Patients who exercise after undergoing obesity surgery are likely to boost their rate of weight loss and enjoy an improved quality of life, a new study suggests.

Obesity surgery is widely regarded as the most effective treatment for morbidly obese individuals who have failed to lose weight by other means, such as diet and exercise.

Researchers at the Miriam Hospital's Centres for Behavioural and Preventive Medicine studied nearly 200 patients who underwent gastric bypass surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Dr. Aviv Ben-Meir sees the depression that many obese people live with, and he's made a career of trying to help them change their lives through bariatric surgery. The chief surgeon at St. Vincent Charity Hospital's Center for Bariatric Surgery in Cleveland, he performs about 350 such surgeries each year; the hospital's program is among the largest in Ohio. Boston native Ben-Meir, a graduate of Case Western Reserve University's medical school, talks to The Plain Dealer's Evelyn Theiss about his work and what people must do post-surgery to keep off the weight.

LAPSurgery Australia, Melbourne was founded in 1987 by Mr Richard Gilhome and Mr Ray McHenry who have since been joined by Mr Chris Hensman and Mr David Scott.

The weight loss service is a multi-disciplinary team comprising experienced staff members including the laparoscopic surgeons, physicians, anaesthetists, clinical nurse specialists, research nurse, weight loss counsellor, dietician, lapband co-ordinator and reception staff.

The surgeons agree that for people who have serious weight problems, the adjustable gastric band is the safest and most effective form of long-term weight loss, as scientific studies have shown.

“After surgery, most people can expect to lose up to 50-60 percent of their excess weight which can also considerably reduce the risk of other health issues, such as diabetes, cardiovascular and in some cases premature death,? they said.

When you lose a lost of weight, even after the pounds are gone, there's often more work to do to change your mindset.

Shawna Simmonds, at one time, weighed more than 260 pounds. Today, she's 100 pounds lighter after lap band surgery.

Shawna's getting a makeover at the NYU Program for Surgical Weight Loss, and says that even when you body drastically changes, it's tough to change the way you see yourself.

Licking Memorial Hospital dietitian Annmarie Thacker had no trouble in snagging the attention of her 150-member, largely female audience with that advice.

They had gathered at Licking Memorial Hospital's Red Dress Event for the cause of women's heart health, and Thacker's address proved to be motivation for women looking to lead a healthier lifestyle.

"I'm thinking, 'OK, now I have got to quit a lot of this stuff,'" said Esther Wolfe, 54, of Hebron, who attended the sixth annual event for her first time Thursday.

The cost of obesity is adding up for the NHS, but who is benefiting from the bulge? Vernon Baxter reports

As trends go, the UK’s soaring obesity levels have not been hard to miss. It does not take a doctor to point out that the public waistline is a growing problem – not to mention an expensive one. New figures obtained by the Conservatives under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that the NHS has been forced to spend almost £45 million on procuring heavy-duty clinical equipment or bolstering existing facilities. The number might look like a drop in the ocean when compared to the overall NHS budget, but it is a nagging reminder that obesity will significantly change the face of healthcare in the UK.

Women aren’t the only ones who care about their bodies. Though men are less open about it they, too, want to look and feel their best. Most men develop loose skin after a significant weight loss or gastric bypass surgery. Aging, too, can cause the skin to lose its elasticity, and result in sagging skin.

Just one year after Dale Frayling was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, he suffered his first heart attack. Four months later, he had a second, more severe attack followed by bypass surgery.

That was 11 years ago. The Saskatoon resident, now 57, has already lived considerably longer than his heart surgeon anticipated, despite being overweight and continuing to smoke.

Dr. Michelle Spring, a cosmetic surgeon who has been specially trained in body contouring wants the people in San Diego, La Jolla, and Southern California to know exactly what they can achieve through body contouring. Dr. Spring has provided answers to some of the most common body contouring questions:

What is body contouring?