Dr David Ashton's weight loss blog - news and views on obesity surgery and weight loss issues

Dr Ashton's Weight Loss Blog

As one of the UK's recognised weight loss experts, Dr David Ashton has over 20 years experience in studying and treating obesity and has helped over 1000 patients to achieve a healthier weight. Read Dr Ashton's blog on the myths, news and views on weight loss.

Small changes. Big gains

Have you packed in your diet yet? Many people will... 25 January 2012
Love your liver

If you are like most people, New Year is probably the... 03 January 2012
Gastric Band at Christmas

Christmas Day is approaching and so that our gastric... 21 December 2011
Getting over the Plateau

Almost anyone who has tried to lose weight knows how... 29 November 2011
Pioneering gastric band surgeon

As one of the most experienced obesity surgeons in the... 22 November 2011
Dead Loss

Have you noticed no one wants to talk about death? ... 14 November 2011
Quetelet’s error and the cloth tape

How do you decide if you are a healthy weight? The... 08 November 2011
Hard Wired to Eat, Not to Lose Weight

In the UK around 60% of adults are either overweight... 21 October 2011
Updated comment on EndoBarrier™

Leading UK weight loss expert Dr David Ashton says... 21 October 2011
The really NEAT way to weight loss

In terms of managing your weight, it may be easier to... 18 October 2011
Free Gastric Band for Mark Cavendish - My Sporting Hero

OK I know this is supposed to be a weight loss blog... 28 September 2011
BATs and Bright Lights

Whether it turns up unexpectedly around our waists, as... 19 September 2011
The Menopause Myth

Women in their mid 40s and 50s gain an average 1.5... 07 September 2011
I think therefore I'm slim

We’ve all heard it before: perception is everything.... 30 August 2011
Hungarian fat tax won't work

I’m sure I’ve written about fat taxes on “unhealthy... 15 August 2011
Cosmetic surgery after weight loss

A couple of weeks ago I saw a lady about to undergo a... 09 August 2011
Don't Supersize Me

When did “large” stop being big enough? I can’t quite... 22 July 2011
Cash not crash diet

Like most people when I go to the supermarket, I pay... 08 July 2011
For what would I swap my Olympic tickets?

Well would you believe it? I’ve got tickets for the... 29 June 2011
Learning from Lance

One of my sporting heroes is Lance Armstrong. Leaving... 21 June 2011
Should you be going nuts?

Mmmm nuts! Most people have a favourite, but aren’t... 13 June 2011
Gastric Bypass - A Review

It’s some time since I wrote about the gastric bypass... 13 June 2011
Unconscious eating on the move

It’s the quick snack that can add several hundred... 01 June 2011
Will drinking alcohol make you fat?

A glass of wine has around 120 “empty” calories and a... 17 May 2011
An Eventful Weekend

"Sometimes you just can't beat being a doctor! This... 19 April 2011
Obesity and Brown Legs

"Some patients with severe obesity will develop a... 12 April 2011
Don’t be an Easter Fool

"As Christmas has lost its religious significance for... 05 April 2011
Gastric Band Questions you Wouldn't Know to Ask

"Many prospective patients look on the Internet for... 28 March 2011
Lift going down

"Of all the mysteries in life, taking the lift – or... 22 March 2011
Gastric banding: The Healthier Weight way versus an overseas way ….

"I was sad to see a gastric band patient recently who... 15 March 2011
Weight to Go Shake versus an Innocent® Smoothie

"We love fruit - and fruity drinks can play a part in... 08 March 2011
Most won't shed pounds seen on ITV’s Biggest Loser

"As inspiring as the finale eventually was yesterday,... 02 March 2011
Healthier Weight Walk in the Cotswolds

" ….. an intrepid bunch of Healthier Weight staff,... 22 February 2011
Will Valentine’s Day give you a Heavy Heart?

"If you want to celebrate Valentine’s day, instead of... 11 February 2011
Childhood Obesity and Takeaways

"The decision of Birmingham City Council (BCC) to ban... 08 February 2011
Stand up for your Health

Weight loss specialist Dr David Ashton explains the... 01 February 2011
Norwegians, Crisps and Bicycles

Dr David Ashton draws on his childhood memories and... 25 January 2011
My weight problem - It’s my glands, doctor

"When I was a child (a very long time ago), I would... 19 January 2011
Towards 10,000 Steps

"Like many people I always “watch my weight” in... 12 January 2011
What I’ll be eating on Christmas Day

"I was recently asked by a magazine what I’ll be... 20 December 2010
A Child’s Christmas in Wales

Weight loss expert Dr David Ashton evokes memories of... 15 December 2010
Unconscious Food Choices

In his Weight Loss Blog Dr David Ashton explains how... 07 December 2010
An Evening at the Theatre?

"If truth be known, I’m not much of a fan of theatre. ... 01 December 2010
Sensa and Nonsensa

In his Weight Loss Blog Dr David Ashton of Healthier... 23 November 2010
What Keeping a Food Diary Does For You

"One of the commonest complaints from patients... 17 November 2010
Turn off the lights, darling

"Recent findings in the Proceedings of the National... 10 November 2010
The Triumph of Ignorance over Science

"Colonic irrigation: You can, I hope, imagine my... 02 November 2010
Concert Dieters

"When a concert pianist arrives on stage she doesn’t... 28 October 2010
The Problem with Dieticians

Read Dr David Ashton’s critique of the Dietician’s... 19 October 2010
Why do surgery patients think they don’t need to use diet food?

"A lady came to a gastric band adjustment clinic last... 12 October 2010
The Preposterous Handbag – It’s a no brainer!

Weight loss expert Dr David Ashton considers the cost... 05 October 2010
Obesity and Floppy Eyelids!

A not uncommon, but usually misdiagnosed problem... 28 September 2010
The Dieting Carousel

As I get older I sometimes feel as though I’m watching... 21 September 2010
Cycling to Santiago

In his Weight Loss Blog Dr David Ashton of the... 14 September 2010
Use your Noggin!

Scientists have discovered that regular physical... 07 September 2010
Gastric bands and the holiday aspiration

"Summer is traditionally one of the busiest times for... 03 September 2010
I Feel Like a Proud Father

"As I look out of my consulting room window at the... 24 August 2010
Obesity Surgery Cures Type 2 Diabetes

As a doctor and scientist, I dislike today’s tendency... 17 August 2010
Obesity Surgery - It’s not all about food…..

Every Wednesday we have a formal clinical meeting at... 10 August 2010
Risk of Excessive Weight Gain during Pregnancy

An Australian study recently published in the American... 03 August 2010
The Gastric Band Success Tripod

“My band’s not working” is a statement I hear from... 28 July 2010
Summer Madness - the Gastric Hypno-Band

“It must be the heat” I tell myself, because nothing... 20 July 2010
POSE - possible - but not yet

Another weight loss procedure which seems to have... 13 July 2010
Obesity in Pregnancy is putting mothers at risk

A new UK survey has reviewed 600,000 live births and... 08 July 2010
Discrimination Against Obese Women

A recent study from my friend John Dixon and his... 29 June 2010
Gastric Bypass Annual Service

It is a well known fact that getting gastric bypass... 22 June 2010
“I want a gastric band to stop me eating”

Frequently I see gastric band patients in clinic who... 15 June 2010
X-ray gastric band adjustments - they can be misleading

A common frustration for some patients is that even... 07 June 2010
Why does my band feel tight when flying?

There are three reasons why a gastric band may feel... 04 June 2010
BMI and Weight Loss Surgery - Time for Change

The recent article in the Sunday Express (May 30th... 02 June 2010
Gastric Bypass - You Still Need to Work at it!

A common misconception is that gastric bypass patients... 01 June 2010
Weight Loss and Psychology

Some patients I see in clinic continue to visit... 28 May 2010
Is it OK to laugh at fat people?

It was brought to my attention that a discussion is... 27 May 2010
SILS

For over a year now we have been doing the majority of... 27 May 2010
Cheesy Wotsits and the Gastric Band Paradox

As the recession has taken hold, there has been a... 27 May 2010