With more than 30 percent of Americans now officially obese, two new studies indicate that gastric bypass surgery not only helps patients live longer but it also dramatically lowers the rate of diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. But, who is going to pay for it?

Can unintentional weight loss predict Alzheimer’s disease? New research says yes but only in one gender…which one?

And parents, heads up! Does your child suffer from high blood pressure? The problem appears to be much worse than we ever thought.

Dr. Cooper answers listeners' calls.

 

Program Reference Notes:

Kids' High Blood Pressure Goes Untreated http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/K/KIDS_BLOOD_PRESSURE?SITE=DCUSN&SECTION=TOP_STORIES&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Gastric bypass cuts obesity death rate: studies

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN2244961220070822

Childhood Obesity What It Means for Physicians

http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/298/8/920

Obesity and Risk for Chronic Renal Failurehttp://jasn.asnjournals.org/cgi/content/full/17/6/1695?ck=nck

Weight loss may foreshadow Alzheimer's in womenhttp://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN1719570020070820