AABC Research Fellows Identify “The Missing Link”. A New And Important Metric, In Understanding Why Some People Are Thin And Others Thick Despite Similar Caloric Intake.

The American Association of Bariatric Counselors is pleased to announce that two of their research fellows have completed an important bariatric science research project that identifies a primary cause of a most prevalent category of obesity.   The researchers, Dr. Brandon Davis from Grinnell Iowa and Dr. Joseph Indelicato from Queens, NY have recently been informed that their manuscript entitled "Stability of Metabolic Factor Before and After Bariatric Surgery" will be published in Obesity Surgery, the official journal of the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders and is currently available online at: http://bit.ly/MetabolicFactorAABC   Lead researcher, Dr. Davis, a psychologist and Board Certified Bariatric Counselor commented, “Our research has identified a new metric that we call the Metabolic Factor, which can be thought of as the missing link in understanding why some folks are thin and others thick despite similar caloric intake. It can also explain why many dieters and bariatric surgery patients relapse and regain weight lost. Obese individuals with a low metabolic factor (hypo-metabolic) lend support to a genetic predisposition to a very prevalent category of obesity. The tools and the methodology we developed to diagnose and quantify an individual’s Metabolic Factor are currently available. This study's findings indicate that Metabolic Factor seems to be a stable characteristic within a person despite significant weight loss. We expect this discovery to be a game changer in the understanding of obesities and helping patients and bariatric health professionals make informed choices regarding care and treatment.”   Dr. Indelicato, a professor at Touro College/University System and AABC Research Director noted, “For Bariatric Surgeons treating based on an individual’s Metabolic Factor, it is an essential metric for selecting an appropriate surgical procedure for each patient and thereby improving long-term, post-surgical weight loss and surgical procedure efficacy.”   Both researchers agree that perhaps a most important contribution of this discovery is the potential to reduce societal stigma and shame associated with obesities. Board Certified Bariatric Professionals are already licensed/certified health and education professionals. They include medical doctors, educators, psychologists, nurses, nutritionists and other disciplines that engage in research, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of obesities and related disorders. Click to view video

Female research partners; one a biochemist who weighed 250lbs (Lifelong obesity) and the other an endocrinologist who has always weighed 135lbs (since her teens). We performed their RMR tests; The endocrinologist’s RMR was 1485 Kcal per day. The biochemist RMR was 1500 Kcal per day. Both expend almost identical Kcal per day (1485/1500) and if they replace their expended calories with food they would remain at the same weight.   Despite one being thin and the other thick, they consume the same amount of calories. However, if you divide their individual RMRs by their weights: Endocrinologist: 1485/135lbs = 11 (MF) Biochemist: 1500/250lbs = 6 (MF)   The endocrinologist has a MF of 11 (which is in typical range) and likely predisposed her to be thin (135lbs). The biochemist has a MF of 6 which is very low (hypometabolic) and likely predisposed her to obesity (250lbs).You could say one has 6 cylinders and the other 11 cylinders. Needless to say, you use more gasoline (energy) if you have 11 cylinders.   We reviewed the test results with these friends and colleagues. The thin endocrinologist’s guilt fully addressed her friend; "I always privately believed you did not care about yourself, you were lazy and responsible for your own girth." She then told her how terribly sorry she was for her unfounded beliefs. You might say that this test helped both overcome irrational belief systems.   This is a shining example of how a numeric physiological test had profound psychosocial implications. It is up to us to use “best practices” in bariatric science (mind and body) and not get caught up in the science of public consensus.