Alex Brecher

Thanksgiving is next week, and it’s time to think about your healthy plan. This year can be your healthiest yet if you cut back a little on the serving sizes, you stick to the turkey and salads, and you skip the leftovers as much as possible. You can also make it a healthier weekend away from the table. Most of us have a little extra time off from work, and maybe you can use that time to get in a quick workout or do a little bit of healthy food planning. If you’re pre-op, you can use the weekend to do a little more research on WLS options or finalize your plans. How are you planning to lose weight this Thanksgiving weekend?

style="margin:0;padding:0;background-color:#d8dde8;color:#5a5a5a;font:normal 13px helvetica, arial, sans-serif;position:relative;"> Hey BariatricPal Members! I hope you are doing well and making progress towards your goals this fall! As the holiday season gets underway, it may be time to renew your commitment, remind yourself about your motivations, and fortify yourself with a few new strategies to get you through the season. We have it all in this newsletter! Just Getting Started with WLS? Quick Checklist Tips for Staying on Track This Holiday Season BariatricPal in the Community: Updates on Our Efforts! Get what you can from the newsletter, then come talk about it and whatever else is on your mind on the BariatricPal forums! You can find all kinds of inspiration, tips, and support for your stage of the WLS journey and type of WLS. Can’t wait to see you there! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Just Getting Started with WLS? Start Here! The beginning of the weight loss surgery journey can be a scary time. You have so many decisions to make about whether to get WLS, when to get it, who your surgery will be, and what type of WLS you want. You have a lot to learn about pre-op and post-op preparation, your pre-op and post-op diet, and changing your relationship with food. But you can do it! Here are a few items to consider as you move forward. Put Yourself in Good Hands The WLS journey is a lot easier when you start off on the right foot. That means finding a surgeon and healthcare team who are right for you. Your chances of success are higher when your surgeon has good success rates and your entire healthcare team provides the information you need to prepare for surgery and the rest of your life. Come Hang Out on BariatricPal What do you get when you join a community of hundreds of thousands of people just like you, who are interested in weight loss surgery? Answers to your questions from members who have been there, done that, and members who are going through it at the same time as you. Ideas about how you can make your journey easier, such as recipes, tips for eating out, and packing lists for the hospital. Recommendations about surgeons, bariatric vitamins, protein shakes, and pretty much anything else you could need on your WLS journey. Extra accountability if you choose to use free tools such as a weight tracker, photo gallery for before, after, and along-the-way pics, and a blog. Maybe it would be quicker to answer, “What don’t you get?!” Build Your Support System Aside from the BariatricPal community, who will be supporting you every day? You have an advantage if your family and friends are on board. They can help you by agreeing not to eat too much junk food in front of you and agreeing not to store it in the house; or by taking care of the children a couple of times a week while you hit the gym; or by lending you a shoulder to cry on if you have a down day. Neighbors and coworkers who are trying to lose weight can also be good candidates to be part of your day to day support network. Insure Nutrition We are always thrilled to welcome a new newsletter sponsor into the BariatricPal family, and this month, Insure Nutrition is giving us the pleasure of doing just that. Our latest sponsor, Insure Nutrition, is an online company that specializes in getting health insurance coverage for nutritional supplements. Its Post-Bariatric Surgery Nutrition products includes Premier Protein shakes in chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavors and OptiSource High Protein drinks in caramel and strawberry flavors. Checking if you are eligible is easy. Insure Nutrition encourages you to use its online form to find out if you qualify. Our sponsors help make BariatricPal newsletters and other services possible. We encourage you show your thanks by considering them first for your bariatric needs. Tips for Staying on Track This Holiday Season Time flies, and never faster than during the holiday season. If you have not already seen mounds of candy from Halloween, you will soon see all kinds of extra treats pop up everywhere as even more holidays approach. You can be sure that the temptations will not go away until people make their New Year’s Resolutions, so you had better have a plan for keeping your weight in check this season. Set Realistic Goals Weight loss is harder this time of year because of holiday parties, food gifts, family dinners, and treats that mysteriously show up in the office. It is not a sign of weakness to change your weight loss and eating goals during the holiday season. It is a sign of wisdom because you are accepting the circumstances and adjusting to them. You might want to adjust your goals to give yourself a little extra slack while still moving towards WLS success. For example: Postpone WLS until January if you are unable to stick to the liquid pre-op and post-op diets during this season. Change from weight loss to weight maintenance mode temporarily, or adjust your weight loss goals to be a little slower than you have been losing weight. Adopt a “tiny-tolerance” instead of a “zero-tolerance” policy when it comes to treats. Allowing yourself to have small bite of your favorite holiday treats guilt-free can help keep you from losing control and eating the entire pie. Arm Yourself with Healthy Alternatives You know temptations will be everywhere, so you can plan ahead to fight cravings. Just keep a few healthy favorites on hand so you can grab them instead of whatever diet disaster starts tempting you. For example… Protein Hot Chocolate Protein Brownies Nacho Cheese Protein Pasta Peanut Caramel Protein Puffs Make Life Easier for Yourself You are likely to be busier than ever as extra obligations such as gift shopping and spending time with family and friends come up. Don’t let lack of time get in the way of your weight loss! You can make sure that healthy meals and snacks are just minutes away by planning ahead. Use meal helpers such as bagged salad mixes and rotisserie chicken, and cook larger batches of healthy recipes on the weekend to use during the week. Have single-serve Protein Entrees and Protein Pasta Dishes to pop in the microwave for a low-calorie, high-protein meal in minutes. Have ready-to-eat snacks around so you can grab one instantly. Examples include whole and cut fruit, washed vegetables, nuts, hummus, hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, and grilled chicken breast, not to mention Protein Pretzels, Protein Bars, and Protein Chips. The BariatricPal Store can help you stock up on the the foods you need to stay happy and healthy this season. We guarantee lowest prices, and you can use coupon code BPNewsletter10 for a 10% discount off your entire first order! BariatricPal in the Community: Updates on Our Efforts! We’re always working on fighting obesity however we can, and this month started with a bang! We were at Obesity Week in New Orleans this October 31 through November 4. The event is sponsored by the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and The Obesity Society (TOS), and the list of surgeons, other healthcare providers, and industry reps we met reads like a list of “who’s who” in bariatric care! BariatricPal is working to build all kinds of partnerships to improve our ability to fight obesity through weight loss surgery! BariatricPal was also a partner in National Obesity Care Week (NOCW), October 30 through November 5. The purpose of NOCW is to improve the quality of care in medical settings. We worked to increase awareness of obesity care by spreading the word however possible and by joining the TAKE5 challenge. If you missed NOCW, you can still do your part to advocate for better obesity care! Those are the major updates from recent times, along with a few tips to start you off properly this holiday season. For tons more tips and inspiration, just stop by BariatricPal whenever you are ready. We love having you spend time in the community! · Unsubscribe from all BariatricPal E-Mail.

LOL, no! InsureNutrition.com is what we were all referring to

We offer free shipping for all orders over $59 at http://Store.BariatricPal.com

Yeah I see now why it didn't work. I had wanted to do subscribe and save as well as get the discount and that wasn't working. Without the subscribe and save it works. I can just order a few kits i guess : Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App I got it fixed for Subscribe and save, thanks! It will only be good for the order you place today, not future orders. So you're most likely better off ordering a few kits now.

It’s Cyber Monday. You already know that it is one of the biggest shopping days of the year, but did you also know that it is one of the best days for weight loss of the year? Here is how you can use this Cyber Monday at The BariatricPal Store to set yourself up for faster and easier weight loss. Cyber Monday Sale – Our Lowest Prices Ever! Today on Cyber Monday, we are having our biggest sale ever on PatchMD Vitamin Patches! Just enter code OFF25CMPMD when you check out of the store, and you will get 25% off all patches! When you use patches, you can get your nutrients without ever taking a pill. You can find Multivitamins as well as more targeted patches such as Calcium and Vitamin D, B Vitamins, and Iron Plus. You can even find patch packs for each major type of weight loss surgery: the Lap-Band, Gastric Sleeve, Duodenal Switch, and Gastric Bypass! Don’t forget to check out our health and wellness patches. Nutrients such as omega-3 can boost heart health, while glucosamine can support stronger joints. For additional benefits, look for all kinds of combos such as sleep Starters, Keep Klear Acne, and Metabolism and Energy Support patches. Huge Blowout Sale! The BariatricPal Store always has great deals on the bariatric Protein supplements, vitamins, and foods and Snacks that can help you lose weight and stay healthy. Just check out our Sale Page to see everything we have on sale. Get them before they are gone! Never Pay More Even if your favorite products are not on sale, you can be confident that you are getting the best prices on them. Just contact us to take advantage of our price match guarantee if you see the same items for less anywhere on the internet! We’ll match any price. Get the bariatric products you need at the best prices on the internet – but act fast! Our Blowout Sale items get snapped up, and the PatchMd vitamin patches are 25% off today only!

The code OFF25CMPMD is not working. I was excited about trying the patches. I just tested OFF25CMPMD and it's definitely working 100%. Please make sure there are no spaces before and after the coupon entered.

The weight loss surgery journey is long and hard. Sometimes, it can be hard to see the progress you are making, or you do not take the time to recognize and Celebrate your accomplishments. It is not just about bragging. It is actually helpful to check in with the good things. When you force yourself to identify something good that happened, you are making sure you see the progress you are making. Otherwise, the WLS can seem slow and you can get discouraged. It is also good not only to recognize the good things, but to share them so that others can remind you that you are doing great work! So…share your great recent moments here! Did you hit a weight loss milestone? Did you choose the stairs instead of the elevator? Did you go to McDonald’s and stick with a burger patty and side salad? Did you schedule your first surgeon consult? Post ‘em up!

How Did You Get Through the Pre-Op Diet? Getting weight loss surgery can be incredibly exciting. It may be something that you have been looking forward to for years, or it might be something that you just learned about recently but knew immediately that it was for you. Preparation such as choosing and meeting your surgeon, scheduling your surgery, cleaning out your kitchen, and restocking it with the Protein foods you’ll need after surgery can be fun. Reality can hit, though, when you start your pre-op diet. All of a sudden, you may be starving or craving the fatty or sugary foods that used to be part of your daily life. You may be missing out on good times with friends. You may be cranky and tired. On top of everything else, you may have a splitting headache from quitting caffeine! So…what is the solution? What are you doing if you are in the pre-op diet now? What are your strategies for getting through it if it is still ahead of you? If you have gone through WLS, how did you make the pre-op diet easier on yourself? Please share your advice for making this time easier!

Glad you figured that out. You're good!! ???????? We are rolling out a new responsive site in two to three weeks. Our app really needs updating and that's something we are currently working on. I'm going to send you a PM.

Hopefully, you did not do too badly this year. You may have focused more on the turkey and salad, and less on the dinner rolls and butter, mashed potatoes and gravy, and pecan pie than in previous years. We didn’t all get through Thanksgiving unscathed, though. With so much delicious food, each dish more tempting than the next, and no end in sight, it is hard to stay in control. There may have been a few too many helpings, or a serving or two of foods that are not on your WLS diet. But, the damage is done, and it is time to move on. How are you planning to do so? Share your strategies for getting back on track, from forgiving yourself to throwing away the leftovers to restocking your fridge with the lean Proteins and fresh vegetables that will fill you up and help you lose weight!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and you are enjoying a bit of time to relax with family, catch up with friends, do a little holiday shopping, or get your home back in order! Maybe you’re even taking some time to cook some healthy leftovers with skinless turkey, or plan a few healthy meals for the coming week. Thanksgiving has plenty of opportunities for WLS triumphs. If this is your first Thanksgiving after WLS or thinking about WLS, it may have been far different than in previous years as you thought more about what you ate and how much. Even if you are a few years out from WLS, you are probably still pretty conscious about your Thanksgiving meal – no more eating everything in sight or going for the leftovers almost as soon as the meal has ended! This year, what were some of your Thanksgiving triumphs? Were you able to pass up the candied sweet potatoes? Did you limit yourself to a smaller helping of stuffing? Did you make a healthy green bean casserole with egg whites? Did you send the leftover pie home with your guests so it would not be tempting you the next day? It’s good to celebrate your Thanksgiving triumphs. You deserve to feel proud of every good choice you made. It helps motivate you to keep up those good choices in the future. Plus, it gives you the chance to think about what you did right, and how proud that simple choice made you feel. So, share your Thanksgiving triumphs!

I like the Yunmai scale. It's available at https://store.bariatricpal.com/products/yunmai-wireless-bluetooth-smart-scale-body-fat-monitor .

I agree with you 100%!

style="margin:0;padding:0;background-color:#d8dde8;color:#5a5a5a;font:normal 13px helvetica, arial, sans-serif;position:relative;"> Hey BariatricPal Members! Happy Thanksgiving! It’s a favorite holiday for so many of us: friends and family, a well-deserved break after a busy autumn, and a delicious meal. If it’s the meal that worries you, you’re in luck because BariatricPal is here to support you! This is what you’ll find in this Thanksgiving newsletter. What BariatricPal Is Thankful for This Year Your Weight Loss Thanksgiving Keep Moving This Winter I hope you enjoy the newsletter, and find a few helpful tips for making this Thanksgiving a healthy one for yourself. I hope you have a lot to be thankful for, and BariatricPal is certainly thankful to have you as a member. Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal What BariatricPal Is Thankful for This Year Thanksgiving is all about gratitude, which is why it is one of BariatricPal’s favorite holidays. We have a lot to be thankful for! We’re Thankful for Our Members Thank you to all our members. You make our community possible. Our forums are continuing to grow, and we are able to help more and more people plan for and successfully get through their weight loss surgeries. Thank you very much for your membership, your support, and your participation on the boards. We’re Thankful for Our Opportunities to Fight Obesity We are so excited every time we see how much we can impact the weight loss surgery community. Along supporting WLS patients with our thriving communities, we have been able to reach out to healthcare providers and the industry to advocate for weight loss surgery patients. We are developing all kinds of partnerships with surgeons and other bariatric care providers to improve obesity care, and we have been active in national conferences and movements to promote weight loss surgery awareness, acceptance, and care. We’re Thankful for Our Store Talk about being able to support weight loss surgery patients! The BariatricPal Store takes a lot of the guesswork out of shopping for bariatric foods and Vitamins, and we are thankful for the opportunity to provide this service! From our opening last year, we have expanded dramatically. You can find all kinds of Protein meals, Snacks, and bars, protein shakes, soups, and Hot drinks for the liquid pre-op and post-op diets, and bariatric vitamins. If you’ve never come by before, use coupon code BPNewsletter10 to get a 10% discount off your first order. Your Weight Loss Thanksgiving There was a time in your life when Thanksgiving meant eating too much and paying the price as you slept it off on the couch, felt your stomach stretch painfully, and weighed yourself the next morning, knowing the damage you did was pretty bad. Not this year! If you are focused on getting healthy, losing weight, and hitting those WLS milestones, Thanksgiving dinner will take on a whole new meaning. It may be hard, but you can actually get in a hgh-protein meal with a reasonable number of calories – if you pay attention! Take the Good Thanksgiving dinner is not all bad! Take the main course, for example. Turkey is one of the leanest Proteins you can find, so help yourself to a single portion of skinless turkey. Check the table for anything else you can fit into your diet: you might find some undressed salad, plain roasted vegetables, or even fresh fruit. Skip or Swap the Bad There’s a lot of “bad” at this meal! Add together a mound of stuffing, a pile of mashed potatoes with gravy, dinner rolls with butter, some cranberry sauce, and a few helpings of corn or green bean casserole, and you are looking at well over 1,000 calories before thinking about dessert. Speaking of dessert, you’re looking at 400 or more calories per slice of pumpkin or pecan pie. No, thank you! Focus on your turkey and vegetables, and strike up some calorie-free conversation with your neighbor every time you are tempted to reach for a diet disaster. Swap as You Can You can get the flavors of Thanksgiving with a lot fewer calories just by making some swaps. Try pureed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes, roasted green Beans or green bean frittata with egg whites instead of green bean casserole, and cranberry sauce with low-calorie sweetener instead of sugar in your favorite recipe. Even dessert is possible if you plan it right. You can make sugar-free protein pumpkin pie with pumpkin puree, your choice of low-calorie sugar substitute, spices such as cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, cloves, and nutmeg to taste, egg whites, and Vanilla Protein powder. Don’t Get Caught off Guard It is not always Thanksgiving dinner itself that causes the damage. The worst damage comes from the post-dinner trips to the kitchen for another piece of pie, the raids of the fridge to make yourself smorgasbords of leftovers, and the possibility of letting Thanksgiving dinner turn into a four-day nonstop eating event from Thursday to Sunday. Keep your guard up and avoid these pitfalls. Try to give yourself a limit: after dinner on Thursday, your Thanksgiving is over. Distract yourself with Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping, Thanksgiving weekend football, making healthy leftover turkey recipes, plenty of walks outside, and, well, anything else you can think of to stay away from the unhealthy leftovers. Keep Moving This Winter Exercising can be more difficult in the winter because of cold, wet, or snowy conditions. Still, you can do it! When you keep up a regular exercise routine, you are more likely to stay motivated to stay on your WLS diet, and you will lose weight faster. Here are a few options for getting in your safe and comfortable winter workouts. Hibernate in the Gym The gym can be the best place for many of us to work out. It has all the equipment you need and it removes the distractions of home so you can focus on your workout. To save time, you can take a shower at the gym on the way to work or on your lunch hour. Beginners might want to start on a recumbent bike or on the treadmill. When you want to branch out a little, here are some possibilities. Try a little circuit training by using the free weights and weight machines. You will build strength and prevent boredom. Take some group exercise classes from aerobics to strength training to yoga to pilates. You can always scale back the intensity to stay safe at your level of fitness. Pay for a session or a series of sessions with a personal trainer, if you can afford it. You can learn new exercises and get in some of the best workouts of your life. Stay Safe Outside Staying outside for your activity all winter long is an option, even if you live in the Midwest, Northeast, or somewhere else with a serious winter. You can get some fresh air and clear your head, and your lungs will not freeze, contrary to popular belief! Just take a few steps to stay safe. Layer up. You will warm up, so start with plenty of layers and peel them off as needed to stay comfortable. Go against the wind first, so that you are going with the wind when you are approaching home near the end of your workout and you are more tired. Know signs of hypothermia and frostbite, and go indoors immediately if you start to have them. Stay inside if conditions are dangerous, such as if roads are icy or snowfall is heavy. Cozy Up Right at Home You can always get in a workout inside if weather is bad or if you just prefer to stay home. Use your workout as a chance to listen to some favorite songs or watch a TV show you’ve been putting off. You can walk on a treadmill or pedal on a stationary bike, and jump off to lift some dumbbells during commercial breaks. Have a wonderful and relaxing long weekend with your loved ones, and give a little thought to your weight and health when you can. The forums are always ready to provide a little support and motivation, so stop by whenever you’re running low! Happy Thanksgiving! · Unsubscribe from all BariatricPal E-Mail.

Stress can be disastrous in so many ways! It can keep you from concentrating, make you irritable, and keep you from sleeping well as you worry all night. The effects of stress can go far beyond mental and emotional effects, too. Stress can become a physical problem, and that can get in the way of weight loss. Stress can make you hungrier. It can lead to poor judgement or stronger cravings, so you It can make you upset, and you might eat away those feelings. Thanksgiving is supposed to be a holiday for giving thanks and for appreciating your loved ones, but all too often it becomes a stressful occasion. Just a few of the possible sources of stress on Thanksgiving are: Having too much cooking and cleaning to do. Handling family members who are less than supportive about your weight loss surgery. Worrying about each food choice and your ability to resist the foods you know you should not eat. Playing family politics as different sides of the family require different commitments on the same day. Do you find yourself stressed out before and on Thanksgiving? How do you handle it? Have you found some healthy ways? For example, you could start the day with a brisk walk by yourself to clear your head, you could write down the foods you plan to eat so decisions are easier at meal-time, or you could practice your responses to the questions and maybe criticism you are sure you will receive. Share your low-stress strategies for Thanksgiving – we can all use the help!

Do you like LOVE BariatricPal.com? Do you love the discussion forums, weight loss surgery information, mobile apps, surgeon directory, articles, and more – that you get entirely for free? Please support us by telling others about us! We've created a page that'll assist our members in spreading our love and support for Weight Loss Surgery. You'll have the ability to download and distribute BariatricPal fliers, follow us on our social media pages, email WLS friends and add a BariatricPal badge to your site or blog. Thank you in advance for sharing our message!

Common wisdom says to choose a surgeon you love, no matter how many you have to meet before you make your decision. You want one who makes you feel comfortable, who has a track record of good results with few complications, and who promises to support you as you need it after surgery. But reality often overrules the ideal recommendations, and not everyone has the chance to interview an unlimited number of surgeons before settling on one. You may not have the time, or your health insurance coverage may be good only for a select few doctors. So, if you already got WLS or you have already chosen a surgeon, how many consults or meetings did you have before you settled on a surgeon? What led you to pass over your first or first few potential surgeons? Do you (or did you) have any qualms or doubts about the surgeon you chose, and how did you settle your fears?

We have tons of recipes here.

These items can only be changed from the desktop site. We are releasing an upgraded site in a few weeks that will allow our members to do almost everything via our mobile site.

Pretty please use the REPORT function to let us know about spam posts. We normally block them as soon as they're reported! Good idea on disabling newbies from adding links. We will implement that.

**** happens! Al Roker went commando at the White House after having Gastric Bypass surgery.

I wasn't aware that there was a need but I did come across a few topics that broached the subject: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/378723-bowel-incontinence/?view=findpost&p=4280691&hl=%2Bdiapers http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/373600-today-i-hate-being-a-woman/?view=findpost&p=4262521&hl=%2Bdiapers http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/378234-5-weeks-post-op-food-not-sitting-right/#entry4278145

American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery estimation of bariatric surgery procedures in 2015 and surgeon workforce in the United States The ASMBS Bariatric Numbers task force is reporting the 2015 estimation of the number of bariatric surgery procedures in the United States. This is a yearly report numbers estimation, and the task force followed the same methodology as in previous years [1]. A comprehensive review of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) database was performed, which included 100% of the primary and revisional bariatric cases performed within accredited metabolic and bariatric surgery centers. It was noted that during the 2015 calendar year, 89 new centers submitted data in comparison to 2014, and these centers submitted data on 8110 cases. These new accredited centers led the estimation of the number of cases performed in inpatient nonaccredited facilities to drop to more than half of what was estimated in 2014. Bariatric Outcomes Longitudinal Database (BOLD) and other data- bases were reviewed as well. To capture outpatient procedures performed at centers that do not submit data to MBSAQIP or BOLD, device maker companies were surveyed to obtain the total number of gastric bands and intragastric balloons sold per year; however, an estimation was made to deduct devices purchased but not used. Large outpatient centers performing stapling procedures, mainly laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomies, also were surveyed. The 2015 numbers listed in Table 1 show stability in the total number of bariatric procedures compared with 2014. The sleeve gastrectomy continues to be the most common procedure. Continuing the same trends as previous years, the gastric bypass decreased slightly, and the gastric band continued to decrease significantly. Numbers of revisions now are close to 1 out of 7 cases performed, predominantly gastric band conversions to stapling procedures. According to the 2015 projections from the U.S. Census [2] the total population of the United States was 321,418,820, of whom 247,773,209 were adults aged 18 years or older. Using the obesity prevalence data (body mass index Z40; 6.4% of adults) [3] 15,857,485 estimated individuals qualified for bariatric surgery. Thus, the rate of bariatric surgery in the qualified population based solely on body mass index criteria in 2015 is estimated at 1.24%. When analyzing only the numbers of primary procedures compared with the number of “eligible” candidates, the penetration rate of surgery in the candidate population in 2011 was .976% and increased to 1.068% in 2015. Over the 5-year period between 2011 and 2015, these data suggest that the penetration rate of surgery in the “eligible” population increased by an annual average of only 1.9% (number of primary procedures per eligible candidate). Regarding the bariatric surgeon workforce in the United States, it is difficult to estimate the number of surgeons performing bariatric procedures. The following calculations assume that practicing bariatric surgeons in the United States are active surgeon members of ASMBS. This assumption likely underestimates the number practicing by an unknown number. However, other available estimates of the number of practicing bariatric surgeons provide lower numbers. For example, the American College of Surgeons’ directory includes 1271 surgeons who self-identify as performing bariatric procedures [4]. A search of the MBSAQIP directory identified 1300 surgeons who perform bariatric procedures [5]. If these lower numbers are more accurate, then the following calculations would require proportionate adjustments downward. ASMBS has 1810 active surgeon members. Regarding gender of active members, 1643 are male and 167 (9%) are female. Similar to statistics regarding the dramatic growth in numbers of female surgery residents in the United States [6], female active members comprise 20% of the member- ship between age 30 and 39, but only 4% of the member- ship age 50 years and older. ASMBS reports 54 surgeons currently comprise the candidate group for membership, although in recent years this number is more typically 75 surgeon candidate members per year. This number of annual membership candidates would expand the active membership by 4.1% per year. This corresponds closely to the number of fellowship training positions offered each year by the Fellowship Council in the United States [7]. Currently in the United States 61 postgraduate fellow- ships provide training in bariatric surgery for up to 77 trainees on an annual basis. Of these 61 programs, 29 are classified as bariatric fellowships, 31 as minimally invasive surgery/bariatric fellowships, and 1 program is categorized as minimally invasive surgery/bariatric/flexible endoscopy. The bariatric surgeon workforce is also influenced by the number of retiring surgeons. Williams and Ellison studied the general surgeon workforce in 2008 [8]. They suggested that the typical surgeon practices for 30 years, and therefore it is reasonable to estimate that 1/30th or 3.4% of surgeons retire each year. An annual retirement rate of 3.4% would translate into 62 ASMBS active surgeon members retiring each year. Another method to estimate the number of retiring surgeons is to examine the age distribution of current ASMBS members. Thirty active members (1.7%) are over the age of 70 years and could be considered imminent candidates for retirement, while 142 active members (9.4%) are over the age of 60 years and may retire in the next few years. Assuming ASMBS members age 60 and older will retire at an equal rate each year over the coming 5-year period would suggest that 34 surgeons will retire annually over the next 5 years. Thus, using these 2 approaches to estimate the number of active bariatric surgeons retiring each year, one would estimate that between 34 and 62 bariatric surgeons will retire each year. Conclusions There has been a 24% increase in the absolute number of procedures performed annually in the United States since 2011. However, surgery is chosen/achieved as a treatment option by only 1% of candidates as defined by the estimated number of patients with class III obesity. The penetration rate of surgery in patients with class III obesity is estimated to have grown by only 9.4% over 5 years for an annual growth rate of 1.9%. Thus the increased number of procedures may simply result from the ongoing growth in the U.S. population. The bariatric surgeon workforce is difficult to estimate, but there appears to be similar small growth in the number of bariatric surgeons based on ASMBS membership data and assumptions regarding surgeons retiring from practice. The active surgeon membership of ASMBS appears to be increasing by between 13 and 41 surgeons each year, or .7% to 2.3% per year. This growth in surgeon workforce appears reasonable given the growth noted in absolute procedure numbers. Bariatric surgery, as the only successful long-term treatment for obesity, continues to be under- utilized in treating the obesity epidemic in the United States. References [1] Ponce J, Nguyen NT, Hutter M, Sudan R, Morton JM. American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery estimation of bariatric surgery procedures in the United States, 2011-2014. Surg Obes Relat Dis 2015;11(6):1199–200. [2] United States Census Bureau. American FactFinder website. Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015 [cited 2016 Aug 15]. Available from: http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservi ces/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=PEP_2015_PEPANNRES&src=pt. [3] Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Fryar CD, Flegal KM. Prevalence of obesity among adults and youth: United States, 2011-2014. NCHS Data Brief 2015;(219):1–8. [4] American College of Surgeons website. Searching for surgeons [cited 2016 Aug 15]. Available from: https://www.facs.org/search/find-a-surgeon. [5] American College of Surgeons website. Metabolic and bariatric surgery accreditation and quality improvement program [cited 2016 Feb 15]. Available from: https://www.facs.org/quality-programs/mbsaqip. [6] Association of Women Surgeons website. Why AWS is important [cited 2016 Feb 15]. Available from: https://www.womensurgeons.org/ about-us/why-aws-is-important/. [7] The Fellowship Council website. Directory of fellowships [cited 2016 Feb 15]. Available from: https://fellowshipcouncil.org/directory- of-fellowships. [8] Williams TE Jr, Ellison EC. Population analysis predicts a future critical shortage of general surgeons. Surgery 2008;144(4): 548–554; discussion 554–6.

We're excited to announce that Enlightened Roasted Broad Bean Snacks have arrived at the BariatricPal Store! ENLIGHTENED Roasted Broad Bean Snacks are enjoyed around the world for their delicious flavor and satisfying crunch, broad Beans are a nutrition powerhouse packed with Protein and Fiber. ENLIGHTENED Roasted Broad Bean Crisps are lightly roasted in sunflower oil, sprinkled with sea salt, and seasoned to perfection. 100 Calories 7G of Protein 1G of Sugar High Fiber Low Fat Gluten Free Certified Vegan Kosher Finally, a snack that is delicious and is all-natural. Enlightened: the good-for-you crisp is a snack made from broad (fava) beans and is packed with great nutrition, including protein and fiber. Each flavor of this yummy snack is perfectly seasoned to provide incredible flavor to match the satisfying crunch. Broad (fava) beans are a secret in healthy snacking around the world; Enlightened snacks are lightly roasted in sunflower oil, sprinkled with sea salt and perfectly seasoned. Enlightened snacks have only 100 calories per 1 ounce serving and are low in fat, but still provide delicious flavor. So if you’re looking for a healthy alternative to salty and oily snacks—then enlightened crisps are the snack for you. Plus, Enlightened healthy broad bean snacks are gluten free, certified vegan, and contain no soy. You don’t have to compromise on great taste with Enlightened healthy snacks; each enlightened crisps snack has flavor that pops! Enlightened crisps have 7 grams protein per serving, contain little or no sugar, and come in 5 delicious and snackable flavors. WHAT ARE Broad Beans? The best-kept secret in healthy snacking! Enjoyed around the world for their delicious flavor and satisfying crunch, broad beans are a nutrition powerhouse packed with protein and fiber. ENLIGHTENED CRISPS are lightly roasted in sunflower oil, sprinkled with sea salt, and seasoned to perfection. So go ahead... spill the beans.