Gastric Bypass Surgery

Wow-Decreased numbers of those with certain forms of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease and an instant cure for obesity...what more could we ask for in a treatment???
Gastric bypass surgery has taken our nation by storm. Today's article paints a bright ans positive picture for using gastric bypass surgery as an accepted form of treatment for at least three of our nation's top five killers (cancer, heart disease, and diabetes!). They cited many impressive statistics to back up their claims/findings.

What have you heard about gastric bypass surgery? Include your knowledge of personal stories of those you know, things you have seen/heard/read in the media, etc.

Find at least one other article to support or refute today's article and include a new detail that you learned from it.

Research & report what, if any risks there are to having this surgery.

What is your overall opinion on this procedure? Carefully research & weigh the risks against the benefits before making your final assessment on this procedure.

Endocrine Article Blog

The endocrine system usually functions in a negative feedback loop system in which one hormone is released to stop another hormone from being released when enough of it has been secreted (kind of like an A/C thermostat). We read an article today that described the endocrine system also working in a positive feedback loop system that paired stress and aggression together. We mentioned a couple of examples of positive feedback loops: labor contractions become more intense paired with a pain stimulus; milk production increases paired with the suckling stimulus. Positive feedback loop systems can be useful! However, what about stress and aggression? Honestly, our bodies were designed in a good way. Under increased stress, the body becomes more aggressive. This is great for battlefield war, but how is this system affecting our everyday lives? Research the role of ACTH to cortisol and then to adrenaline. Discuss which gland secretes each of these hormones. Does this mean that our actions are beyond our control? Are we in charge of our behavior? What, if anything, can be done to prevent any long-term changes in our aggressive system?