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“Moment is Now. Here is the Truth.”
Sponsored Event
When:
October 16, 2008, 06:30 pm to 08:30 pm.Where:
Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel3400 Paradise Road
Las Vegas, NV
Lodging:
Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel3400 Paradise Road
Las Vegas, NV
http://www.renaissancelasvegas.com
About the area:
You are invited... to learn the science behind why diet and exercise alone may not work for people who are more than 100 pounds overweight and to find a health solution to long-term weight loss."Guiding Light" and "The Sopranos" actress Caitlin Van Zandt and Khaliah Ali, daughter of former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali and author of "Fighting Weight," invite you to hear about their lifelong struggles with weight and their journeys toward healthy, long-term weight loss with the LAP-BAND AP® System. They're sharing their stories to let others who are more than 100 pounds overweight know that there is hope.
At this special event, Caitlin and Khaliah will be joined by:
• Dr. Michael Roizen, co-author of the best-selling book, "YOU: On A Diet" and co-founder of RealAge.com
• Dr. James Atkinson, bariatric surgeon, Surgical Weight Control Center
• Barbara Van Zandt, Caitlin's mother and LAP-BAND AP® System patient
At this free event you will have the opportunity to ask questions and find out how to take steps on your weight-loss journey. All attendees will receive a complimentary copy of "Fighting Weight" and "YOU: On A Diet."
Announcements:
FREE PARKING AVAILABLESpeakers / Topics
Caitlin Van Zandt - Actress, "Guiding Light" and "The Sopranos", and LAP-BAND AP System patient
At 22 years old, actress Caitlin Van Zandt should be on top of the world. "Even though I've had great acting opportunities with "Guiding Light" and the "Sopranos," I couldn't enjoy watching myself on television or concentrate on my performance because I couldn't get past the way I looked."
With her health beginning to suffer, Caitlin knew she had reached a point where she needed to lose more than 100 pounds. Over the years she tried numerous diet and exercise programs but no matter how hard she worked at it, she was fighting a losing battle against her weight. Caitlin is ready to put that behind her. "I'm ready to shed the weight. I'm ready to be a healthier, happier person."
Recently, Caitlin had what she calls her moment of truth. "I am tired of being the biggest person in the room, being self-conscious at the gym, not feeling comfortable at dance classes and struggling with my physical appearance." Caitlin realized she couldn't do it alone, and found the help she needs through adjustable gastric banding. Caitlin came to this decision after a lot of soul searching, and a lot of research: "At first, I was skeptical to even seriously consider weight-loss surgery; all I could think is what if I failed? What would people think of me? I had researched options and the risks and side effects of gastric bypass scared me. It wasn't until I met with a surgeon and learned about the LAP-BAND AP® System that I finally hit a turning point. During that meeting, I had my second moment of truth; I finally was given hope, hope that there was something that could help me lose weight. I realized the LAP-BAND AP® System was a tool, a safe, minimally-invasive procedure that would control my hunger and I could work with to safely lose weight.
In February 2008, Caitlin and her mom, Barbara – who has also fought a lifelong battle against her weight and needed to lose more than 100 pounds – had the procedure together. "I felt very lucky that I found the LAP-BAND AP® System, and that I could do this together with my mom. We have always had a close mother-daughter relationship and this was a perfect opportunity to embark on this journey together." They have started their weight-loss journey together, supporting each other as they go.
By talking about her weight-loss experience, Caitlin hopes to serve as a role model, "I want other people, who are also struggling with this disease, to know that there is hope and you don't have to resort to extreme surgical options like gastric bypass or be trapped in diet and exercise programs that will not help you lose and keep weight off long term. There are other options – there is hope."
Caitlin has already lost more than 65 pounds, but she knows that she has a long journey ahead, and wants to make sure that she gets a message to others who may be in her position, "My advice to others who are struggling – The Moment is Now – understand the truth about obesity – it's a disease that will physically and emotionally impact your life."
Khaliah Ali - daughter of former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali and author of "Fighting Weight"
After the birth of her son, Khaliah Ali, fashion designer and daughter of former heavyweight champion, Muhammad Ali, reached a pivotal point in her life – her moment of truth. Khaliah, who constantly battled obesity, topped the scales at 335 pounds. She feared for her life and worried her son would have to grow up without his mother – status quo was no longer an option.
Unfortunately, the solution eluded her. Khaliah was no stranger to dieting – at times losing up to 50 and 100 pounds. However, like many people who struggle with obesity, she always gained the weight back. She was frustrated by the endless cycle and the misperceptions of others that she lacked the willpower or was not trying hard enough to lose weight. She worked hard, exercising and dieting consistently, but no matter how hard she tried, she was losing the battle against obesity. She felt a deep sense of shame and helplessness.
As a result, Khaliah suffered both physically and emotionally. Her joints ached and she would run out of breath walking up a single flight of stairs. She felt constant hunger and experienced low self-esteem. Compounding this, as the daughter of a celebrity, her battle with obesity was fought in the public arena. At just 9 years old, Khaliah was interviewed by Jane Pauley on The Today Show for a segment about overweight kids.
After years of unsuccessful attempts at diet and exercise, Khaliah even considered gastric bypass surgery, but the risks seemed too great. It wasn't until a friend told her about a safer and less invasive weight-loss surgery option – the LAP-BAND® System – that she began to feel there may be hope. After meeting with New York University Bariatric Surgeon, Dr. George Fielding, who himself was a LAP-BAND® System patient, Khaliah finally saw the possibility of life without obesity.
At the time of her surgery, Khaliah was tipping the scales at over 270 pounds, but now, four years later, she has lost more than 100 pounds and no longer suffers from continual hunger. She credits her moment of truth as the first step she needed to achieve sustained weight loss and ultimately, live a healthier life.
"For the first time in my life, I feel confident and empowered, both personally and professionally. I fought obesity, and won, but my journey has not ended. It's actually just beginning and I want others to benefit from my experience," Khaliah explains.
Khaliah Ali also brings her personal struggle with obesity, her "moment of truth," and her success with the LAP-BAND AP® System to life in her book, Fighting Weight: How I Achieved Healthy Weight Loss with "Banding," a New Procedure That Eliminates Hunger – Forever.
Michael Roizen, MD - Co-author of best selling book "YOU: On A Diet" and co-founder of "RealAge.com"
Michael F. Roizen, MD, is co-author of the best-selling book "YOU: On A Diet" and co-founder of co-founder of RealAge, Inc. As a physician, Dr. Roizen has seen countless people fighting obesity. He knows they are doing all the right things, yet the pounds won't go away. The obesity problem has reached epidemic proportions globally, and many of these people are facing or could face an array of serious health consequences including premature death, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.1,2,3 "Your body is an amazing thing and if you take action now, you can in essence get a "do over" and potentially reverse the impact obesity has had on your health."
Roizen recently joined the "Moment is Now. Here is the Truth." obesity health education campaign to help the public understand the devastating impact of obesity, the science behind this disease and the availability of effective weight-loss treatment options for long term success. "No matter what the cause of your obesity, there's no shame in seeking treatment. You always have an opportunity to take the next step in getting healthy, and there are options, beyond diet and exercise, to help you – you just have to find the right one. Your moment is now to start living without obesity."
Roizen is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and by the American Board of Anesthesiology. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Williams College and Alpha Omega graduate of the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine. He performed his residency in internal medicine at Harvard's Beth Israel Hospital and completed a tour of duty in the Public Health Service at the National Institutes of Health in the laboratory of Irv Kopin and Nobel Prize winner Julius Axelrod.
His first general-audience book, RealAge: Are You as Young as You Can Be? became a New York Times #1 best-seller and was awarded the Best Wellness Book of 1999 by the Books for a Better Life Awards. This first award-winning book has been translated into more than 20 languages and was #1 in four other countries. The RealAge Diet: Make Yourself Younger with What You Eat was his second work of genius, followed by his third book, Cooking the RealAge Way. Dr. Roizen also wrote an update to the original RealAge book, The RealAge Makeover in 2004 and The RealAge Workout in 2005. Other recent books written by Dr. Roizen include YOU: The Smart Patient, YOU: The Owners Manual, YOU: On A Diet, and YOU: Staying Young, all written with Mehmet C. Oz, MD, with the latter three being New York Times best-sellers. His most recent masterpiece, YOU: The Owners Manual, Updated and Expanded, also co-authored by Dr. Oz, was a hit within days of its release.
James Atkinson, M.D., FACS – bariatric surgeon, Surgical Weight Control Center
As the bariatric medical director of Surgical Weight Control Center, Dr. James D. Atkinson has had visits by more than 100 surgeons from across the nation seeking to learn his techniques and procedures. Under his leadership, Surgical Weight Control Center has earned a top 5% ranking in the nation by Health Grades Report, and is recognized as the best bariatric program in Nevada.
“It is important for the community to know that our entire practice is dedicated 100% to bariatrics,” says Dr. Atkinson. “This is our fulltime commitment and we do not perform other types of surgeries.”
A native of Las Vegas, Dr. Atkinson earned his bachelor's degree from Portland State University, and his M.D. from the University of Nevada. In 1995, he went on to perform his residency training at the University Medical Center of Las Vegas where he trained in bariatric surgery, trauma surgery, and served as chief resident of surgery in 2000.
After his surgical residency, Dr. Atkinson specialized in advanced laparoscopy. He is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
Dr. Atkinson's achievements include induction into the distinguished medical honor society Alpha Omega Alpha, earning a spot as one of America's Top Surgeons in 2002, and being featured in MD News.
Barbara Van Zandt - Caitlin's mother, LAP-BAND AP System patient
At 58 years old and weighing more than 200 pounds, Barbara Van Zandt, the mother of "Guiding Light" soap opera star Caitlin Van Zandt and a theatrical wardrobe supervisor, has been overweight since she was ten years old. She has put off vacations due to her weight, takes medication for high cholesterol, and cannot exercise because of back problems. "My weight affects everything I do in my personal life," says Barbara. "It's hard to be on a crowded subway and to have people stand because they can't fit in the seat next to me."
Unfortunately, battling weight is a family affair – daughter Caitlin was also always overweight. "I worried that people might think I played a role in Caitlin's struggles with weight. Part of me does blame myself. I wanted us to do something about our weight together – something that would allow us to take charge of the rest of our lives."
As a single, working mother, Barbara felt she wasn't the priority. Barbara tried various diets and exercise regimens but nothing seemed to work. She realized that something needed to change. When Caitlin asked her if she would consider adjustable gastric banding, Barbara knew her "moment is now." The decision brought Barbara to tears, because she realized both she and Caitlin were finally doing something about their weight that could really work
Barbara admits she was nervous at first. "I heard some unnerving stories about weight-loss surgery and I was concerned. However, once I sat down with the surgeon and learned that the LAP-BAND AP® System is safe, adjustable and reversible and does not include cutting, rerouting and stapling of the stomach, it was a simple decision."
In February 2008, Barbara and Caitlin decided to embark on a "wonderful adventure."
"I want other people, especially mothers, to realize that they can overcome obesity and that taking care of yourself is not only an act of self love, but also an act of love for your family." Barbara is proud of herself and Caitlin for making this decision to take this journey together and is excited to share their story. Barbara is losing an average of 12 pounds per month. By sharing her weight-loss journey, Barbara wants to help others realize that life without obesity can be a possibility.
Costs and Ticket Information:
For more information or to RVSP call 310-309-1016 or e-mail MomentisNow@ccapr.com
This event is sponsored by Allergan, Inc., the makers of the LAP-BAND AP® Adjustable Gastric Banding System