Select
from the letters below to find a word for which you would like to know
the terminology, or browse through the entire list.
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| Abdominal
Fat |
Fat
(adipose tissue) that is centrally distributed between the thorax and pelvis
and that induces greater health risk. |
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| Absorption |
Process by which
digested food is absorbed by the lower part of the small intestine into
the blood stream. |
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| Adipose |
Fatty, pertaining
to fat. |
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| Aerobic Exercise |
A type of physical
activity that includes walking, jogging, running, and dancing. Aerobic
training improves the efficiency of the aerobic energy producing systems
that can improve cardiorespiratory endurance. |
| Anastomosis |
Surgical connection
between two structures. |
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| Bariatric |
Pertaining to
weight or weight reduction |
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| Behavior Therapy |
Behavior Therapy
constitutes those strategies, based on learning principles such as reinforcement,
that provide tools for overcoming barriers to compliance with dietary therapy
and/or increased physical activity. |
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| Bezoar |
Obstructing mass
made up of high fiber food materials, hair, etc. |
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| Biliopancreatic
Diversion |
A surgical procedure
for weight loss that combines a modest amount of gastric restriction with
intestinal malabsorption. |
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| Blue Cross |
Insurance carrier
(Usually a benefit of small and large groups- individual policies must
be carefully reviewed) |
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| Body Mass
Index (BMI) |
Body weight in
kilograms divided by the height in meters squared used as a practical marker
to assess obesity. An indicator of optimal weight for health and
different from lean mass or percent body fat calculations because it only
considers height and weight. |
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| Body Composition |
The ratio of
lean body mass (structural and functional elements in cells, body water,
muscle, bone, heart, liver, kidneys, etc.) to body fat (essential and storage)
mass. Essential fat is necessary for normal physiological functioning.
Storage fat constitutes the body's fat reserves, the part that people try
to lose. |
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| Candidate
for Surgery |
Well motivated
patient, 75 pounds or more excess weight; BMI of or over 40- BMI 35 to
40 with severe co-morbid conditions. |
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| Carbohydrates |
A nutrient that
supplies 4 calories/gram. They may be simple or complex. Simple
carbohydrates are called sugars, and complex carbohydrates are called starch
and fiber (cellulose). |
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| Cardiovascular
Disease (CVD) |
Any abnormal
condition characterized by dysfunction of the heart and blood vessels.
CVD includes atherosclerosis (especially coronary heart disease which can
lead to heart attacks), cerebrovascular disease (e.g., stroke), and hypertension
(high blood pressure). |
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| Central Fat
Distribution |
The waist circumference
is an index of body fat distribution. Increasing waist circumference
is accompanied by increasing frequencies of overt type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia,
hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, and early mortality.
In the body fat patterns called android type (apple shaped) fat is deposited
around the waist and upper abdominal area and appears most often in men.
The gynoid type (pear shaped) of body fat is usually seen in women. |
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| CHAMPUS |
Military insurance
coverage. |
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| Cholecystectomy |
Surgical removal
of the gallbladder. |
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| Cholecystitis |
Inflammation
of the gallbladder, caused primarily by gallstones. |
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| Cholesterol |
A soft, waxy
substance manufactured by the body and used in the production of hormones,
bile acid, and vitamin D- present in all parts of the body, including the
nervous system, muscle, skin, liver, intestines, and heart. Blood
cholesterol circulates in the bloodstream. |
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Clinically
Severe Obesity
(Morbid Obesity) |
75 pounds or
more excess weight; BMI of or over 40 or BMI 35 to 40 with severe co-morbid
conditions. |
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| Cognitive
Behavior Therapy |
A system of psychotherapy
based on the premise that distorted or dysfunctional thinking, which influences
a person's mood or behavior, is common to all psycho social problems.
The focus of therapy is to identify the distorted thinking and to replace
it with more rational, adaptive thoughts and beliefs. |
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| Co-Morbidity |
Two or more diseases
or conditions existing together in an individual. |
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| Colon |
Large intestine
beginning at the end of the small intestine & ending at the rectum. |
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| Contraindications |
Alcoholism; drug
dependency; severe depression; sociopathic personality disorder. |
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| Coronary
Heart Disease (CHD) |
A type of heart
disease caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries that feed the heart,
which needs a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients carried by the blood
in the coronary arteries. When the coronary arteries become narrowed
or clogged by fat and cholesterol deposits and cannot supply enough blood
to the heart, CHD results. |
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| Cue Avoidance |
A stimulus control
technique often used in weight loss programs in which individuals are asked
to reduce their exposure to certain food cues by making a variety of changes
in their habits. The rationale is to make it easier on oneself and
reduce temptation by reducing contact with food cues, i.e., coming home
from work and feeling tired is a time when many people reach for the high
fat foods if they are available. By not having high fat foods within
reach, it is easier to avoid them. |
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| Criteria |
Defines potential
candidates for surgery. |
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| CT Scan |
Body scan X-ray. |
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| Defecation |
Evacuation of
the bowels. |
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| Diabetes Mellitus |
A disorder of
glucose and insulin metabolism. |
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| Diastolic
Blood Pressure |
The minimum pressure
that remains within the artery when the heart is at rest. |
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| Digestion |
Process by which
food is broken down by stomach and upper small intestine into absorbable
forms. |
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| Dilatation |
Process of enlarging
a passage or anastomosis. |
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| Disease |
Process injurious
to health and/or longevity. |
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| Divided Gastric
Bypass |
Operation providing
a tool for management of Clinically Severe Obesity. |
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| Dumping Syndrome |
Uncomfortable
feeling of nausea, lightheadedness, upset stomach, diarrhea associated
with ingestion of sweets; high calorie liquids or dairy products. |
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| Duodenum |
First 12 inches
of small intestine immediately below stomach: Bile and pancreatic
juices flow into duodenum through ducts from liver and pancreas respectively. |
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| Dyslipidemia |
Disorders in
the lipoprotein metabolism; classified as hypercholesterolemia, and low
levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Both elevated
levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and low levels
of HDL cholesterol predispose to premature atherosclerosis. |
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| Efficacy |
The extent to
which a specific intervention, procedure, regimen, or service produces
a beneficial result under ideal conditions. |
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| Electrolytes |
Chemical elements
found in the blood stream and body tissue. |
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| Endoscopy |
Examines parts
of Gastrointestinal tract by means of long, slender, flexible, fiber optic
instrument. |
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| Energy Balance |
Energy is the
capacity of a body or a physical system for doing work. Energy balance
is the state in which the total energy intake equals total energy needs. |
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| Energy Deficit |
A state in which
total energy intake is less than totally energy need. |
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| Enzymes |
Complex substances
produced by the body which facilitate chemical processes. |
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| Epidural |
Close to spinal
canal as in epidural in intra-spinal anesthesia. |
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| Esophagus |
Tubular organ
connecting oral pharynx and stomach, responsible for swallowing. |
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| Etiology |
Cause of. |
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| Flank |
Outside or lateral
part of abdominal wall. |
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| Gastric |
Pertaining to
stomach. |
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| Gastric Bypass |
Operation designed
to make non-functional a portion of the stomach. |
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| Gastrointestinal |
Pertaining to
stomach or intestine. |
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| Gastrojejunostomy
Anastomosis |
Upper connection
of the Gastric Bypass Operation. |
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| Gastrostomy
Tube |
Tube place through
skin into lower part of the stomach. |
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| Gastroplasty |
Operation for
Clinically Severe Obesity which reshapes the stomach. |
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| Genetic |
Pertains to transmitted,
hereditary characteristics. |
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| Genotype |
The entire genetic
makeup of an individual. The fundamental constitution of an organism
in terms of its hereditary factors. A group of organisms in which
each has the same hereditary characteristics. |
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| Glucose Tolerance
Test (GTT) |
The power of
the normal liver to absorb and store large quantities of glucose and the
effectiveness of intestinal absorption of glucose. The glucose tolerance
test is a metabolic test of carbohydrate tolerance that measures active
insulin, a hepatic function based on the ability of the liver to absorb
glucose. The test consists of ingesting 75 grams of glucose into
a fasting stomach; blood sugar should return to normal in 2 to 2 1/2 hours
after ingestion.
NOTE: Post gastric bypass
patients should NEVER have a glucose tolerance test. Other tests are available
such as glycohemoglobin A1C. Please consult with your surgeon if
you are asked to have a GTT and you are post gastric bypass. |
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| Homeostasis |
Routine process
of controlling blood loss during operations. |
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| Heritability |
The proportion
of observed variation in a particular trait that can be attributed to inherited
genetic factors in contrast to environmental ones. |
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| Hernia |
A weakness in
the abdominal wall resulting in a detectable bulge. |
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| High Density
Lipoproteins (HDL) |
Lipoproteins
that contain a small amount of cholesterol and carry cholesterol away from
body cells and tissues to the liver for excretion from the body.
Low level HDL increases the risk of heart disease, so the higher the HDL
level, the better. The HDL component normally contains 20 to 30 percent
of total cholesterol, and HDL levels are inversely correlated with coronary
heart disease risk. |
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| Hypercholesterolemia
(high blood cholesterol) |
Cholesterol is
the most abundant steroid in animal tissues, especially in bile and gallstones.
The relationship between the intake of cholesterol and its manufacture
by the body to its utilization, sequestration, or excretion from the body
is called the cholesterol balance. NCEP guidelines: Lowest risk for
coronary heart disease- <200 mg/dL & HDL >35 mg/dL. |
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| Hyperosmolality |
Presence of highly
concentrated substances capable of producing dumping syndrome. |
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| Hypertension |
High blood pressure. |
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| Hypertriglyceridemia |
An excess of
triglycerides in the blood. |
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| Ideal Calculated
Weight |
Method of calculating
ideal weight, based solely on height. |
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| Ileum |
Ten feet of small
intestine which is the third and last part, responsible for absorption. |
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| Incidence |
The rate at which
a certain event occurs (i.e., the number of new cases of a specific disease
during a certain period) |
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Insulin Dependent
Diabetes
Mellitus (Type I Diabetes) |
A disease characterized
by high levels of blood glucose resulting from defects in insulin secretion,
insulin action, or both. Auto immune, genetic, and environmental
factors are involved in the development of type I diabetes. |
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| Intestinal
Bypass |
Outmoded operation
which caused severe malabsorption problems. |
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| Intraspinal |
See epidural. |
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| Jackson-Pratt
Drain |
Soft plastic
drain effective in excavating blood and other body fluids. |
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| Jejunal-Ileal |
Region of small
intestine where jejunum joins ileum. |
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| Jejunum |
Ten feet of small
intestine which is the 2nd and middle part, responsible for digestion. |
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| J-Shaped Relationship |
The relationship
between body weight and mortality. |
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| Ketones |
Breakdown products
of fatty tissue. |
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| Kilogram |
Equal to 2.2
pounds. |
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| Laparoscopy |
Method of visualizing
and treating intra-abdominal problems with long, fiber optic instrument. |
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| Lean Body
Mass |
Functional tissues
such as bone, muscle and organs. Excludes fatty tissue. |
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| Lipoprotein |
Protein coated
packages that carry fat and cholesterol throughout the bloodstream. |
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| Low Calorie
Diet (LCD) |
Caloric restriction
of about 800 to 1,500 calories (approximately 12 to 15 kcal/kg of body
weight) per day. |
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| Low Density
Lipoprotein (LDL) |
Lipoprotein that
contains most of the cholesterol in the blood. High levels increase
risk for heart disease. |
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| Lower Fat
Diet |
An eating plan
in which 30% or less of the day's total calories are from fat. |
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| Macronutrients |
Nutrients in
the diet that are the key sources of energy, namely protein, fat, and carbohydrates. |
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Magnetic Resonance
Imaging (MRI) |
MRI uses radio
frequency waves to provide direct visualization and quantification of fat.
The sharp image contrast of MRI allows clear separation of adipose tissue
from surrounding, non lipid structures. |
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| Malabsorption |
Abnormal or impaired
absorption of food products, vitamins, minerals, etc. |
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| Marginal Ulcer |
Ulcer occurring
at anastomosis or junction of stomach and jejunum. |
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| Meter |
Equal to 39.36
inches. |
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| Monounsaturated
Fat |
An unsaturated
fat that is found primarily in plant foods, including olive and canola
oils. |
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| Morbid |
Pertaining to
disease, illness, increased risk of death. |
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| Mortality |
Pertaining to
death. |
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| Multi-Disciplinary |
Team approach
to evaluation and treatment of Clinically Severe Obesity. Includes surgical
internal medicine, nutrition, psychiatric, education and exercise physiology
assessment and treatment. |
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| Myocardial
Infarction (MI) |
Gross necrosis
of the myocardium as a result of interruption of the blood supply to the
area. It is almost always caused by atherosclerosis of the coronary
arteries. |
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| Nasogastric |
Tube leading
from nose to stomach. |
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| NHANES |
National Health
and Nutrition Examination Survey. Conduced every 10 years by the
National Center for Health Statistics to survey the dietary habits and
health of U.S. residents. |
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| NIH |
National Institutes
of Health. |
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| NIH Consensus
Reports |
1978, 1985, 1991
and 1992 summaries of meetings regarding Clinically Severe Obesity and
assessment and treatment of obesity. |
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| Obesity |
The condition
of having an abnormally high proportion of body fat. |
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| Obstructions |
Narrowing of
an anastomosis or segment of gastrointestinal track which retards normal
passage of food or waste materials. |
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| Orlistat |
A lipase inhibitor
used for weight loss. Lipase is an enzyme found in the bowel that
assists in lipid absorption by the body. Orlistat blocks this enzyme,
reducing the amount of fat the body absorbs by about 30%. It is known as
a "fat blocker". Because more oily fat is left in the bowel to be excreted,
Orlistat can cause an oily anal leakage and fecal incontinence. |
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| Osteoarthritis |
Noninflammatory
degenerative joint disease. It is accompanied by pain and stiffness. |
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| Overweight |
An excess of
body weight but not necessarily body fat; a body mass index (BMI) of 25
to 29.9. |
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| Pancreas |
Produces insulin
and pancreatic enzymes. |
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| Pancreatobiliary |
Pertaining to
pancreatic or liver or bile duct systems. |
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| Pancreatobiliary
Diversion |
Malaborptive
operation. |
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| Pathophysiology |
Underlying cause
of disease processes. |
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| Peptic |
Related to stomach
acids or enzymes. |
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| Peristalsis |
Undulating, wave
like, muscular action which carries food and waste products through the
gastrointestinal tract to the rectum. |
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| Pharmacotherapy |
A regimen of
using appetite suppressant medications to manage obesity by decreasing
appetite or increasing the feeling of satiety. |
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| Phenotype |
The entire physical,
biochemical, and physiological makeup of an individual as determined by
his or her genes and by the environment in the broad sense. |
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| Phenylporpanolamine |
Drug used to
control appetite on a temporary basis. |
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| Pleural Effusion |
Accumulation
of fluid in chest cavity, outside the lungs. |
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| Polyunsaturated
Fat |
An unsaturated
fat found in greatest amounts in foods derived from plants, including safflower,
sunflower, corm and soybean oils. |
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| Prevalence |
The number of
events, e.g., instances of a given disease or other condition, in a given
population at a designated time. |
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| Prospective
Study |
An epidemiologic
study in which a group of individuals (a cohort), all free of a particular
disease and varying in their exposure to a possible risk factor, is followed
over a specific amount of time to determine the incidence rates of the
diseases in the exposed and unexposed groups. |
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| Protein |
A class of compounds
composed of linked amino acids that contain carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen,
oxygen, and sometimes other atoms in specific configurations. |
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| Prothrombin |
Vital substance
in blood clotting process. |
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| Psychotherapy |
Evaluation and
treatment of mentally related disorders. |
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| Psychometric
Evaluation |
Method of determining
mental and emotional factors. |
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| PT (Prothrombin
Time) |
Method of measuring
prothrombin levels. |
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| PTT (Partial
Prothrombin Time) |
Measures blood
clotting functions other than prothrombin. |
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| Pulmonary |
Pertains to lungs. |
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| Randomization |
Also called random
allocation. It is allocation of individuals to groups, e.g., for
experimental and control regimens, by chance. |
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| Recidivism |
Relapse or recurrence
of a problem. |
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| Rectum |
Lower end of
gastrointestinal tract. Reservoir for fecal material. |
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| Refractory
Obesity |
Obesity that
is resistant to treatment. |
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| Relative Risk |
The ratio of
the incidence rate of a disease among individuals exposed to a specific
risk factor to the incidence rate among unexposed individuals. |
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| Retention
Sutures |
Very large sutures
designed to prevent would separation. |
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| Resting Metabolic
Rate (RMR) |
RMR accounts
for 67-75% of daily energy expenditure and represents minimum energy needed
to maintain all physiological cell functions in the resting state. Principal
determinant of RMR is lean body mass (LBM). Obese subjects have a
higher RMR in absolute terms than lean individuals, an equivalent RMR when
corrected for LBM and per unit surface area, and a lower RMR when expressed
per kilogram of body weight. |
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| Risk |
The probability
that an event will occur. Also, a non technical term encompassing
a variety of measures of the probability of a generally unfavorable outcome |
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| Roux-En-Y
Bypass |
The most common
gastric bypass procedure |
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| Roux-En-Y
Gastrojejunostomy |
A surgical method
of reconnecting the stomach and upper small intestine roughly in a Y shape. |
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| Saturated
Fat |
A type of fat
found in greater amounts in foods from animals, such as fatty cuts of meat,
poultry with the skin, whole milk dairy products, lard, and in some vegetable
oils, including coconut, palm kernel and palm oils. Saturated fat
raises blood cholesterol more than anything else eaten. |
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| Secretory |
Producing secretions
or internal body fluids. |
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| Sleep Apnea |
A serious, potentially
life threatening disorder characterized by repeated cessation of breathing
due to either collapse of the upper airway during sleep or absence of respiratory
effect. |
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| Splenic Vessels |
Arteries and
veins connecting to the spleen. |
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| Staples |
Surgically sterile
devices for connecting tissues. Usually permanent and mad of stainless
steel or titanium. |
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| Stoma Size |
The size of a
new opening created surgically between two body structures. |
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| Stomal |
Pertains to anastomosis. |
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| Stress Incontinence |
An involuntary
loss of urine that occurs at the same time that internal abdominal pressure
is increased, such as with laughing, sneezing, coughing or physical activity. |
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| Stress Management |
A set of techniques
used to help an individual cope more effectively with difficult situations
in order to feel better emotionally, improve behavioral skills and often
to enhance feelings of control. |
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| Strictures |
Narrowing of
anastomosis or section of intestine. Often related to scarring or
ulcers. |
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| Stroke |
Sudden loss of
function of part of the brain because of loss of blood flow. Stroke
may be caused by a clot (thrombosis) or rupture (hemorrhage) of a blood
vessel to the brain. |
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| Subcutaneous |
Layer of fatty
tissue between skin and muscle. |
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| Sutures |
Surgical, sterile,
synthetic materials for connecting or sealing tissues. Either permanent
or absorbable. |
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| Systolic Blood
Pressure |
The maximum pressure
in the artery produced as the heart contracts and blood begins to flow. |
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| Tachycardia |
Rapid heart beat
(<110 beats per minute) |
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| Thrombosis |
Clot formation
in blood vessels. |
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| Therapy |
Treatment. |
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| Triglycerides |
A lipid carried
through the blood stream to tissues. Most of the body's fat tissue
is in the form of triglycerides, stored for use as energy. Triglycerides
are obtained primarily from fat in foods. |
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| Type 2 Diabetes
Mellitus |
Usually characterized
by a gradual onset with minimal or no symptoms of metabolic disturbance
and no requirement for exogenous insulin. Obesity and possibly a
genetic factor are usually present. |
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| Ulcer |
Erosion of lining
of stomach or jejunum. |
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| Upper GI Series |
Method of radiographic
visualization of stomach and upper small bowel by means of ingested radiopaque
matter. |
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| Vagotomy |
Section or removal
of Vagus nerves. |
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| Vagus Nerve |
Responsible for
gastric acid production and motility. |
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Vertical banded
Gastroplasty
(VBG) |
A type of operation
to treat Clinically Severe Obesity. Reshapes and restricts the stomach. |
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| Very Low Calorie
Diet (VLCD) |
VLCD
of 800 or fewer calories per day is conducted under physician supervision
and monitoring (approximately 6-10 kcal/kg body weight). |
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| Visceral Fat |
One of the three
compartments of abdominal fat. Retroperitoneal and subcutaneous are
the other two components. |
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