Is Cutting The Vagus Nerve The Answer To Weight Loss?

Gastric Bypass Surgery News ^ | Monday, May 12, 2008

[wintertime]

Last year, 200,000 Americans had weight loss surgery and while gastric bypass surgery can significantly reduce weight, the surgery comes with risks.

Now a procedure that was once commonly used to treat ulcers is being tested as a safe alternative to weight loss surgery.

Action News reporter Kimberly Tere has the details.

The vagus nerve controls your feeling of hunger.

Some even say every single thing the vagus nerve does is designed to make you gain weight.

That is why San Francisco Doctor Robert Lustig is testing laparoscopic vagotomy, a surgery in which the vagus nerve is cut.

Cutting the vagus nerve can reduce the amount of fat stored in the body and can increase energy levels.

"Every patient in the study said their hunger was gone, just gone. One comment I got from one patient was this is the first time in her life that she was not a prisoner to food," said Dr. Lustig.

[mamelukesabre]

A friend of mine’s mother died from gastric bypass. They took too much out. She gradually starved to death over a ten year period...while eating as much as she could force herself to eat.

[NewJerseyJoe]

Try high-intensity interval training -- your body will start burning fat like a blast furnace. It has the added side-benefit of acting as a natural appetite suppressant.

There are many places to learn about this -- here are some links for you to get started:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-intensity_interval_training
http://www.readysetgofitness.com
http://www.intervaltraining.net/hiit.html
http://www.hiitsource.com
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bbinfo.php?page=HIIT
http://www.askmen.com/sports/bodybuilding_100/135_fitness_tip.html

[Ainast]

atkins isn’t a diet, its a complete lifestyle change.

If you ever revert back to your old ways it is HELL to start back up again.

[Nachum]

A friend of mine’s mother died from gastric bypass.

The truth about it is that most of these surgeries do not keep the weight off. There a many that suffer complications and some do die. Sorry to hear.

[steveo]

I wish you good luck with your quest.

[wintertime]

I was about 58. And, yes, I am an ideal weight. Keeping it ideal is a minute to minute struggle.

[Selmore]

For many, they are a compulsion. (Gambling, Food, Anorexia, etc)
Except food compulsions are harder because you gotta have food.

[fellowpatriot]

Have you tried drinking green tea? My doc told me it supresses the appetite.

[jiggyboy]

"You're looking a little flabby, crewman."

[TheBattman]

There is only one diet that works: Atkins.
It also lowers blood sugar for type II diabetics.

Works - yes. I lost over 60 lbs a little over 5 years ago. Unfortunately, living on Atkins/low carb forever can be just as difficult as other diets. I did it for 4 months - had great results.

Also - I believe from my own experience, that if you ever go OFF the low-carb diet, your body reacts MUCH worse to carbs - stacking on pounds and fat faster than ever- even if you do not "load up" on the carbs as you might have in the past.

[wintertime]

People who are normally thing are thinking about or doing “high intensity interval training.”

[Milly]

We wont need to worry about weight by the time he gets out office. We will all be in the poor house.

[svcw]

That is untrue. Most gastric by pass surgeries are successful with 80% of the weight loss maintained over time.
The mortality is 1%, the complication rate is about 20%, which can include everything from vomiting from anesthesia to infection.

[goodnesswins]

NOW...THAT is VERY interesting.....during a colonoscopy I was told I have a very circuitus colon.....I realize that is NOT the small intestine, however, it may be a clue to me having a long intestine.....HHHmmmmmm.

[Kieri]

It would’ve been nice, but I had low blood sugar. What a rotten combination! Even now that I’m a normal weight (well, I’m trying to lose 15 pounds but that’s easy after 150) my sugar is still low.

[mountainbunny]

A friend of mine’s mother died from gastric bypass. They took too much out. She gradually starved to death over a ten year period...while eating as much as she could force herself to eat.

The risks cannot be underestimated, especially if you have the type of surgery that actually shortens your intestines.

Sympathy and prayers for your friend.

[Uri’el-2012]

XS>“There is only one diet that works: Atkins.”

It can also seriously damage your health if you’re one of those that this type of fad doesn’t work for.

The fads which are harmful are "low fat"

There has not been any empirical evidence
to suggest that Adkins is harmful.

[org.whodat]

For many, they are a compulsion.

Yes, I spent years drinking and chasing women, and I caught a lot of them.

[Kieri]

Normal small intestinal length is 19-22ft. When I had my bypass my surgeon, who is VERY experienced, actually measures them. When I was in post-op his nurse told me I’d been lugging around nearly 40ft of small intestine. “You could eat sand and still gain weight,” she said. After all those years of blaming myself I had a reason.

I don’t know if a lot of research has been done on this. If so I haven’t had luck finding it.

[swmobuffalo]

“There has not been any empirical evidence
to suggest that Adkins is harmful.”

Yes there is but I’m not going to waste my time digging out at this time of night.