>>> SUPPORT FOR THIS PROGRAM IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOUNDATION FOR
EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC
BROADCASTING AND FROM VIEWERS
LIKE YOU.
>>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO
"LOUISIANA PUBLIC SQUARE," I'M
BETH COURTNEY, PRESIDENT OF LPB.
JOINING ME FOR TONIGHT'S
DISCUSSION IS DR. RONNY
WHITFIELD
>> OBESITY IS A CONDITION THAT I
SEE MORE AND MORE IN MY
PRACTICE.
THE LATEST STATE OF OBESITY
REPORT BY "ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON
FOUNDATION" RANKS LOUISIANA
FIRST FOR ADULT OBESITY.
THAT'S NOT SURPRISING IN A STATE
WHERE EVERY SOCIAL EVENT IS A
FOOD EVENT.
>> YOU KNOW, IF LIVING A
HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE IS ONE OF
YOUR RESOLUTIONS, WE'RE HERE TO
HELP.
EVER WONDER WHICH DIET IS
EFFECTIVE AND WHICH WEIGHT-LOSS
SURGERIES ARE SAFE?
HOW MUCH EXERICIZE DO YOU NEED?
WE BROUGHT TOGETHER DOCTORS,
NUTRITIONISTS AND WEIGHT LOSS
SUCCESS STORIES.
>> MY NAME'S DENISHA THOMAS,
SINCE LAST SUMMER, I'VE LOST
ABOUT 12 POUNDS AND I'VE ALSO
LOST ABOUT 4% OF MY BODY FAT.
>> DENISHA THOMAS IS A SENIOR AT
LSU IN THE KINESIOLOGY PROGRAM.
SHE PARTICIPATED IN A STUDY
CALLED "HEALTHY DETOURS."
IT WAS DESIGNED BY DR. VALERIE
MYERS.
>> I WAS ACTUALLY AT THE
HEAVIEST I HAD EVER BEEN, THAT
CAME WITH BACK PROBLEMS.
IT CAME WITH PROBLEMS WITH
SELF-ESTEEM, PEOPLE IN MY FAMILY
WERE NOTICING.
>> THROUGH AN APP ON HER PHONE,
THOMAS WAS PROMPTED TO EAT
HEALTHIER, SLEEP BETTER AND GET
MORE EXERCISE.
>> THE APP WAS CENTERED AROUND
THE RESTAURANTS IN AND AROUND
THE CAMPUS.
IT SHOWED IF THE RESTAURANT HAD
LOW-FAT OPTIONS OR A GREAT
AMOUNT OF FIBER OR A NICE AMOUNT
OF VEGETABLES.
>> SHE ALSO LEARNED TO PRE-PLAN
HER MEALS.
>> BEFORE THE STUDY, IF THERE
WAS A CRAMP IN MY STUDY, THE
RESOURCES ON THE PHONE MADE IT
REALLY EASY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
TYPE OF WORKING OUT IF YOU WERE
DOING.
IF I JOG AROUND THE LAKE, I ONLY
NEED TO DO THAT FOR 15 MINUTES.
>> KATE BLUMBERG IS A RESEARCH
DIETICIAN AT PENNINGTON AND SAYS
THIS IS KEY TO MAKING A DIET
SUSTAINABLE AND NOT JUST A
SHORT-TERM SOLUTION.
>> THE BIGGEST PROBLEM PEOPLE
MAKE WHEN THEY ARE PLANNING A
DIET IS THEY DON'T HAVE A
MAINTENANCE PLAN.
WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO AFTER
THEY LOSE THE WEIGHT?
>> THERE ARE MANY DIETS TO
CHOOSE FROM.
>> ALMOST ANY DIET CAN WORK, IF
IT IS REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF
CALORIES THAT PEOPLE ARE
CONSUMING.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU WERE EATING
WHATEVER YOU WANTED TO BEGIN
WITH AND YOU ARE REDUCING, YOU
ARE REDUCING CALORIES.
>> THE PREMISE OF LOW-CARB DIET
IS IF YOU FOCUS MORE ON EATING
PROTEINS AND FATS AND
CARBOHYDRATES, YOUR BODY HAS TO
USE YOUR FAT TO BURN ENERGY.
>> IF TOO FEW CARBS ARE TAKEN
IN, THE BODY CAN GO INTO
KETOSIS.
>> CARBS ARE NOT THE ENEMY.
>> THEY SEEM TO BE THE ENEMY,
BUT I THINK IT'S MORE THE
QUALITY OF THE CARBS THAT YOU
ARE HAVING.
SO, YOU KNOW PROCESSED FOODS,
CHIPS, YOU KNOW, A LOT FOODS
WITH SUGAR IN THEM, WE DON'T
NEED THOSE.
BUT OUR BODY DOES NEED FRUITS
AND VEGETABLES.
>> THERE ARE PROS AND CONS TO
MEAL REPLACEMENT DIETS LIKE SLIM
-- SLIMFASTFAST OR NUTRISYSTEM.
>> THE PROBLEM WITH MEAL
REPLACEMENTS IS THAT THERE'S NO
PLAN FOR AFTERWARDS.
IT DOESN'T TEACH PEOPLE
ANYTHING.
IT DOESN'T TEACH THEM PORTION
SIZES OR WHICH FOOD GROUPS ARE
HEALTHY.
>> STUDIES OFTEN INCLUDE
EDUCATION THAT TEACH
PARTICIPANTS VALUABLE LESSONS.
BLUMBERG PROMOTES THE "DASH."
>> IT IS THE DIETARY APPROACH TO
STOP HYPERTENSION.
SO, IT BASICALLY WAS DESIGNED TO
TRY TO SEE IF THEY COULD REDUCE
PEOPLE'S BLOOD PRESSURES.
THEY FOUND THAT IT NOT ONLY
REDUCED THE BLOOD PRESSURE, BUT
HEART RISK AND DIABETES AND ALSO
HELPED PEOPLE WITH WEIGHT LOSS.
>> IT REQUIRES DECREASED SODIUM
AND SATURATED FATS, ALONG WITH
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO START A
DIET, CONSULT A DIETICIAN FOR
OFFICIAL ADVICE.
>> I TRUTHFULLY BELIEVE IT IS
NOT ONE SIZE FITS ALL.
SOMEONE WHO LIKES TO COOK, THEY
ARE GOING TO DO TERRIBLE AT A
REPLACEMENT-MEAL DIET WHERE THEY
HAVE TO EAT THE SAME THINGS OVER
AND OVER AND THEY DON'T PREPARE
THEM THEIRSELVES.
>> IN LOUISIANA, ONE IN FIVE
RESIDENTS LIVE IN POVERTY, SO
IT'S NOT EASY FOR THOSE OF LOW
SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS TO GET
ACCESS.
MONICA McDANIELS IS CLINICAL
SERVICES MANAGER OF THE STATE'S
WIC PROGRAM.
>> IN AREAS WHERE THERE ARE HIGH
INCIDENTS OF TO DESERT DESERTS,
TRANSPORTATION TO THE GROCERY
STORE MAY BE ONE OF THE
CHALLENGES THAT OUR PARTICIPANTS
PLAN.
>> THE WIC PROGRAM FOR WOMEN,
INFANTS AND CHILDREN, HELPS
MOTHER CHOOSE HEALTHY FOODS.
>> THE WIC PROGRAM TARGETS IRON
NUTRIENTS, VITAMIN A, VITAMIN B,
VITAMIN D.
WE HAVE FOOD PRESCRIPTIONS AND
THERE ARE ONLY CERTAIN FOODS THE
PARTICIPANT WILL BE ABLE TO
PURCHASE.
>> LOSING WEIGHT IS ABOUT
LEARNING TO MAKE HEALTHY
CHOICES.
>> IT IS A LIFESTYLE CHANGE.
YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO MAKE
CHANGES.
>> JOINING US IS OUR STUDIO
AUDIENCES.
IT INCLUDES DIFFERENT
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE AT DIFFERENT
POINTS OF THEIR HEALTHY
LIFESTYLE JOURNEY.
WE'LL HEAR FROM THEM.
WE'LL ALSO HEAR FROM FOLKS WHO
HELPED UNDERSERVED INDIVIDUALS
EAT HEALTHIER.
AMONG 125 RESPONDENTS FROM A
SURVEY, OF THOSE, 71% CONSIDERED
THEMSELVES OVERWITHE.
28%, A NORMAL WEIGHT.
AND LESS THAN 1%, UNDERWEIGHT.
AND 15% IN THE EXTREMELY OBESE
CATEGORY.
17% COME UNDER THE NORMAL
CATEGORY.
WHEN IT COMES TO CARBOHYDRATES,
24% EAT FOUR OR MORE SERVINGS A
DAY.
33% EAT TWO SERVINGS A DAY AND
ONLY 9% EAT ONE SERVING OF
CARBS.
FOR VEGETABLES, FOUR OR MORE
TIMES A DAY.
MOST RESPONDENTS, ABOUT 34%, EAT
SERVINGS A DAY WHILE 6% DON'T
EAT ANY VEGABLES AT ALL.
42% HAVEN'T TRIED A DIET.
THE MOST POPULAR DIET IS WEIGHT
WATCHERS.
SOME RESPONDANTS HAVE TRIED
MULTIPLE DIETS.
SO, LET'S START HERE, GUYS.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO GET IN
SHAPE?
WE'LL START WITH MONICA.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
MY MOTIVATING FACTOR WAS NOT
WORKING SO MUCH.
I CHOSE THE FIELD OF NUTRITION
TO KEEP ME ACCOUNTABLE, QUITE
HONESTLY.
WHEN LIFE HAPPENS, CHILD-BEARING
YEARS START, YOU SEE THE
FRESHMAN 15 AND I THINK YOU SEE
THE MARRIED 20.
[LAUGHTER]
SO, WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON,
ONCE THE CHILDREN WERE
INDEPENDENT ENOUGH TO, YOU KNOW,
COMPLETE THEIR OWN HOMEWORK,
HAVING A SUPPORTIVE HUSBAND, I
WAS ABLE, AFTER SEVERAL YEARS
OF, YOU KNOW, BEING A NURTURING
MOTHER AND WIFE, TO REDIRECT AND
RECHANNEL MY ENERGY BACK TO
EXERCISE.
AND THAT IS WHERE MY JOURNEY WAS
INCREASING MY PHYSICAL EXERICIZE
BEGAN.
>> VERY GOOD POINT.
WE'RE FEMALE-DOMINATED ON THIS
PANEL.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I GIVE A LOT OF
CREDIT TO THE PEOPLE AT
PENNINGTON BECAUSE THEY HAVE
EDUCATED ME OVER THE YEARS.
I'VE BEEN ON A NUMBER OF THEIR
STUDIES.
PROBABLY THE MOST BENEFICIAL TO
ME HAS BEEN E-MECHANIC, WHICH IS
EXERCISE.
THAT HELPED ME TO DEVELOP A
ROUTINE FOR WORKING OUT AND EVEN
TODAY, A COUPLE YEARS AFTER I
FINISHED THAT STUDY, I AM STILL
WORKING OUT IN THE GYM THREE TO
FOUR TIMES A WEEK.
I'M A LIFETIME WEIGHT WATCHER.
THE STRUGGLE IS STILL BEFORE ME.
>> IT WAS A LIFESTYLE CHANGE FOR
YOU?
>> YES.
>> LINDSAY, YOU WERE A LITTLE
MORE STRATEGIC OR SURGICAL,
MIGHT I SAY?
HOW ABOUT YOUR WEIGHT LOSS
JOURNEY?
>> WELL, BEING A NEW MOTHER AND
GAINING WEIGHT, OF COURSE, I GOT
TO MY UNCOMFORTABLE WEIGHT AND I
WASN'T -- I GUESS YOU COULD SAY,
CONFIDENT, ANYMORE.
I TRIED SEVERAL DIETS AND THEY
JUST DIDN'T AGREE WITH ME.
I DON'T KNOW IF I JUST DIDN'T
STAY WITH THE PLAN,ESPECIALLY
WITH MY HUSBAND'S GOOD COOKING.
I WENT TO THE CLINIC AND THEY
HAVE VERY GOOD SUCCESS WITH IT.
I WENT.
I HAD GOOD SUCCESS WITH IT.
THE POUNDS STARTED DROPPING OFF
IMMEDIATELY.
THEY HELPED ME WITH THE DIET
PLAN.
THE GROCERY LIST AND EVERYTHING
I NEEDED TO DO.
>> WHAT ARE BARRIERS TO WEIGHT
LOSS.
I HEAR TIME IS THE BIGGEST
BARRIERS.
WHAT BARRIERS MIGHT SOME FOLKS
FACE?
>> FOOD, NUMBER ONE.
[LAUGHTER]
>> LOUISIANA
[LAUGHTER]
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
BUT, I HAD LOST ABOUT 25 POUNDS
MYSELF.
I HAVE A HARD TIME.
I ADMIRE AND RESPECT SO MANY OF
THESE FOLKS THAT, YOU KNOW,
COUNT CALORIES AND CARBS AND I
JUST -- TO BE HONEST WITH YOU,
I'M -- THAT'S KIND OF A BARRIER
TO ME.
I'M ABLE TO -- TO CONTROL MY
DIET.
JUST BY CUTTING DOWN ON THE
AMOUNT OF FOOD THAT I EAT AND
LESS ALCOHOL.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE KIND OF A PARTY
STATE, I GUESS.
>> THOSE EMPTY CALORIES.
>> WONDERFUL WAY OF LIFE HERE,
BUT I CAN CUT DOWN ON CALORIES
BY DOING THAT.
MY FAMILY'S PRETTY SUPPORTIVE.
WE DON'T EAT A LOT OF PROCESSED
FOODS.
BUT, ANYWAY, I THINK THOSE
ALCOHOL/FOOD, THOSE THINGS WERE
BARRIERS
>> YOU HEAR THAT MORE CALORIES
IN AND LESS CALORIES OUT.
I HAVE SOME NURSES IN THE
BUILDING AND WE HAVE A DIFFERENT
EXPERIENCE BECAUSE WE ARE
BATTLING WITH THESE PATIENTS
CONSTANTLY.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE MOTIVATION
WOULD BE FOR THE PATIENT?
>> WELL, I ACTUALLY STARTED MY
JOURNEY, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I WAS
LISTENING TO YOU TELL PATIENTS
SAY, HEY, LOOK, YOU CAN DO THIS,
THAT, INCREASE YOURACTIVITY.
ONE DAY I WENT HOME AND SAID, I
CAN LISTEN TO WHAT THE DOCTOR
SAID AND DO THE SAME THING AND
IT STARTED TO COME OFF AND
PATIENTS STARTED TO NOTICE.
I DIDN'T NOTICE, BUT PATIENTS
STARTED TO NOTICE.
I WALKED INTO THE OFFICE ONE DAY
AND I GOT ON THE SCALE AND THOSE
SIMPLE THINGS OF SAYING, HEY,
LOOK, YOU CAN DO IT.
SO, THAT WAS MY --
>> ATTITUDE, YEAH.
A LOT OF TIMES -- BEING SOMEONE
WHO WENT THROUGH A PERSONAL
COACH AND LOST THOSE POUNDS,
SOME PATIENTS DON'T GET THAT.
THERE ARE SOME FOLKS THAT DON'T
HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS.
>> I THINK MAINLY THE FACT THAT
I AM WITH THE RED STICK FARMERS
MARKET AND WE PROVIDE IT IN
NORTH AND SOUTH BATON ROUGE
AREAS.
THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN MOSTLY
CHALLENGING ARE THE ONES IN THE
FOOD DESERT AREAS.
I THINK EDUCATION IS KEY TO
GETTING THE WORD OUT ABOUT
THE -- FOOD TRAVELS LESS MILES,
IT'S MORE NUTRITIOUS THAN IF
IT'S COMING FROM OTHER
COUNTRIES.
ACCESS HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR MAJOR
ISSUES IN THE NORTH BATON ROUGE
AND THE SOUTH BATON ROUGE
COMMUNITIES.
WITH THE MAYOR'S HEALTHY CITY
INITIATIVE, THERE WERE QUITE A
FEW PROGRAMS THAT CAME OUT WITH
THAT AND THERE WAS BRAC ON THE
GO AND THE MOBILE FARMERS MARKET
AND FOOD PANTRY SO WE COULD
PROVIDE FOOD IN THE LOW-INCOME
AREAS.
THERE HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT THINGS
PUT INTO PLACE.
THE COMMUNITY BUY-IN IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING.
ONCE THEY ADOPT THAT IDEA OF,
HEY, WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR DIET
AND THINK ABOUT THEIR FAMILY
MEMBERS WHO SUFFER FROM DIABETES
AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, THAT'S
HOW WE TACKLE THAT SITUATION.
>> HAS ANYBODY USED ANYTHING
UNIQUE?
A FITBIT CALCULATOR, A TRAINER?
BY SHOW OF HANDS.
NOT AS MANY AS I THOUGHT.
WHAT APPROACH DID YOU USE TO
LOSE WEIGHT.
>> I HAVE A GASTRIC SLEEVE.
WHAT PROMPTED ME TO HAVE THE
SURGERY IS I HAVE AN 11-YEAR-OLD
AND A 17-YEAR-OLD AND I'VE
WATCHED MY MOTHER DIE FROM
DIABETES AT THE AGE OF 62 AND IT
WAS VERY DIFFICULT.
AND I DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT TO
MY KIDS.
SO, I DECIDED, AFTER BEING
DIAGNOSED WITH INSULIN
RESISTANCE AND ALSO BEING
DIAGNOSED WITH OTHER HEALTH
ISSUES, I ENDED UP BEING 40BMI,
I DECIDED I HAD TO DO SOMETHING.
ALL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS WERE
LIKE, YOU LOOK GREAT.
YOU LOOK GREAT.
I GUESS THE WAY I CARRIED MY
WEIGHT, IT WAS
EVENINGLY-DISTRIBUTED.
I WAS BREATHING VERY HARD, I WAS
VERY WHEEZY.
I COULDN'T DO PHYSICAL EXERCISE
LIKE I USED TO AND I'D ALWAYS
BEEN A GYM RAT.
I WAS ON DANCE TEAM FOR 18
YEARS, I WAS A CHEERLEADER
GROWING UP.
ONCE I STARTED HAVING KIDS, THE
CHILD-BEARING AND YOU GET
COMPLACENT.
>> LIFE.
>> YEAH, LIFE.
SO, I DECIDED TO DO THIS.
I'VE LOST OVER 60 POUNDS IN JUST
A FEW MONTHS AND I HIGHLY
RECOMMEND IT IF INDIVIDUALS CAN
DO IT AND OTHER OPTIONS DON'T
WORK.
>> WHEN WE ADDRESS OBESITY, WE
CAN INCREASE OUR LIFESPAN BY
REDUCING OUR RISK FOR DIABETES
AND HEART DISEASE SO IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT WE USE NATURAL
APPROACHES AS WELL.
SOMETIMES THE PROCEDURES ARE
NECESSARY.
THAT'S KIND OF ALL THE TIME WE
HAVE FOR THAT SECTION.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
WHEN WE RETURN, WE'LL BE JOINED
BY OUR PANEL TO FURTHER-EXPLORE
HOW TO HAVE A HEALTHY NEW YEAR.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
>>> WELCOME BACK TO "LOUISIANA
PUBLIC SQUARE."
TONIGHT, WE'RE DISCUSSING HOW WE
CAN LIVE HEALTHIER IN THE NEW
YEAR.
JOINING US NOW IS OUR PANEL OF
EXPERTS.
DR. DRAKE BELLANGER IS A
SURGEON.
HE HAS PERFORMED GASTRIC BYPASS
AND GASTRIC BANDING.
CATHERINE CHAMPAGNE IS AT THE
PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH
CENTER.
SHE DEVELOPED THE "DASH" DIET.
RUDY MACKLIN HAS SERVED AS AN
ADVISOR ON HEALTH POLICY ISSUE
WITH UNDERSERVED INDIVIDUALS.
STEPHANIE M. ELWOOD IS AN
EXTENSION ASSOCIATE WITH THE
COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND GARDEN
PROGRAMS AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
AG CENTER.
SHE WORKS TO ERADICATE FOOD
DESERTS.
I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU EACH,
BRIEFLY, IF YOU CAN GIVE
LOUISIANA A GRADE ON THE HEALTH?
>> C+.
>> A C MINUS.
>> AN F.
>> I WOULD GIVE US A C, BECAUSE
WE HAVE LOTS OF POTENTIAL TO
GROW FOOD.
>> I'D PROBABLY GIVE US A D-D+.
THAT'S DEALING WITH THE OBESITY
EPIDEMIC WE HAVE IN THE STATE.
I WANT TO GO TO THE AUDIENCE.
YOU HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE
RESOURCES.
COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT WHAT YOU
WERE ASKING?
>> WELL, I WORK WITH LSU AG
CENTER IN THE SAINT HULENA
PARISH.
SOMETIMES WE SEE THERE ARE NOT
ENOUGH RESOURCES, NOT
NECESSARILY A FOOD DESERT, BUT
THERE'S LACK OF ACCESS TO
DIFFERENT FRESH FOODS, FRUITS
AND VEGETABLES FOR THE COMMUNITY
THERE.
SO, JUST WONDERING WHAT TYPE OF
RESOURCES ARE OFFERED BY THE
GOVERNOR'S INITIATIVE
SPECIFICALLY WITH NUTRITION AND
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.
>> ANYONE ON THE PANEL LIKE TO
TAKE THAT QUESTION?
>> I GUESS IT WAS DIRECTED
TOWARD ME.
[LAUGHTER]
WITH THE GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL OF
PHYSICAL FITNESS AND SPORTS, WE
FOCUS ON OBESITY.
IT CROSSWALKS WITH A LOT OF
OTHER THINGS, DIABETES, HIGH
BLOOD PRESSURE.
IF YOU GET A HANDLE ON OBESITY,
YOU REDUCE THE OTHER DISEASE AND
SICKNESSES AROUND THE STATE.
NOW, I TRAVELED THE ENTIRE STATE
AND THE THING THAT REALLY GIVES
ME GREAT CAUTION IS THE
CHILDREN.
WHEN I SEE CHILDREN AT 10, 11
YEARS OLD WITH HIGH PRESSURE.
UPCOMING WITH OUR YOUTH, COMING
TO BE ADULTS, THEY'RE GOING TO
BE SICK WHEN THEY BECOME ADULTS
SO THAT REALLY MAKES ME REALLY
CONCENTRATED TO PUT A
MICROSCOPIC VIEW ON THE RURAL
AREAS.
>> COULD YOU ASK DR. BELLANGER
YOUR QUESTION?
>> AS AN HR PROFESSIONALS, I'M
LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO
ALLOW PEOPLE TO HAVE GOOD WORK.
WHAT, IF ANY PROGRAMS, DOES THE
STATE OFFER THAT MIGHT GIVE
BUSINESSES AN INCENTIVE, A TAX
INCENTIVE, TO OFFER MORE
WORK/LIFE BALANCE PROGRAMS IN
THEIR ESTABLISHMENTS?
>> MAYBE THAT WAS FOR RUDEY?
>> WE HAVE EMPLOYEE WELLNESS
PROGRAMS.
SOMETIMES WITH YOU'RE EMPLOYER,
IF YOUR INVOLVED IN A PROGRAM,
THEY'LL GIVE YOU A BREAK ON YOUR
INSURANCE.
WE HAVE OWN YOUR OWN HEALTH.
YOU CAN YOU TRACK IT ONLINE, AS
WELL AS WE HAVE CITY VERSUS CITY
CHALLENGES GOING ON.
LIKE, WE HAVE MONROE VERSUS
ALEXANDRIA.
AND WE'RE WORKING ON NEW ORLEANS
VERSES SHREVEPORT.
WHEN YOU HAVE AN EMPLOYEE
WELLNESS PROGRAM IN YOUR
WORKPLACE, YOU HAVE BETTER
EMPLOYEES AND PROFITABLE
EMPLOYEES.
A LOT OF COMPANIES ARE GOING TO
THAT PARTICULAR THING WHEN IT
COMES TO EMPLOYEE WELLNESS AND
WE DO IT AT THE LOUISIANA
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AS WELL.
YOU CAN CALL MY OFFICE AND I'LL
HELP YOU GET STARTED.
[LAUGHTER]
>> STEPHANIE, YOU'RE FAMILIAR
WITH THE RESOURCES, AS WELL.
WHAT OTHER OPTIONS ARE
AVAILABLE?
>> I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT THE
PROGRAMMING WE DO AT THE AG
CENTER.
WE WORK WITH DIFFERENT GRANTS.
ONE WAS SCHOOL GARDENS.
TEACHING HEALTH CONSCIOUSNESS,
HAVING GARDENS ON CAMPUS AND
TEACHING THE CONCEPT OF HOW TO
GROW.
WE'VE WORKED WITH INCARCERATED
AND ADJUDICATED YOUTH, ALSO
LANDSCAPING AND OTHER
OPPORTUNITIES.
AND WE'RE ALSO INVOLVED WITH THE
HEALTHY COMMUNITIES GRANT IN
SEVERAL PARISHES.
AND SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY FOCUSES
ON THE FOOD DESERT NEIGHBORHOODS
AND MAKING MORE FRESH PRODUCE
AVAILABLE THROUGH GARDENING
EFFORTS.
>> DR. CHAMPAGNE, YOU'VE DONE A
LOT OF RESEARCH.
WERE THERE PROGRAMMING OR THINGS
THAT YOU IN COUNTERED THAT MAY
BE RESOURCES THAT MIGHT BE
HELPFUL, AS WELL?
>> MOSTLY, WE'VE DONE DIET
STUDIES, LOOKING AT DIFFERENT
TYPES OF DIETS.
COMPARING DIETS, COMPARING
STRATEGIES.
WE DO KNOW THAT PEOPLE CAN LOSE
WEIGHT.
THE PROBLEM IS, MAINTAINING THE
WEIGHT-LOSS.
SO, ANY STRATEGY THAT YOU CAN
USE, THE ONE THAT I THINK IS THE
MOST EFFECTIVE FOR PEOPLE WHO
DON'T WANT TO HAVE SURGERY, IS
TO RECORD THE FOOD THAT YOU EAT
BECAUSE -- AND, I WILL TELL YOU
BASED ON OUR PARTICIPANTS IN THE
PAST, IT IS THE MOST HATED
STRATEGY, BUT THE MOST EFFECTIVE
STRATEGY.
IT CREATES AWARENESS OF WHAT YOU
ARE PUTTING IN YOUR MOUTH.
I THINK THE CONCEPT, THEN, IS
THAT YOU ACTUALLY CAN -- KNOW
HOW MANY CALORIES IS PHYSICALLY
IN THERE.
WE DID THAT WITH A POUNDS-LOST
STUDY WHERE WE GAVE PARTICIPANTS
MENUS AND THE CONCEPT WAS,
FOLLOW THESE MENUS, BUT THE MORE
LONG-TERM MESSAGE WAS THAT WHEN
YOU SEE HOW MUCH OF EACH FOOD
GROUP IS ON THE PLATE, THEN YOU
COULD TAKE THAT A STEP FURTHER
AND SUBSTITUTE OTHER FOODS TO
MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
>> DR. BELLANGER, I DO MY BEST
TO KEEP MY PATIENTS FROM COMING
TO SEE YOU.
BUT I HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN
THAT.
OBESITY IS TRULY EPIDEMIC.
WOULD YOU ELABORATE ON THE
PATIENT YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS.
THERE ARE MANY CASES NOW THAT
YO
YOU'RE HAVING TO DO THE SURGICAL
PROCEDURES?
>> I THINK ONE OF THE GREATEST
INDICATIONS AND ONE OF THE BEST
INDICATIONS FOR
WEIGHT-LOSSSURGERY IS DIABETES.
WE'RE GETTING A PERSON TO LOSE
WEIGHT, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND
SLEEP APNEA GOES AWAY.
THERE'S AN INTRINSIC PROCESS.
SOMETHING WITHIN THE SURGERY, AS
WELL, THE OPERATION REVERSES
SOME OF THOSE EFFECTS BY THE
CHEMICAL CHANGES.
>> REVERSING DIABETES.
I'VE HAD PATIENTS COME OFF OF
ALL OF THEIR MEDICATIONS AFTER
SURGERY.
I HAVE ONE OF YOUR PATIENTS
HERE.
YOU HAD A QUESTION, AS WELL?
YOU HAD SURGERY BY
DR. BELLANGER.
WHAT LED YOU TO THAT AND HOW ARE -- I TO
AT THAT MYSELF, MY LIFE AND I
SAID, YOU KNOW, GOD MAY HAVE
CAUSED -- CALLED ONE OF MY
CHILDREN HOME AND I'M NOT GOING
TO LIVE VERY LONG IF I CONTINUE
THIS WAY.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND THE FEAR
OF GOING TO THE DOCTOR AND
THEY'RE SAYING, CONGRATULATIONS,
YOU'RE SUCCESSFUL IN BECOMING A
DIABETIC.
I DESERVE IT, I NEED A QUICK
JUMP-START.
I MET WITH DR. BELLANGER AND
FROM THERE, I JUST -- I'VE JUST
TAKEN OFF.
I'VE DONE IT.
I'VE MAINTAINED IT.
I'VE CHANGED MY EATING HABITS.
I'VE EVEN LEARNED HOW TO COOK
HEALTHIER FOR MY FAMILY AND --
>> SO, YOU'D RECOMMEND
DR. BELLANGER?
[LAUGHTER]
>> ABSOLUTELY.
[LAUGHTER]
>> KIND OF GOT THAT FEELING THAT
YOU WOULD.
.
[LAUGHTER]
>> HE'S JUST BEEN A -- IT WAS
JUST A GREAT DECISION.
I'M VERY GLAD THAT I MADE THAT
DECISION TO DO THAT BECAUSE IT
JUST WASN'T WORKING TO DO THAT
ON MY OWN.
I'D LOSE WEIGHT, GAIN IT, LOSE
WEIGHT, GAIN IT.
IT JUST -- YOU KNOW, I JUST
WASN'T LIVING A HEALTHY LIFE.
EXERCISE, 15-20 MILES A WEEK.
I WATCH MY CARBS.
>> DR. BELLANGER, SHE HAD A KEY
POINT.
IT'S NOT JUST A SURGERY.
THERE'S LIFE AFTER SURGERY.
WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS ARE YOU
GIVING PATIENTS?
>> WE LIKE TO FOLLOW-UP WITH OUR
PATIENTS FOR THE FIRST YEAR, IN
THE WEIGHT-LOSS PHASE RIGHT
AFTER SURGERY AND THEN AN
ADDITIONAL FIVE YEARS.
MOST OF THE PROGRAMS HERE AROUND
THE STATE HAVE BEEN ACCREDITED
AS CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE TO
PERFOURM BARIATRIC SURGERY.
ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MUST SHOW
YOU WANT TO DO OR HAVE TO DO IS
FOLLOW THE PATIENTS FOR FIVE
YEARS.
THAT'S WHEN THEY HIT THE MARK
WHERE YOU KNOW THAT CHANCES ARE
THAT WEIGHT LOSS WILL BE
MAINTA
MAINTAINED FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
>> ROBERT, I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM
YOU.
YOU HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
ROBERT, HOW MANY PEOPLE COOK?
SHOW OF HANDS?
LINDSAY?
[LAUGHTER]
SO, MR. ROBERT, WHAT WAS YOUR
QUESTION IN REGARDS TO HEALTHY
EATING?
>> I THINK LIKE RUDY ELUDED TO,
IT HAS TO START AS A YOUNG AGE
WITH EDUCATION, EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAMS.
THE TIMES I WAS GROWING UP, WE
JUST ATE ANYTHING WE WANTED TO.
MY MOTHER WOULD ALWAYS SAY,
YOU'RE EATING TOO MANY STARCHES,
GET OFF THE STARCHES AND I'D
SAY, WELL, NO.
I WAS HARD-HEADED AND NOW I'M
PAYING FOR IT BECAUSE I'M
DIABETIC.
WE JUST NEED MORE EDUCATION IN
THE STATE BECAUSE WE ALL LOVE TO
EAT.
IT'S JUST A HAPPY, DRINKING,
EATING STATE AND SO WE NEED TO
JUST -- WITH A NEW MAYOR AND THE
NEW GOVERNOR, WE NEED TO COME UP
WITH MORE PROGRAMS.
PENNINGTON'S BEEN GREAT TO ME.
>> YOU WENT A DIFFERENT ROUTE?
YOU TRIED EXERCISE AND DIET,
FIRST.
COULD YOU SHARE YOU STORY?
>> YEAH.
I -- BACK IN 2010 -- WAS IN AN
ACCIDENT TO WHERE I BROKE MY
ANKLE BILATERALLY AND I WAS IN A
WHEELCHAIR.
MY WEIGHT WENT TO 360 POUNDS.
I TRIED USING PARKS.
I WORK FOR BRAC SO WE HAVE MANY
WONDERFUL FACILITIES AND IT
WASN'T WORKING BECAUSE IT WAS A
MINDSET THAT I HAD GOTTEN INTO
AND UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO CORRECT
MY MINDSET, I WASN'T ABLE TO GET
TO THAT.
THE CATALYST WAS WHEN MY HUSBAND
GOT SICK.
HE HAD DIABETES SINCE HE WAS 2
AND FOUR YEARS AGO, HE WAS
DIAGNOSED WITH KIDNEY FAILURE.
THE DOCTOR SAYS, MA'AM, YOU
WON'T BE AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO
TAKE CARE OF YOUR HUSBAND.
HE NEEDED A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT.
I DID THE SURGERY.
THAT WAS THE ROUTE WE DECIDED TO
GO BECAUSE I NEEDED SOMETHING
THAT WAS -- IT'S NOT A
QUICK-FIX, I NEEDED SOMETHING
THAT WAS PERMANENT, MORE
LASTING, SOMETHING I COULD WRAP
MY HEAD AROUND.
MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BOTH BEEN
SUCCESSFUL WITH THAT AND HE HAS
SINCE GOTTEN HIS PANCREAS AND
KIDNEY TRANSPLANT DUE TO HAVING
WEIGHT-LOSSSURGE SURGERY.
TOGETHER, WE'VE LOST ALMOST 400
POUNDS TOGETHER.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BE MORE
ACTIVE TOGETHER NOW.
THIS PAST SEPTEMBER, WE HIKED TO
THE MOUNTAIN AND WITHOUT THAT,
WITHOUT THE EXPERIENCES CHANGING
OUR MINDSET, CHANGING OUR
LIFESTYLES, REALIZING WE GOT TO
THOSE PLACES BECAUSE OF THINGS
WE HAVE DONE OR NOT DONE, THAT'S
WHY WE'RE HERE.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE ABLE TO BE
HERE.
>> MOTIVATION SEEMS TO BE KEY IN
EVERYONE'S CONVERSATION.
DR. CHAMPAGNE, ANY EXPERIENCE
WITH INDIVIDUALS THAT JUST CAN'T
GET MOTIVATED?
CAN'T GET THIS DONE?
>> ACTUALLY, WHEN WE DO A
LIFESTYLE INTERVENTION,
MOTIVATION AND RELAPS
PREVENTION, TIME MANAGEMENT,
STRESS MANAGEMENT, ALL OF THOSE
CONCEPTS ARE EMBEDDED INTO THE
INTERVENTION.
ONE THING THAT'S IMPORTANT IS
THAT -- AND I KNOW THIS IS SORT
OF OFF THE SUBJECT, BUT YOU
KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT DIETS,
ALMOST ANY DIET WILL WORK IF YOU
FOLLOW IT.
THERE'S -- YOU CAN LOSE WEIGHT
ON LOW-CARB DIETS, HIGH-CARB
DIETS, LOW-FAT DIETS, HIGHER-FAT
DIETS.
THE KEY IS COUNTING CALORIES.
THE UNFORFINATE THING ABOUT SOME
OF THE LOW-CARB DIETS IS YOU
RESTRICT FIBER AND THEREFORE YOU
MAY BE MORE PRONE TO COLON
CANCER.
SO, THE AMERICAN DIET,
UNFORTUNATELY, IS TOO LOW IN
FIBER AND IT NEEDS TO BE MUCH
HIGHER, PROBABLE DOUBLE, WHAT
PEOPLE NORMALLY WOULD CONSUME.
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, MOTIVATION --
JUST A CASE IN POINT, WE HAD A
STUDY GOING ON AT PENNINGTON
RIGHT AROUND HURRICANE KATRINA
AND A YEAR AFTER HURRICANE
KATRINA, PEOPLE WERE STILL
FINDING EXCUSES NOT TO BE ABLE
TO STICK TO THEIR DIET BECAUSE
THEY HAD PEOPLE IN THEIR HOUSE
AND THEY COULDN'T BE UNKIND AND
NOT LET THEM COOK BAD FOOD FOR
THEM.
SO, IT WAS AN INTERESTING TIME.
BUT, YOU KNOW, FAMILY PRESSURES
AND A LOT OF THOSE REALLY FACTOR
IN.
WE KNOW PEOPLE CAN MAKE A
CHANGE, LIKE I SAID, SUSTAINING
THE CHANGE AND CARRYING IT
FORWARD ARE THE KEY THINGS.
>> YOU CAME UP, DOC, WITH THE
"DASH" DIET.
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO DEFINE THAT
FOR OUR AUDIENCE.
MANY OF MY PATIENTS BATTLE WITH
BUSY SCHEDULES, CHILDREN AND
EATING OUT.
WE TRY TO COOK AT HOME.
I'M NEWLY-MARRIED SO MY WIFE
ENJOYS COOKING SO I'M VERY
FORTUNATE.
WHAT ARE YOU THOUGHTS ABOUT
EATING OUT?
>> WE DID HAVE A DISCUSSION
ABOUT THAT.
WE HAD A STUDY WHERE WE TOLD
PEOPLE THEY COULD ONLY EAT OUT
ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK AND THAT
WAS NOT A VERY GOOD MESSAGE.
WHEN YOU EAT OUT, YOU REALLY
NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE EATING
AND THERE'S STRATEGIES THAT YOU
CAN USE.
YOU CAN ORDER FOOD THAT DOESN'T
HAVE ADDED FAT.
YOU COULD HAVE YOUR SALAD
DRESSING ON THE SIDE.
THERE ARE MANY, MANY OTHER
STRATEGIES THAT CAN BE USED.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF THE
"DASH" DIET, THE "DASH" DIET WAS
DESIGNED TO BE A HEALTHY DIET
AND FOR THE SEVENTH YEAR IN A
ROW, IT IS STILL THE HEALTHIER
DIET BY U.S. NEWS AND WORLD
REPORTS.
IF YOU COUNT CALORIES AND YOU
KNOW ABOUT THE FOOD GROUPS, YOU
CAN MAKE VERY POSITIVE CHANGES
AND IT COULD BE MORE
NUTRIENT-DENSE.
>> WE HAVE SOMEONE FROM BRETA
HERE.
>> BRETA'S A NONPROFIT AND WE
SUPPORT SMALL, LOCAL FARMERS
HERE IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
AND, THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO
BRING THEIR PRODUCT TO OUR
MARKETS SO THEY CAN REACH THE
INDIVIDUALS HERE IN THE BATON
ROUGE AREA AND SOME OF OUR
PRODUCERS GO TO THE CRESCENT
CITY AREA.
>> IS IT STATE-WIDE?
>> NORTH AND SOUTH BATON ROUGE.
ONE OF MAIN GOALS -- ONCE WE
RECEIVE THE FUNDING TO DO THE
MOBILE FARMERS MARKET, WHICH IS
TO TARGET DESERT AREAS, WE WENT
TO GLENN OAKS AREA, SOUTH BATON
ROUGE, STARHILL CHURCH.
WE PROVIDED A POP-UP MARKET
THERE.
WE TARGETED MOSTLY, YOU KNOW,
SENIORS -- BECAUSE OUR MARKETS
COME BETWEEN 8:00 AND 2:00, SO A
LOT OF SENIORS, A LOT OF
RETIREES, SOME FOLKS THAT WERE
DISABLED.
IF WE HAD THOSE WHO WORKED
DURING THOSE HOURS, WE HAVE THE
SATURDAY MARKET DOWNTOWN.
SO EVERYTHING IN THE BATON ROUGE
AREA CAN HAVE ACCESS TO LOCAL,
FRESH PRODUCE HERE, THAT COMES
FROM HERE IN LOUISIANA.
>> FRESH IS BEST AND TRY TO EAT
SEASONAL?
>> I'M A SEASONABLE PERSON.
THINGS ARE NOT IN SEASON OR
WE'LL HAVE A BAD WEATHER
CONDITIONS AND OUR FARMERS
AREN'T GROWING A LOT OF
VEGETABLES AND WE MAY HAVE TO GO
OUT TO OTHER PLACED TO GET OUR
FRESH VEGETABLES.
IF IT'S IN SEASON, THAT'S WHAT
MY FAMILY'S GOING TO HAVE.
>> YOU WORK AROUND THE STATE.
I WANT YOU TO DEFINE WHAT TO
DESERTS.
>> I WORK WITH OUR SNAP AID.
WE HAVE NUTRITION EDUCATORS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
WHAT I DO IS I GO IN -- IF IT'S
A SITE, I HELP THEM GUILD A
GARDEN, MAYBE AT ACCOUNTS ON
AGING OR A HEADSTART WHERE THEY
CAN LEARN HOW TO GROW, HARVEST
AND CONTINUE IT SEASONALLY.
>> ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT WE
HAVEN'T LEARNED ABOUT THIS.
PEOPLE AREN'T GROWING AND LIVING
AS THEY SHOULD?
>> I'VE THOUGHT MAYBE CLOSE TO
2,000 STUDENTS.
IUM MAYBE MORE.
I HAVE A LOT OF RESISTANCE, I
DON'T WANT TO GET MY NAILS
DIRTY.
I DON'T WANT TO GET MY SHOES
DIRTY.
ONCE THEY TOUCH THE SOIL WITH
THEIR HANDS, THERE'S NO GOING
BACK.
THEY ENJOY IT AND THEY LOVE IT
AND IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE IN
COMMON AND HAVE IN OUR ANCESTRY
AND WE SHOULD RECONNECT WITH IT,
IF WE HAVEN'T.
AND HAVING THE SKILL OF GROWING
YOUR OWN FOOD CAN TAKE YOU A
LONG WAY.
A FOOD DESERT IN URBAN AREAS IS
A NEIGHBORHOOD WITH LOW ACCESS
TO FRESH PRODUCE.
SO, YOU DON'T HAVE A SUPERMARKET
WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE AND IN A
RURAL AREA, IT'S WITHIN 10
MILES.
OFTEN TIMES, WITH FOOD DESERTS,
YOU HAVE LOCACCESS TO
TRANSPORTATION SO IF YOU CAN'T
WALK TO THE SUPERMARKET, YOU'RE
TAKING THE BUS.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO RETRIEVE FRESH
PRODUCE.
ONE CREATIVE WAY TO COMBAT THAT
IS LEARNING HOW TO GROW YOUR ON
FOOD IN YOUR BACKYARD.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO THE
STORE TO GET THE COLLARD GREENS,
THAT'S A BLESSING.
>> MY DAD HAD A MINI GARDEN AND
WE'D TAKE THE TOMATOES AND EAT
THEM LIKE APPLES.
>> YOU ARE VERY RESOURCEFUL.
I WANT YOU TO MENTION SOME
THINGS ABOUT THE WIC PROGRAM.
>> WE PARTNER AND COLLABORATE
WITH A LOT OF THE PANELISTS
HERE.
WE WORK WITH THE SNAP AID AND
THE SNAP EDUCATORS COMING TO THE
WIC CLINICS AND PROVIDE SERVICES
AND TEACH OUR WIC PARTICIPANTS
FROM TIME TO TIME ACROSS THE
STATE OF LOUISIANA.
WE ALSO WORK WITH BRETA.
WITH THE FARMERS MARKETS, WE
HIGHLY ENCOURAGE OUR WIC
PARTICIPANTS TO COME AND
PARTICIPATE AND PURCHASE FRESH
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
THERE'S A MATCHING PROGRAM THAT
WE HAVE.
WE'RE ALSO EXPANDED INTO
ALEXANDRIA, LAKE CHARLES, AS
WELL AS SHREVEPORT.
IN 2009, THE USDA APPROVED THE
WIC PROGRAM TO SERVE OR PROVIDE
WHOLEGRAIN.
SO, WHOLEGRAINS ARE ADDED TO THE
FOOD PACKAGE, AS WELL AS THE
FRESH CHOICE OF FRUITS AND
VEGETABLES.
THE STATE OF LOUISIANA OPTED TO
PROVIDE FRESH-ONLY FRUITS AND
VEGETABLES BECAUSE WE ARE AN
AGRICULTURAL STATE AND FROM
[INDISCERNIBLE] TO ADULTHOOD
WITH OUR CHILD-BEARING AGE
WOMEN, WE WANT THEM TO HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE FRESH
AND PREPARE FRESH FOR THEIR
FAMILIES TO INTRODUCE TO THE
CHILDREN.
IT STARTS VERY YOUNG WITH REGARD
TO INTRODUCING NEW FOOD IDEAS
AND GETTING OUR CHILDREN
ACCLIMATED ACCLIMATED TO
EXERCISE.
>> WE HAD A VERY INTERESTING
DIALOGUE PRIOR TO THE SHOW.
I JUST WANTED TO DAVID TO SHARE
A LITTLE BIT OF HIS STORY.
IT WAS PRETTY AMAZING AND WE'RE
JUST GLAD THAT YOU'RE DOING
WELL.
>> IT WAS A GREAT JOURNEY.
AT 2 YEARS OLD, I WAS DIAGNOSED
WITH TYPE I DIABETES, WHICH IS
JUVENILE.
I LEARNED HOW TO TAKE MY OWN
INSULIN SHOTS.
SUPPOSED TO LEARN HOW TO EAT.
I NEVER DID WANT TO DO THAT.
GOING THROUGH THE TEENAGE YEARS,
I REBELLED.
I DIDN'T HAVE MY MOM AROUND.
MY DAD WORKED.
SO, I JUST DID WHATEVER IT TOOK
TO GET BY.
IN 2013, I GOT DIAGNOSED WITH,
IN-STAGE RENAL DISEASE.
>> HOW OLD WERE YOU THEN?
>> 32 YEARS OLD.
AND IT WAS IN NOVEMBER OF 2013.
THEY PERFORMED AN AV FISTULA.
THEY CAN DO DIALYSIS IN MY ARM.
I GOT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, SLEEP
APNEA.
AND THEN I GOT TOLD BY THE
DOCTOR, YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO GET A
TRANSPLANT AND A PANCREAS.
THE DIABETES WOULD TEAR MY
KIDNEY UP.
>> YOU HAD TO LOSE WEIGHT?
>> I WAS AT 289 POUNDS AND THEY
SAID I NEED TO BE DOWN TO AT
LEAST 170.
I'VE TRIED DIFFERENT DIETS AND
THE PROBLEM I HAD WAS BEING A
DIABETIC ON A DIABETIC DIET, I
DIDN'T NEED CALCIUM, DIFFERENT
FOODS WOULD CONTRADICT OTHER
DIETS.
I'VE SPOKEN WITH A DOCTOR OUT OF
LOUISIANA WHO AGREED TO DO A
GASTRIC SLEEVE.
HE DID THE GASTRIC SLEEVE.
KEPT EXTRA WATCH ON ME, HE
PERSONALLY CALLED EVERY MONTH.
THE NUTRITIONIST WORKED WITH ME
ON THE SHAKES.
AND I ENDED UP GOING FROM 289
POUNDS DOWN TO 167 POUNDS.
AND I RECEIVED A KIDNEY/PANCREAS
TRANSPLANT DECEMBER OF 2015.
>> YOU LOOK GREAT, DAVID.
>> THANK YOU.
I FEEL GREAT.
THE ROAD TO RECOVERY'S HARD, BUT
I FIND THAT EATING RIGHT, HAVING
TO LIVE FOR MY SISTER TO WATCH
HER GRADUATE COLLEGE, MY WIFE, I
HAD A SERVICE DOG.
>> WHO DO YOU HAVE WITH YOU
THERE?
>> THIS IS [INDISCERNIBLE]
>> DR. BELLANGER, HOW COMMON IS
THIS STORY?
HOW COMMON IS THIS SCENARIO AND
HOW SAFE ARE THESE PROCEDURES
AND MAYBE SHARE THE DIFFERENT
TYPES OF PROCEDURES FOR WEIGHT
LOSS?
>> THE SURGICAL PROCEDURES ARE
THE GASTRIC BANDING, WHICH HAS
FALLEN OUT OF FAVOR.
THERE IS GASTRIC BYPASS AND THE
VERTICAL SLEEVE.
IN DAVID'S SITUATION, THE
GASTRIC SLEEVE IS PROBABLY THE
BEST BECAUSE THE MEDICATIONS YOU
NEED FOR A TRANSPLANT PATIENT
HAVE TO BE MONITORED CLOSELY AND
THE VERTICAL SLEEVE IS THE
PROCEDURE OF CHOICE FOR THAT
BECAUSE IT DOESN'T ALTER THE
ABSORPTION OF MEDICATIONS.
>> THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL, HIS
SITUATION AT ALL?
>> NO, IT'S NOT.
>> WOW.
>> DR. CHAMPAGNE?
>> YES.
>> A QUESTION, MY MAIN PROBLEM,
I TRIED THE RENAL DIET, DIABETIC
DIET, DOESN'T NECESSARILY GO
TOGETHER.
I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH PENNINGTON
BECAUSE I'M FROM TEXAS.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING I CAN LOOK
AT OR SOMETHING SOMEONE COULD
TRY BEFORE HAVING TO UNDERGO A
GASTRIC SLEEVE?
>> IN TERMS OF YOUR PARTICULAR
SITUATION, I THINK THAT RELYING
ON A DIETICIAN WHO CAN COMPARE
THE TWO DIETS AND THEY YOU NEED
TO BE ON, LIKE THE DIABETIC DIET
VERSUS A RENAL DIET, COULD GIVE
YOU A LOT OF ADVICE IN TERMS OF,
YOU KNOW, WHAT FOODS WOULD BE
BEST FOR YOU TO CONSUME VERSES
WHICH ONES TO AVOID.
IT'S TOO BAD THAT WE DON'T HAVE
THE RESOURCES TO CURE EVERYONE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST A
LITTLE BIT OVERWEIGHT ARE
WANTING TO MAKE CHANGES AND COME
TO SEE US, BUT SOMETIMES THEY
DON'T QUALIFY BECAUSE THEY'RE
NOT FAT ENOUGH.
I THINK THAT'S SORT OF DIFFICULT
BECAUSE SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE
OVERWEIGHT AND THEY WANT TO LOSE
A LITTLE BIT OF WEIGHT TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE AND GET TO A POINT
WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT BECOMING OBESE.
>> ARE THERE ANY ONGOING
STUDIES?
>> WE HAVE DONE STUDIES ON
WEIGHT WATCHERS AND THE NEW
PROGRAM IS CHANGING AS A RESULT
OF A STUDY THAT WAS JOINT
BETWEEN PENNINGTON AND SEVERAL
OTHER -- FOUR OR FIVE OTHER
CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
PENNINGTON IS, YOU KNOW, TRYING
TO BE ON THE FOREFRONT OF
HELPING TO DECIDE WHAT MIGHT BE
BEST FOR PEOPLE IN TERMS OF A
DIET.
WE ACTUALLY DID A BARIATRIC
STUDY CALLED HEADS UP.
DR. BELLANGER, HERE, WAS ONE OF
OUR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGEONS.
AND, IT WAS -- IT WAS REALLY A
TERRIFIC STUDY AND I WISH IT
COULD HAVE GONE ON FOR MORE
YEARS, BUT WE ARE ABLE TO FOLLOW
SOME OF THE PEOPLE UP TO FIVE
YEARS.
AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR FUNDING TO
ACTUALLY TRY TO CONTINUE
FOLLOWING THOSE PEOPLE, WHO HAD
BARIATRIC SURGERY.
>> RUDY, REAL QUICK.
AN OBESE CHILD MAKES AN OBESE
ADULT.
HOW TRUE IS THAT?
>> PARENTS HAVE TO BE REALLY
COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT
THERE'S A TIME WHEN YOU HAVE TO
SAY NO.
NO TO CERTAIN FOODS AND SUGARY
CANDY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> SPRINGTIME.
>> THAT'S TRUE.
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH
CHILDHOOD OBESITY, NOT ONLY YOU
HAVE TO HAVE A GOOD PHYSICAL
EDUCATION IN SCHOOL, BUT AT THE
SCHOOL.
I'VE ALWAYS NOTICED THAT THERE
ARE KIDS WHO TRY OUT FOR
BASKETBALL TEAMS OR FOOTBALL
TEAMS.
THE KIDS WHO DON'T MAKE IT, WHAT
HAPPENS TO THEM?
WE HAVE SO MANY SPECIALIZED
SPORTS.
SPORTS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE, LIKE
SOCCER COSTS HUNDREDS OF
DOLLARS.
BASEBALL COSTS HUNDREDS OF
DOLLARS.
IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES, THEY
CAN'T AFFORD IT.
WE CREATE SPORTS AND
TOURNAMENTS.
IF NOT, THEY WILL WANDER THE
STREETS AND EAT THE WRONG
THINGS.
TO KEEP OUR KIDS BUSY AND TO
FIND THOSE PROGRAMS THAT WILL
ALLOW OUR KIDS TO HAVE SOMETHING
TO DO AND IN THE SUMMERTIME, WE
HAVE A LOT OF PROGRAMS WITH THE
GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON FITNESS
WHERE WE ADDRESS ALL THOSE
THINGS AT THE SAME TIME.
>> I TELL YOU GUYS, I WORKED
WITH RUDY OVER SEVEN YEARS AND
HE'S DONE GREAT.
ANY CLOSING WORDS FROM OUR
PANELISTS?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE
EVERYONE WITH A SIMPLE CENTRAL
SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THAT IS, IF
A KID GROWS KALE, A KID WILL EAT
KALE.
>> MR. MACKLIN?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY LET'S TRY
TO -- WHEN YOU START ANY TYPE OF
NEW DIET OR EXERCISE PROGRAM, DO
NOT DO IT BY YOURSELF.
ALWAYS HAVE A PARTNER OR
PARTNERS.
THE MORE YOU HAVE -- THERE ARE
GOING TO BE SOME DAYS YOU WON'T
FEEL LIKE WORKING OUT OR EATING
RIGHT.
WE FALL OFF THE WAGON.
WHEN YOU HAVE PARTNERS, YOUR
DIET AND YOUR EXERCISE ARE GOING
TO LAST A LONG TIME.
>> SOCIAL SUPPORT IS VERY
IMPORTANT IN ALL OF OUR
WEIGHT-LOSS STUDIES.
WE ARE DOING WORK WITH CHILD
NUTRITION IN THE STATE, BUT I
WANT TO STRESS THAT A CHILD IS
AT SCHOOL FOR A SHORT PART OF
THE DAY, SO, THE EXAMPLE SET BY
THE PARENTS IS KEY TO GOOD CHILD
NUTRITION H
NUTRITION HABITS.
AT PENNINGTON, WE HAVE THE
FARMERS MARKET ON THURSDAY.
8:00 TO 12:00.
>> DR. BELLANGER?
>> WHEN YOU HAVE A BIG GOAL OF
LOSING WEIGHT, IT'S BEST TO
ACHIEVE IT BY SETTING MULTIPLE
SMALL GOALS SO YOU CAN ACHIEVE
THOSE GOALS MUCH EASIER.
>> DO YOU RECOMMEND
[INDISCERNIBLE]
>> YES, DEFINITELY.
>> KNOW YOUR DOCTOR, KNOW YOUR
NUMBERS, KNOW YOUR FAMILY
HISTORY, EAT HEALTHY AND
EXERCISE.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOU HAVE TO GO
TO THE DOCTOR.
WE CAN'T DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM IF
YOU DON'T GO TO THE DOCTOR.
MANY PATIENTS COME INTO WITH MY
BLOOD PRESSURE AND DIABETES.
DAVID, YOU'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH
THAT AND YOU'VE SEEN WHAT
HAPPENS.
I WANT TO THANK THE PANELISTS
AND THE AUDIENCE.
YOU GUYS WERE AWESOME.
THIS WAS A GREAT SESSION.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO SOMETHING
LIKE THIS AGAIN.
WE'VE RUN OUT OF TIME FOR OUR
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SEGMENT.
WE'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR
FOR THEIR INSIGHT.
WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'LL HAVE A
FEW CLOSING MOMENTS.
>> I'M INSPIRED, I'M GOING TO GO
OUT AND EAT A HEALTHIER DIET.
I DON'T PROMISE TO COOK MORE.
MY HUSBAND'S A GOOD COOK.
IT IS HARD IN LOUISIANA.
WE HAVE SUCH TASTY FOOD.
AND AS YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, ALL
OF OUR SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, TO
TAILGATING AND PARTIES.
>> WE'RE EATING.
>> CONSQUENTSLY, WE HAVE TO KEEP
THAT IN MIND AND PORTION CONTROL
IS PERHAPS ONE OF THE BIGGEST
THINGS.
>> WE HAVE TO LIMIT THOSE THINGS
AND MAKE HEALTHIER CHOICES.
FRESH IS BEST.
GO TO THOSE FRESH MARKETS ON THE
WEEKENDS.
>> I BUY THEM, I DON'T
NECESSARILY COOK THEM.
>>> THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE
FOR THIS EDITION OF "LOUISIANA
PUBLIC SQUARE."
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT OUR
WEBSITE, LPB.ORG/PUBLICSQUARE.
COMMENT ON TONIGHT'S SHOW AND WE
WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM ALL OF
YOU.
>>> NEXT MONTH'S PROGRAM TAKES A
LOOK BACK AT THE POLICE AND
CIVILIAN SHOOTINGS ING THE
CAPITOL CITY.
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE
TRUST AMONG THE POLICE AND
PUBLIC?
PARTICULAR MINORITIES?
THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL TOWN
HALL EDITION, "BLACK & THE
BLUE."
THANKS, AGAIN, FOR WATCHING.
>>> GOOD NIGHT AND WE POSTPONE
THE PROGRAM BECAUSE OF THE
FLOODS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO A
CONVERSATION WITH ALL OF YOU.
GOOD NIGHT, EVERYONE.
>> GOOD NIGHT.
>>> SUPPORT FOR THIS PROGRAM IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOUNDATION OF
EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC
BROADCASTING AND FROM VIEWERS
LIKE YOU.