When it comes to obesity, the answer is Yes.
Both.
So, if those two factors undeniably contribute to obesity, might the opposite be true?
That is, could weight loss from surgery, and efforts at lifestyle change make a difference on all the members of a family? That is, a "Halo effect"?
That topic was studied in a 2011 report from researchers at the Stanford University of Medicine, as published in the Archives of Surgery journal.
The article notes that obesity is in essence a familial disease, and the study looked at the potential for healthy behavior transmission as enhanced by family relationships. They specifically looked at the change in weight, and healthy behaviors of adult family members and children of patients that underwent Gastric Bypass.
Eighty-five participants were studied, broken down as 35 patients, 35 adult family members, and 15 children <18 years old.
The results showed some interesting findings.
Before the operation on the family member, 60% of adult family members were overweight, as were 73% of the children of those patients. At 12 mos post surgery, significant weight loss was achieved in the obese adult family members, from an average of 234 to 226 lbs. The obese children showed a trend to have a lower body mass index than expected for their growth curve (31.2 expected vs. 29.6 observed).
As far as behavior, family members increased their daily activity levels, and demonstrated improved eating habits with less uncontrollable eating, emotional eating, and alcohol consumption. They noted that lifestyle changes can be socially contagious.
It is also mentioned that each of the family members in the study were required to accompany their family member-patient, when they went for their pre- and post-operative clinical visits, where they received dietary and lifestyle counseling. Those sessions emphasized a high-protein, high-fiber, low sugar diet and small, frequent meals. Further discussed were goal setting for daily exercise, a good night's sleep, alcohol moderation, and minimizing time in front of the TV.
"Can you imagine if every one of these bariatric patients were an ambassador for good health? You would have a huge, grassroots movement with bariatric surgery providing a vehicle for healthy change for patient and family alike", Dr. Morton said, one of the authors of the study. Obesity is a family disease and bariatric surgery sets the table for future, healthy family meals." The total number of bariatric cases worldwide in 2011 was reported to be over 340,000.
The authors also concluded that bariatric surgery programs should also encourage family members to be a part of support groups and office visits to not only provide support for healthy changes taking place after surgery, but also potentially for their own health benefit, directly.
Keep this in mind in your Family Practice, when you see a patient considering weight loss surgery. There may be more potentially at stake for the associated members of the family as well.
And keep an eye out for the halo effect. Patients I see often make mention of it in their post-operative office visits. They should get some credit for that as well!
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| From Reddit.com |
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