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Tampa, FL – The Walk on the Capitol is proud to announce Caitlin Van Zandt, star of Guiding Light and The Sopranos, as special guest speaker for our National obesity awareness event in Washington, DC. The Walk from Obesity – Walk on the Capitol is a history-making awareness event that will gather thousands of individuals impacted by obesity to bring National attention to the obesity epidemic and the need for expanded efforts in prevention and treatment. Having struggled with obesity all her life, Ms. Van Zandt encompasses a true understanding of the many facets of obesity, such as health concerns, self-body image and much more. “I decided to make a big change, because, I wanted to avoid potential health problems that could arise from this condition. My goal is to become healthy and happy. By participating in this event, I want to help others understand the physical and emotional impact of this disease and to give people hope that their lives do not need to be compromised by obesity,” said Ms. Van Zandt. “We are truly excited to have Ms. Van Zandt host the Walk on the Capitol. She has expressed deep passion in advocating for those affected by obesity. It is our goal on June 17 to unite and stand, and send a strong and powerful message to our government regarding the importance of addressing the obesity epidemic,” said Joseph Nadglowski, Jr., OAC President and CEO and ASMBS Foundation Executive Director. The Walk on the Capitol will take place on the National Mall in Washington, DC, at 6:30 pm. The event is FREE and open to the public. Every individual impacted by obesity, along with family, friends and healthcare professionals, are encouraged and invited to attend. For more information on the Walk on the Capitol, please visit www.walkonthecapitol.com. Obesity is a serious health epidemic that targets one in three Americans. It is estimated that more than 93 million Americans are obese, with that number predicted to climb to 120 million in the next five years. In order to address this epidemic, the Walk on the Capitol aims to recognize and promote increasing prevention efforts and improving access to safe and effective treatment options. The Walk on the Capitol is a National awareness event designed to draw attention to the need for expanded efforts in both prevention and treatment. The Walk is hosted by the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) and ASMBS Foundation and supported by various partnering non profit organizations. For more information on the hosts and the partnering organizations, please visit www.walkonthecapitol.com. # # #

The Walk from Obesity is excited to debut the official Walk from Obesity Cookbook. The purpose of this cookbook is to provide readers with healthy delectable recipes that will provide their palate with a flavorful sense of exquisite taste and nutrition. The cookbook features exquisite recipes, such as the following: Surf and Turf Ginger Kabobs Teriyaki chicken Strips Poblano Scallops pineapple Caribbean Chicken and many more. This cookbook is one of the only cookbooks available that features the nutrition facts for each recipe so you can easily manage serving size, caloric intake and much more. Click here for information on ordering the Walk from Obesity Cookbook.

The OAC is excited to offer “Working with Your Insurance Provider: A Guide to Seeking Weight-Loss Surgery.” This guide is designed to provide individuals with the knowledge needed to successfully work with their insurance provider and become an advocate for change. It offers readers information discussing the effects of obesity and morbid obesity, tips for working with your insurance provider, detailed information concerning the treatment options available for morbid obesity and much more. This is an excellent tool for people who are morbidly obese and seeking weight-loss surgery. People rely on their insurance provider to assist them in the process of seeking access to safe and effective medical treatment. Many times this process can be difficult when working with insurance providers. In addition, the process can often seem complicated, and physically and emotionally draining. To view this guide, please click here OAC * Obesity Action Coalition - “Working with Your Insurance Provider: A Guide to Seeking Weight-Loss Surgery”.

Dining Out: Meeting the Challenge Pre and Post-Operatively By Staci Stone, RD, CDN These days, dining out has become the norm rather than the exception. Gone are the days when dining out was a unique event saved for special occasions with the entire family present. With our hectic lifestyle and busy schedules, dining out is sometimes a necessity, and for many it may mean eating out several times per week and for more than one meal in a day. In addition, having an abundance of eateries available, ranging from Breakfast carts to fast food chains to high end restaurants, may make even the most health conscious person feel overwhelmed. Usually, when we eat out we are consuming a lot of extra calories, mainly from fats and large portions, not to mention the extra sodium. While not always easy, it is possible to stay on track with a healthy eating plan while still enjoying the pleasures of dining out. To view the rest of this article, please click here OAC * Obesity Action Coalition - Dining Out: Meeting the Challenge Pre and Post Operatively.

Exercise - A Healthy Habit By Arrin Fleck, BS, NSCA-CPT Exercise is an important habit to develop. It is essential to weight-loss and optimal health. Exercise is one of the most important keys to one’s success as a weight manager. Developing exercise as a part of your lifestyle is a process involving several things. First, you need to make a decision to incorporate exercise into your life. Second, determine your motivation. Make it powerful. Once you have decided why you want to exercise and make a commitment, then you can set a goal and make a plan. To view the rest of this article, please click here OAC * Obesity Action Coalition - Exercise - A Healthy Habit.

Pregnancy after Weight-Loss Surgery By John G. Kral, MD, PhD, FACS According to some U.S. statistics 40-50 percent of pregnancies are unplanned, so it is difficult to warn obese young women to delay pregnancy until after weight-loss. Taking into consideration that obesity causes earlier menarche and is more common among the poor and uneducated, and among African American and Hispanic women, it is obvious that huge educational, cultural and societal resources are required to limit the growing obesity epidemic. Womens’ health education in schools and homes should emphasize the importance of planning pregnancies and should encourage medical consultation while planning a pregnancy. This is especially important in the obese. To view the rest of this article, please click here OAC * Obesity Action Coalition - Pregnancy after Weight-Loss Surgery.

Infertility and Obesity By Karen Sparks, MBE, Julie Janeway, BBA, MSA, JD, ABD/PhD and Steven R. Hendrick, MD, FACS Infertilityis a medical condition characterized by a diminished or absent ability to produce offspring. It does not imply (either in the male or the female) the existence of as serious or irreversible a condition as sterility. Although infertility is a common condition, it is often hard to pin down its source. Men and women may each have risk factors that can contribute to infertility, and those risk factors can be genetic, environmental or related to lifestyle. One of the most common and well documented risk factors for infertility in both men and women is obesity. To view the rest of this article, please click here OAC * Obesity Action Coalition - Infertility and Obesity.

Baby Steps - Emotional Adjustments after Weight-Loss Surgery By Lynne Routsong-Wiechers, MSW, LISW These are the thoughts that race through an obese person’s mind daily. Obesity is something that you go to sleep and wake up with. You can’t get away from it. It becomes your identity. There is so much shame and guilt that is associated with being overweight. Having weight-loss surgery causes a ripple effect and many other areas of your life will change. A person will often experience changes in their emotional state; for example, depression may often times go away. Patients also could experience less physical pain and obstacles. Some changes that could occur include: Career Relationships Marriage Friendships Spirituality To view the rest of this article, please visit OAC * Obesity Action Coalition.

The Post-Surgery Diet for Bariatric Patients: What to Expect By Denise Addorisio, RD, CDN Have you decided to have bariatric surgery, or are you already post-op and on your way to losing weight? That’s great, but first you need to understand the basic principles of the post-op diet so you can properly use the tool the surgeon has created for you to lose weight, while meeting your nutritional needs. To view the rest of this article, please click here The Post-surgery Diet for Bariatric Patients: What to Expect

Preparing for Lap Band ® Surgery: Nutritional Information to Know By Felicia Cordier, RD, LD Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding, a restrictive surgical procedure using the Lap-Band ®, is gaining popularity and acceptance in the United States healthcare industry as a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of obesity. 1 With this acceptance comes a multitude of considerations. These include dietary, behavioral and lifestyle modifications that patients must be willing to adopt for life to promote successful, long term weight-loss and improved nutritional status, health and well being. To view the rest of this article, please visit OAC News - Preparing for Lap Band Surgery: Nutritional Information to Know.

Treating Weight Regain after Weight-Loss Surgery By Lloyd Stegemann, MD One of the greatest fears of patients seeking weight-loss surgery is the fear of weight regain. This is understandable considering that virtually every patient that has undergone weight-loss surgery has at some point been a “Yo-Yo Dieter” during their weight-loss journey. It is not uncommon for a surgical candidate to relate stories of losing 10 pounds, 20 pounds, sometimes even 50-100 pounds with dieting attempts, only to see it return over time. The good news is that with weight-loss surgery, the weight-loss seen post-operatively can maintain throughout a long period of time. However, it is important that patients keep in mind that obesity is a chronic disease that is not cured by surgery. Surgery provides a powerful tool for significant weight-loss, but without proper care “the tool” can lose its effectiveness, leading to weight regain. To view the rest of this article, please visit OAC * Obesity Action Coalition - Treating Weight Regain after Weight-Loss Surgery.