an appointment to see your surgeon/assistant for follow-up visits at:

3-4 weeks (scheduled at the time of your surgery orientation class)
2 months
4 months
6-8 months
1 year or additionally as requested by your surgeon
Annually thereafter

Bariatric surgery is undoubtedly a major lifestyle change, and it takes strong determination and commitment to have long-term success. Your surgeon, nurses, and health staff are your unified team with your best interests in mind. We want you to reach improved health and experience an enriched quality of life. We want to be a partner in your health and along for your weight loss journey.

Keep in contact with us, and attend the weekly support groups we provide for our patients regularly.

www.RMAP.com
Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians
801-268-3800
1160 East 3900 South, Suite 4100
SLC, UT 84124

Have a Happy New Year!

Dec 31 By rmap nurse

As the New Year approaches us with hopes anew, here is to wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful year ahead. Happy New Year!

Our office will be CLOSED on Monday, January 2nd and will be closing at 1:00 PM on Friday, December 30th for the holiday. If you have any emergent medical questions or concerns, you can still call our office line at (801) 268-3800 to connect with the surgeon on-call.

**We will return for regular business hours on Tuesday, January 3rd.

www.RMAP.com
Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians
801-268-3800
1160 East 3900 South, Suite 4100
SLC, UT 84124

Have a Merry Christmas!

Dec 23 By rmap nurse

Merry Christmas from all of us here at Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians (RMAP)! We hope you have a safe, healthy and FUN holiday. Our office will be CLOSED on Monday, December 26th. If you have any emergent medical questions or concerns, you can still call our number for after hours help from the surgeon on call; (801) 268-3800.

**Our office will be open from 9 AM-1 PM on Friday, December 23rd. We will return for regular hours on Tuesday, December 27th.

www.RMAP.com
Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians
801-268-3800
1160 East 3900 South, Suite 4100
SLC, UT 84124

Setting Goals after Bariatric Surgery 2023

Dec 21 By rmap nurse

Learn more about weight loss surgery at Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians www.RMAP.com (801) 268-3800

People often criticize bariatric surgery as “taking the easy way out.” We know that there is nothing easy about the decision and commitments you have made. We acknowledge your bravery and hard work to get you where you are today. As we enter the New Year, we hope you will continue to focus on the new you.

Finding worth in self is probably the biggest challenge all of us face. We forget who we are. Once we remember and reclaim our worth, our loves take on new meaning. Positive self-talk is one of the keys to your long-term success. If you think positively about yourself, you are more apt to shower yourself with rewards and self-praise that will keep you on the path of a healthy lifestyle.

Even though bariatric surgery affords many physical advantages, you may still struggle with some other emotional difficulties. Most of us fall into the trap of assuming a change in our lives will solve all of our problems. How often have you thought to yourself: “If I just had a new house, more money, more time, a new job or more space, I would be happy?” Many of you may have thought to yourselves before having bariatric surgery that losing weight would make you forever happy and your problems would go away. Many of us have realized that way of thinking is in vain. None of these things will take away emotional difficulties. The road to health is not an easy one. You will experience a lot of challenges that will be difficult to deal with.

Tips for Setting Goals for 2023

Here are suggestions and tips as you set your goals for the New Year. Keep these in mind and remember you are of worth and that you are accomplishing so much:

Refrain from negative self-talk where you call yourself stupid, dumb, fat, lazy, or a failure. Replace these words with verifiable examples of successful behaviors, not concepts.
Refrain from talking negatively about yourself to others. When you talk negatively about yourself to others, you are providing them with instruction on how you wish to be treated. Begin to put a voice to your success no matter how small.
If you are part of a religious sect, turn to your faith for peace.
Check out books from the library about self-esteem.
Keep a journal on your emotional stability day to day. Record the choices you make that bring you joy and stability.
Continue attending support groups. Make friends with patients in your groups. It helps to confide in someone who has had the same experience as you. Share your challenges and successes.
Emotional difficulties are a part of life, but sometimes a more serious problem is present. If you feel that you suffer with a psychiatric problem, do not be afraid to consult your primary care physician.

As you set your goals, it is also important to reward yourself for your accomplishments. Rewards should not be food related. Food is for nutrition. Reward yourself with something of value, such as a massage, new golf clubs, or a charm bracelet. Some have put money away for each 10 pounds lost, then gone on a vacation. Take the time to thank yourself and acknowledge yourself.

We hope you have a wonderful and happy New Year from us here at Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians (RMAP)!

www.RMAP.com
Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians
801-268-3800
1160 East 3900 South, Suite 4100
SLC, UT 84124

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Daniel R.’s Gastric Bypass Story

Stress and Weight Gain

The Negativity of Weight Stigma and Bias

Upcoming Educational Seminars for February 2023

Bariatric Surgery Aftercare

Have a Happy New Year!

Have a Merry Christmas!

Setting Goals after Bariatric Surgery 2023

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