Modified Diet May Help Combat Obesity

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) November 27, 2006

Some of the largest fast food chains across the nation are taking steps to reduce the amount of trans fats in selected menu items in an effort to help Americans maintain a healthier diet.

Fast food has long been a part of the American lifestyle, but with it has come ever-growing portion sizes and ever-expanding waistlines. The recent announcement that many popular fast food chains intend to use healthier oils is a tremendous development in the nutritional arena that will help draw attention to the importance of lower-calorie food choices, portion control and physical exercise.

While this simple and pivotal step may help many people to live a healthier lifestyle, some people may need serious medical intervention to achieve the weight loss that would enable them to live a healthier lifestyle. For these people, gastric bypass surgery may be a safe and effective way to achieve lifestyle and weight loss goals. The procedure surgically reduces the size of the stomach, resulting in the consumption of fewer calories and significant weight loss. While bariatric surgery may set the stage for weight loss and overall health improvement, it's important to know that even surgical weight loss requires long-term lifestyle modification.

"The efforts put forth by fast food restaurants across the nation will no doubt help overweight individuals in their quest for a healthier lifestyle," said Laurence Tanaka, M.D., F.A.C.S., surgeon at Scripps Mercy Hospital and Pacific Bariatric Surgical Medical Group (http://www.pbsmg.com). "The path to a healthier lifestyle may not always be an easy one, but it is certainly worth the journey."

In October 2005, Scripps Mercy Hospital and Pacific Bariatric were designated as a Bariatric Center of Excellence by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery and the Surgical Review Corporation. To date, surgeons at Pacific Bariatric Surgical Medical Group, Inc. have performed over 9,500 procedures on adult and adolescent patients at Scripps Mercy Hospital.

Pacific Bariatric Surgical Medical Group, Inc. and Scripps Mercy Hospital are nationally designated by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery as a Center of Excellence for bariatric surgery. Pacific Bariatric Surgical Medical Group, also known as Hillcrest Surgical Medical Group, Inc., has an 80-year tradition of surgical excellence and leadership in San Diego County. For more information, visit http://www.pacificbariatric.com.

Established in 1890 by the Sisters of Mercy, Scripps Mercy Hospital serves the San Diego and Chula Vista communities. With 700 licensed beds, more than 3,000 employees and 1,300 physicians, Scripps Mercy Hospital is San Diego's longest established and only Catholic hospital. With two campuses, Scripps Mercy Hospital is the largest hospital in San Diego County and one of the 10 largest in California. For more information, visit http://www.scripps.org.

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