Weight Loss Glossary

[cmcgilvrey]

Stomach:
The place where food goes after leaving the esophagus. It begins the process of digestion by softening proteins and breaking down food molecules with hydrochloric acid and pepsin. It usually holds from 4-6 cups of food but can be distended to hold 8-12 cups in a chronic overeater. There is some evidence that the size of the stomach somewhat dictates the hunger level of the person. People with larter stomachs create more hunger hormones than people with smaller stomachs.

[Anonymous Bot]

[cmcgilvrey]

Stomach Pouch:
After resecting the stomach it is the small remaining receptable where food goes from the esophagus. Usually holds 3 to 9 ounces of food.

[cmcgilvrey]

Subcutaneous:
Just under the skin, as in subcutaneous fat.

[cmcgilvrey]

Sugar Substitutes:
Saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame, and sucralose are the major sugar substitutes in the U.S. They have a sweet flavor but no calories.

[cmcgilvrey]

Super-Absorber:
Having a combination of genes that makes it likely the body will hold onto fat stores. Such a person will experience renegade weight gain at several times in their life. It is difficult to lose weight as a super-absorber.

[cmcgilvrey]

Super-Morbidly Obese:
Two-hundred or more pounds overweight and having a BMI of 50 or more. A BMI of 50 would mean that approximately 50% of the body mass is fat tissue.

[cmcgilvrey]

Thermogenic:
Any food, drug or activity that boosts metabolism. With thermogenic substances there is an increase in perspiration, blood flow, heart rate and movement of food through the digestive system.

[cmcgilvrey]

Titration:
Increasing the dose of a medication over time.

[cmcgilvrey]

Thyrotoxicosis:
An excessive amount of thryoid hormone circulating in the blood because of an overactive thryoid or inflammation of the thyroid gland. Symptoms include increased heart rate, irregular heartbeat, weight loss, depression and fuzzy thinking.

[cmcgilvrey]

Vertical Banded Gastroplasty:
Creating of a small stomach receptable within the larger stomach. A line of staples is placed vertically along the stomach wall and a band restricting the volume of food leaving the small stomach is placed at the bottom. This allows the contents of the smaller stomach to drain slowly into the remaining stomach.

[cmcgilvrey]

Weight Loss Surgery:
Surgery to control weight either with restrictive changes in the configuration of the stomach or malabsorption techniques by modifying the intestinal tract.

[cmcgilvrey]

Yo-Yo Dieting:
Losing and regaining weigh multiple times usually resulting in higher and higher ending weights.

[jordan3]

A group of symptoms that occur when a person has a high sugar load following gastric bypass. These sugars are usually absorbed in the duodenum which is now bypassed. The sugars enter the jejunum or the ileum that are not used to absorbing simple sugars. When the body senses the sugar level rising, it dumps insulin to handle the load. This dramatically lowers available blood sugar.