Excess weight: The military's new battle

Potential military recruits fresh from a life of minimal strenuous physical activity are commonly shellshocked by military fitness regimens. Considering a career in the military means meeting stringent health requirements, including weight prerequisites. Unfit recruits, or an overweight and sedentary youth base from where recruits will come in the future, represent a growing problem of the US armed forces today.

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 Forbes tackles the worrisome prospects of the current weight and physical fitness of American youth. Backed by two academic reports, the article concludes that the American youth are eating too much but exercising less. They consume about “400 billion calories of junk food every year.” The American military may therefore be hardpressed to ensure the physical fitness of its future armed forces.

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Ret. General Richard Myers warns in an opinion piece that joined with other disqualifying factors, weight issues will ultimately eliminate the chances of youth between the ages of 17 and 24 for a career in the military.

Unfortunately, bulging waistlines are not only common among the base of recruits. They also plague existing troops. The Pentagon has been behooved to evaluate obesity-related medical problems among soldiers, veterans, and their families.

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Physical fitness is not just a matter of personal concern for soldiers. Servicemen have to understand that their health is crucial to national security.  


Steven Lash, one of the country’s most prominent health visionaries, established Satori World Medical in San Diego to provide Americans safe and efficient medical travel services for various physical conditions, including weight and obesity issues. More information on medical travel is available at this website.

Red meat and type 2 diabetes

Over the past few years, there has been a steadily growing body of knowledge on the negative effects of too much red meat consumption on the body. Previously, there were studies that found that high intake of meat contributed to one’s risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease both for its high fat content and the way choline, a substance present in red meat, is transformed by the bacteria in the gut into trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) which transports cholesterol to the arteries.

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Again, another study has been looking into the effects of red meat on the body and has found that too much of it can also gradually increase a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Earlier studies have already found that people who consumed a lot of red meat tended to have higher rates of diabetes. In this recent study, however, the researchers found that people who have increased their intake also showed higher rates of diabetes than those who’ve kept consumption to a certain level. Meanwhile, those who lowered their meat consumption were found to have also lowered their risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

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The type of meat consumed is also a factor. The risk of diabetes was also found to be higher among people who ate mostly processed meat than those who ate unprocessed red meat. Further studies are needed to determine what the exact culprit is in the higher risk of developing the disease. However, this study does contribute to the growing body of knowledge that suggests that lowering intake of red meat and substituting this protein source with other food like fish and chicken is important to longevity.

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Steven Lash, the president and CEO of Satori World Medical, has over 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Find relevant news and updates on health topics at www.satoriworldmed.com.

The appeal of doctors with a more personal approach to patients

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With the growth of the medical travel industry around the world, patient attitudes have also significantly shifted. The low costs on medical treatment are no longer the primary concern, as many have shifted their attention to a more complete healthcare package that prioritizes full recovery through high-quality care, dependable post-treatment support, and a high level of comfort.

Steven Lash, president and CEO of Satori World Medical, previously revealed that medical travel gives patients the opportunity to travel to medical institutions overseas for the best treatment they can get, however they define it.

Patients, of course, have different priorities. Apart from getting the treatment they need, they also have certain requirements that they want fulfilled in order to be fully satisfied with their treatment. For many people, a physician with good bedside manners can make the experience more comfortable.

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The presence of advanced diagnostic tools in hospitals has made healthcare delivery more efficient. However, with the dependence on these tools, doctors and patients have been robbed of many opportunities to interact in the most basic way. Many people are already intimidated by doctors and hospital procedures, and an impersonal approach may make things more terrifying for them.

Medical travelers have found solace in doctors abroad, many of whom have been reported to treat their patients with a more personal approach than physicians in their patients’ home town. Being at ease with their doctor is important to many patients, and a simple shift in approach can turn a routine checkup into a meaningful conversation with a physician who truly cares about the well-being of his patient.

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Find more stories on what convinces many consumers to travel overseas for medical treatment at SatoriWorldMedical.com.

Consumers, socio-economic factors, and their perceptions on medical travel

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Steven Lash, president and CEO of Satori World Medical, previously mentioned in an interview on Money Matters that further growth is expected in the medical travel industry now that more people than ever are expected to consider traveling overseas for medical treatment. However, for some, the thought of going outside the US for medical treatment seems ludicrous. The advertised low medical costs may be enticing, but many still wonder if that is enough reason to travel miles away from home for treatment.

A recently published study, ‘A Survey of Consumers’ Perceptions Toward Medical Tourism,’ attempts to shed some light on the issue. The study, conducted by Lydia Gan and James Frederick in six locations in North Carolina in 2010, tested several hypotheses on what motivates American consumers to travel abroad for medical treatment.

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The findings of the study showed that members of the population belonging to the low-income and uninsured consumers were more likely to be affected by risk-related factors in medical travel than the middle- to high- income groups, and the well-insured consumers. This means that uninsured consumers and those in lower income brackets are more likely to check for international accreditation and affiliations of the overseas health institutions with US hospitals. The lower cost is still an important factor but some consumers would like more proof that they’re going to get the right treatment for their condition in spite of the fact that they paid less for it.

The survey also revealed that older and married people were more motivated by social-related factors than young adults and unmarried individuals when considering their options for treatment. Additionally, social-related factors also become less of a motivator the more an individual is proficient in a foreign language.

Indeed, medical travel is not for everyone. Many patients still prefer going to local hospitals for their medical needs. Others, however, understand that there are many hospitals and doctors outside the country that offer high-quality care at a lower cost.

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Find out more about what motivates people to travel outside the country for medical treatment on SatoriWorldMed.com.

What does quality care truly entail?

With the growth of the medical travel industry, more and more consumers are considering their options for medical treatment overseas. There are many destinations to choose from, and the costs and specialties may vary from place to place.

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The low cost of health care is still an important factor that convinces many to travel overseas rather than having the treatment for their condition done locally, but with the increase in popularity of travel for medical purposes, it isn’t the only consideration that many have.

Steven Lash, president and CEO of Satori World Medical, reveals that safety is still a primary concern among consumers. Patients need to know if the doctors and the medical institutions they’re looking into have been accredited by a quality and safety accreditation body. And, through the work of accreditors and the testimonies of many patients, many other consumers have found they can expect high-quality care abroad even if conventional belief on low cost will dictate otherwise.

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Quality care, however, does not lie on hospital accreditation alone. Rather, accreditation is merely the base point for quality care. There are other aspects to medical travel that consumers need to verify. For instance, they still need to check if their chosen destination can live up to their expectations for comfort and convenience, and this involves the need to check for the quality and atmosphere of the accommodations.

The patient’s preference is also an important factor to consider. Ideal quality care, as far as medical travel goes, includes the best outcome for the treatment, which is full recovery, expert after-operation care, and a comfortable stay in their destination of choice.

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SatoriWorldMedical.com offers more information about quality health care through medical travel.

Getting back on its feet: Medical travel industry in Singapore

Singapore is still mainly a popular destination for business and holiday travelers but its status as a medical travel hub still remains to be established. Recently, however, the Singapore government has seen a significant growth in this portion of the travel industry – there is a significant increase in the number of patients traveling to the country for medical treatment in 2011 and 2012. From the reports, there is also reason to believe that 2013 will be even better for Singapore.

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In the past years, the Singapore government reported that its medical travel industry fared worse than expected. For instance, from the report in 2008 that included a figure of over 640,000 medical travelers, only a little more than half of the figure represented the patients that went for medical treatment. The smaller portion was actually representative of the family members that accompanied the patients. 

One of the reasons for Singapore’s lower numbers of medical travelers is the price of treatment. The price of medical care in Singapore continued to rise, making it seem less appealing to patients who sought affordable medical care. As a result, Singapore lost business to countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, and India, which offered cheaper health care.

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However, things could change to its advantage. As Steven Lash, president and CEO of Satori World Medical, mentioned in an interview, patients may go beyond considering benefits other than just the cost of treatment.

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This seems to be supported by recent data as it indicates that the growth that Singapore’s medical travel industry has seen in recent years is due to its expertise in high-end specialist care and surgery. The Singapore government has taken note of this fact as well, and has promoted quality of service over cost considerations.

Find more information on the status of Singapore as a medical travel hub at SatoriWorldMedical.com.

Shifting consumer attitudes on medical travel

Steven Lash, president and CEO of Satori World Medical, previously talked about his expectations of more growth in the medical travel industry. Given that many people now travel for health and wellness reasons, the medical and tourism industries of many countries have been stepping up to improve on what they can offer and attract more to their facilities. 

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Medical travel is currently booming, and this increased popularity among consumers is seen as a factor that will fuel changes in the industry in the coming years.

Previously, the main motivator for patients travelling overseas for medical treatment was the cost. The high cost of local health care is, in many cases, discouraging for many people in need of surgery, treatment, and medication. There was a need for an alternative avenue for treatment–one that could be taken without making a significant dent in a person’s savings or increasing one’s debts.

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This consumer ‘need’ was described as one of the greatest contributors to the growth of the medical travel industry. Consumers chose the alternative because they just couldn’t afford the local option due to the high costs.

Things are expected to change. Local health centers are expected to implement some changes that could slow the outflow of patients. As a result, local and overseas options will be on equal footing, and consumers will weigh their options based on appeal. The next step for growth in the travel industry is expected to be fueled by consumers that choose to have their treatment done overseas on a ‘want’ basis instead of a ‘need.’

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Find more information on the growth of the medical travel industry by visiting SatoriWorldMedical.com.

Predictors of tremendous growth in the medical travel industry

With the number of people seeking medical treatments abroad seen to be on the rise in the past few years, the medical travel industry has been notably booming. Many countries have, in fact, been adjusting their tourism efforts and fine-tuning their strategies to give greater focus to their health and wellness offerings.

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While there is currently a lot of development in the various related industries, Steven Lash, president and CEO of Satori World Medical, has revealed in an interview on NBC’s Money Matters that there is still much growth that can be expected for medical travel.

Given the boom in medical travel, people have now become more informed about their alternative options for treatment. Previously, consumers were ill at ease with considering medical travel given the prevalent belief that health care delivery and facilities outside of the US were inferior. Perceptions have long since changed and many people have seen that facilities in other countries were actually on par with, if not better than, what is available locally.

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This has led to an increase in people who understand that they have another option for medical care. The fact that people have an added option made available to them comes as a relief, given that the costs of local healthcare remain high while the whole nation struggles with economic recovery.

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Certainly, medical travel is not for everyone. There are people who cannot travel and there are people who still want their medical treatment to be done locally. But for the people who can travel and for those who find merit in seeking alternative treatments, medical travel remains a viable option to take.

Find more information on options for treatment and surgery outside the US on SatoriWorldMedical.com.

Taking charge of one's health: The ever growing appeal of medical travel

More people are finding out the large difference in the costs of surgical procedures offered by healthcare institutions within and outside the US. As the costs of medical care have grown significantly over the past few years, many individuals who need operations and therapy for their condition have thought out of the box and have gone with treatment overseas.

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Medical travel has become increasingly popular with people who are either dissatisfied with the healthcare delivery in the country or simply cannot afford to get the treatment for their condition because of the high costs.

However, many people have expressed their doubts on going to other countries for their treatment.

Steven Lash, president and CEO of Satori World Medical, highlights the importance of the spread of information about medical travel options amid the rising costs of health care so that patients do not choose to forgo treatment because of the perceived lack of affordable alternatives.

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Healthcare facilities in other countries tend to be judged as inferior to the ones in the US for various reasons. Among the prevalent reasons for this fallacy are the lower costs, which tend to remind many consumers that they pay for what they get.

However, with enough research and a little openness, more people will be able to see that medical travel continues to increase in popularity for a good reason. Countless patients have already traveled thousands of miles to receive treatment for their condition for a fraction of the cost and they couldn’t be happier with the results.

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SatoriWorldMedical.com provides more information on options for treatment and surgery outside the US.