Dr. Emily Carter

16/10/2025

Negative complication of bariatric surgery
Negative complications of bariatric surgery can include immediate risks like bleeding, infection, and blood clots, as well as long-term issues such as nutritional deficiencies, dumping syndrome, stomach ulcers, and internal hernias. Other complications can include hair loss, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), gallstones, and GERD, with some complications requiring further intervention.
Immediate complications
Bleeding: Can range from minor to severe, sometimes requiring emergency surgery.
Infection: May involve the wound, abdominal area, or lead to pneumonia.
Blood Clots: Including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism, which can be life-threatening.
Anastomotic leak: A leak at the surgical connection point, which can cause severe abdominal pain and fever.
Anesthetic complications: Risks associated with the anesthesia used during the operation.
Wound problems: Such as infection or separation of the incision (fascial dehiscence).
Long-term complications
Nutritional deficiencies: Especially iron, vitamin B12, and other vitamins due to malabsorption.
Dumping syndrome: A condition where food moves too quickly from the stomach to the small intestine, causing symptoms like lightheadedness, cramping, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Stomach ulcers: Painful sores that can form in the lining of the stomach or intestine.
Internal hernias: Occur when tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the surrounding tissue, a risk particularly with some types of bypass surgery.
Difficulty swallowing (Dysphagia): A restriction in the digestive system can make it hard to swallow food.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Can be worsened by some procedures like the gastric sleeve, though it may improve with others like gastric bypass.
Gallstones: A risk that can develop after rapid weight loss.
Hair loss: Common during the period of rapid weight loss, often due to nutritional imbalances.
Other potential issues
Food intolerances: Changes in taste or an inability to tolerate certain foods, sometimes lasting for weeks or months.
Loose skin: A common cosmetic issue resulting from significant weight loss.

16/10/2025

Obesity harms health by increasing the risk of serious diseases like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. It also leads to other conditions such as high blood pressure, fatty liver disease, sleep apnea, and osteoarthritis. Beyond physical health, obesity can contribute to mental health problems like depression and negatively affect quality of life.
Cardiovascular health
Increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure (hypertension).
Raises levels of unhealthy cholesterol and triglycerides.
Coronary artery disease, heart failure, and irregular heartbeats are also more likely.
Metabolic and digestive issues
Significantly raises the risk for type 2 diabetes by affecting how the body uses insulin.
Increases the likelihood of developing fatty liver disease, gallstones, and other gallbladder problems.
Can lead to kidney disease.
Respiratory and musculoskeletal problems
Causes breathing problems such as asthma and sleep apnea, where breathing stops and starts during sleep.
Increases stress on weight-bearing joints, leading to osteoarthritis.
Cancer
Linked to an increased risk of several types of cancer, including endometrial, breast, colon, and prostate cancers.
Mental and emotional effects
Associated with mental health problems like depression and anxiety.
Can negatively impact self-esteem due to social stigma.
May lead to a lower overall quality of life and social isolation.
Other complications
Can cause fertility problems in both men and women.
Associated with problems during pregnancy.
May result in nerve damage and difficulty with physical functioning.

16/10/2025

12 Healthy Eating Habits

16/10/2025

01/08/2025

Maintaining good health during the aging process is crucial for maintaining a high-quality life. As we age, our bodies undergo various changes, including changes in body composition. One important aspect to consider is body fat percentage. The older we get, the body fat percentage tends to increase gradually.
Men
Ages 65-75: A healthy body fat percentage for men in this age group typically ranges between 12% and 20%. This range allows for adequate energy reserves and supports overall health.
Ages 75 and older: As men continue to age, a slightly higher body fat percentage, up to 22%, may be acceptable, considering the natural decline in muscle mass.
Women
Ages 65-75: Women in this age range should aim for a body fat percentage between 20% and 30%. This range provides the necessary cushioning for joints and organs while minimizing health risks.
Ages 75 and older: For older women, a body fat percentage of up to 32% may still be within the healthy range, acknowledging the physiological changes that occur with age.

19/07/2025

Obesity is a known risk factor for stroke, but using body mass index (BMI) alone to assess stroke risk may not be enough. A new international study suggests that better predictors are available — and artificial intelligence could help improve early detection and prevention.

Researchers evaluated the effectiveness of several obesity-related indices using a machine learning approach, developing a digital marker known as the In-Silico Stroke (ISS) score to predict stroke risk more accurately. The study used data from over 30,000 people across China and the UK, including the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) and a health examination cohort from Wenzhou Medical University.

The analysis found that two measures — Triglyceride-Glucose Index (TyG) and TyG-Body Mass Index (TyG-BMI) — were significantly better at predicting stroke risk than BMI alone. In fact, in cross-sectional analysis, TyG-BMI delivered a higher predictive accuracy (AUC = 0.821) compared to BMI.

In a longer-term analysis, a stacked machine learning model incorporating TyG-BMI provided the best results, with an AUC of 0.816 in the training cohort and 0.833 in the internal validation group. The model performed consistently well in external datasets too, with AUC values of 0.803 for the UK-based ELSA cohort and 0.805 for the Chinese health examination cohort.

The ISS score, built into the model, proved to be a strong indicator not only of stroke risk but also of stroke-related mortality. It successfully classified individuals into low- and high-risk groups for stroke-related death, with high accuracy in both training and validation sets.

Researchers say these findings could help to stratify stroke risk more precisely, offering new opportunities for early intervention in individuals living with obesity. While further validation in broader populations is needed, the results point to a promising new tool in stroke prevention — especially in the context of rising obesity rates worldwide.