The Skinny on the Fattest States Written by web_developers on October 10, 2014. Posted in Bariatric Surgery. No Comments on The Skinny on the Fattest States The United States has become the land of fatties. That is no secret. We live in excess and the majority live sedentary existence. The only exercise we get is walking from the parking lot into work, to the bathroom and an occasional trip to the office vending machine for sugary snacks and soft drinks. According to an annual report from the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation and Trust for America’s Health, obesity is becoming an epidemic in the last 30-plus years. In 1980 no state had an adult obesity rate more than 15 percent. In its most recent study, the RWJF revealed every state has more than 20 percent of its population over weight. Colorado is the big winner with a 21.3 percent obesity rate, the lowest in the country. The heaviest state, according to the report, was a tie between Mississippi and West Virginia at 35.1 percent. Rounding out the top five fattest states were: Arkansas (34.6 percent), Tennessee (33.7 percent) and Kentucky (33.2 percent). “If we don’t reverse these trends, the nation will stay on course toward disastrous health and cost outcomes,” says Ginny Ehrlich, director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s childhood obesity team. The average American is 24 pounds heavier that his or her counterpart a half century ago. Non-obese adults are becoming the minority in America, and childhood obesity has more than tripled in the last 30 years. Obese children are becoming obese adults. While diet and exercise may work for some, others struggle with morbid obesity and need the assistance of your bariatric practice to live longer, more fulfilling lives. At MDnetSolutions we can help by marketing your practice with our digital marketing tools, create attention-grabbing website designs and create optimal patient care experience for every part of the treatment process. America is killing itself, and your practice has the ability to save lives. Let us team together to save America by transforming the patient care continuum. MDnet has the Solutions that work for the better of your patients and help your practice run more smoothly and efficiently. Our 24/7, boutique, bariatric call center lets your patients stay in contact with you around the clock. Our friendly call center staff takes special care of your patients and can handle patient intake, online seminar registration, consultations and appointments just to name a few. We take care of the administrative work, while you have more time for the care and well-being of your bariatric patients. Let us go to work for you today. Visit www.MDnetSolutions.com or call 888-986-3638 to schedule a demo. If you are planning to attend Obesity Week, produced by The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and The Obesity Society, on Nov. 2-7 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, stop by our booth, #614 and learn more about us. Are you one of those healthcare professionals, who according to the study, is obese? Nearly 35 percent of all healthcare professionals are obese. Only protective services workers – law enforcement, security guards—and people in political office have higher obesity rates. Besides gaining solutions to your practice’s problems, you may also come away with a cool gift guaranteed to get you back on the road to improved personal health. Check us out for further details and together let’s transform the healthcare landscape one patient at a time.
New York soda ban hopes to help fight obesity Written by web_developers on September 14, 2012. Posted in Bariatric Surgery. No Comments on New York soda ban hopes to help fight obesity This week, New York set the bar a little higher for government stepping in to fight obesity. On Thursday, the New York City Health Department became the first local government force to step forward and ban the sale of sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces by movie theaters, food vendors, and sports arenas. To put that into perspective, the human stomach can comfortable hold about 30 ounces of fluid at full capacity. In 2011, Starbucks announced a new cup size just a bit larger than the size of the human stomach. The “trenta” cup holds 31 ounces. The 7-11 Big Gulp is 44 fluid ounces – nearly 46% larger than the human stomach. Although soda companies are upset and seeking action, the people of New York have expressed varying opinions about the mandate. And many have used social media to speak out. “This is crap. Laws are for the protection of the people. Me drinking a 44 ounce Coke isn’t hurting anyone but my own fat self,” expressed one Facebook user. Another said “I’m all for it….sick of paying high insurance premiums; lack of healthy living education and ignorant people/parents who don’t teach their kids about healthy eating/exercise habits.” Another Facebook user, who was recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, wasn’t sure how to feel, “I’m torn with this issue. Back in January I made a decision to completely cut any drink but water out of my life. At first I thought it was going to be impossible since I drank at least 4 cans of Coke every day and used to chug Minute Maid OJ like it was my job. When I was diagnosed I had an A1C level of 11.1 and an average sugar test would be over 300!!! Both of those numbers are incredibly bad. My cholesterol levels and blood pressure were both great but I had to make a change to fix the other problems. After a personal “ban” I imposed on myself I managed to bring my A1C down to a 6.1! My average sugar test results are between 75 and 120. These levels have brought me down to a normal level for a man my age. This only from cutting soda and other sugary drinks out of my life! Diet soda isn’t good for you either and I hate the taste of most things diet or lite but I do love ice water so it wasn’t terribly difficult change to make.” That user brings up a great point about how sugary drinks can affect a person’s life. America is by far the largest country on the planet, and there is no end in sight to the obesity epidemic. According to the CDC, 30% of American adults are now obese. Bariatric surgeons are also helping fight America’s obesity epidemic. MDnetSolutions helps bariatric practices get off the ground with bariatric call center support, marketing services, lead tracking, website design, and practice consulting. If you’re interesting in learning how MDnetSolutions can help your bariatric practice, call us at 1-888-986-3638.
CDC releases new map of obesity in the U.S. Written by web_developers on August 16, 2012. Posted in Bariatric Surgery. No Comments on CDC releases new map of obesity in the U.S. The Center for Disease Control has released the results of a 2011 obesity survey and an updated map of obesity in America by state. The newly released obesity map shows a wide range of the prevalence of obesity across America. Colorado was the state least affected by obesity with 20.7% of its residents considered obese; Mississippi was the most with 34.9%. At least 39 states had a prevalence of 25% of obesity affecting its residents, with 12 of those states having 30% or more. By region, the South was affected the most by obesity, followed by the Midwest, the Northeast, and the West being least affected. Also to be noted is that no state had less than a 20% obesity rate. The statistics reflect a telephone survey conducted by the CDC as a part of its Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Though, the CDC was quick to point out that the statistics found from the 2011 survey could not be compared to years past due to a change in the way they collected the data. Alhough we can’t draw conclusions from last year, it’s plain to see that obesity is a growing epidemic, and high-priority public health issue. MDnetSolutions supports the efforts of bariatric surgeons across the U.S. in fighting this disease. We offer various business solutions, including a stateside medical call center, patient outreach, patient information management, lead tracking, and practice marketing services. To learn more about how our services can help our bariatric practice, call us at 888-986-3638 or email [email protected].
How the USA would win the Obesity Olympics Written by web_developers on August 1, 2012. Posted in Bariatric Surgery. No Comments on How the USA would win the Obesity Olympics If there ever was an Obesity Olympics, the USA would most certainly win the gold medal. But not in a good way. It wouldn’t be the same gold medal claimed by superstars like swimmer Michael Phelps, sharpshooter Kim Rhode, or gymnast Jordyn Wieber. The USA would win the gold medal for being the most obese country in the world. Mexico would claim the silver medal, and the UK would get bronze. An artistic chart published by Wellington Grey shows the rate of obesity per country of residents older than 15. And the results aren’t encouraging. The chart reports that 31% of Americans older than 15 are considered obese, or possess a BMI of 30 or higher. Twenty-four percent of Mexico’s population over 15 is considered obese, as is 23% of the UK’s. Inversely, the countries with the best obesity rates, Korea, Japan, and Norway of 3%, 3%, and 8% respectively fall toward the end of the pack, and are considered the healthiest of the group. Obesity rates in America have been the highest in the world for quite some time now. Between the mid 1980s and today, obesity, quadrupled among adult Americans, going from affecting 1 in 200 Americans, to 1 in 50. Trends in children and teens aren’t too far behind. Obesity surgeons and weight loss surgery centers are saving lives and helping fight the obesity epidemic as we speak. MDnetSolutions specializes in marketing and call center services for bariatric practices. To learn how MDnetSolutions can help you manage your bariatric practice, call 888-986-3638 today. We’re interested in your thoughts on the chart. Do you see any countries that surprise you?
Choosing a company to help grow your bariatric practice Written by web_developers on July 26, 2012. Posted in Bariatric Surgery. No Comments on Choosing a company to help grow your bariatric practice By combining our bariatric-savvy team, tools, and online marketing services, we help you increase your reach and improve patient relationships, all the while practicing proper compliance and saving you time. Information Tracking Rely on us for patient acquisition and conversion. Our proprietary LeadTracker® software helps you manage new patients from initial contact to patient intake, and beyond. Using LeadTracker®, bariatric practices from all over our country have experienced up to a 30% increases in leads, seminar attendance, consultations, and conversions. Website Design We recognize that a practice’s website is a crucial medium to help build trust and exposure. Our custom websites allow for a seamless patient intake process. By integrating patient-friendly forms, insurance verification, and tracking, bariatric practices get the hard work out of the way before the seminar even starts. Our experienced web designers craft clean, brand-rich designs that guide patients easily through practices’ websites and deliver information painlessly. Web Visibility Today, bariatric patients are flocking to the web to research bariatric programs. With our time-tested search engine optimization and social media strategies, we foster your online presence and help your practice gain traction for relevant, local keywords that will drive qualified traffic to your website. Patient Outreach and Follow-up Our online seminars allow patients to experience a convenient, yet effective, start to your bariatric program. Online seminars help lower your costs and create time for your staff to focus on building patient relationships. Our U.S.-based call center handles all of your phone intake, initial education, initial insurance verification, follow-ups, and reminders with rapid response times. You’ve got questions, and we’ve got the answers. Contact us to learn more about growing your practice. Visit MDnetSolutions.com or call 1-888-986-3638.