Bahamas News
Cleveland Clinic Florida Surgeon ‘Weight-loss surgery long-term effects most significant in younger to middle age populations’
#Bahamas, October 13, 2017 – Nassau – For anyone who has ever stepped on a scale and wished they hadn’t, the prospect of going under a gentle knife and coming out thinner seems almost too good to be true. And for many, it has made a difference in their lives they say they only dreamed about. But bariatric surgery – the clinical name for weight loss surgery – involves other lifestyle changes and while it is likely to have long-term benefits for those who are willing to make such changes, it is not a panacea for all. So says Dr. Emanuele Lo Menzo, bariatric surgeon, Associate Professor of Surgery and Director of the Department of Research at Cleveland Clinic Florida.
Dr. Lo Menzo was in The Bahamas last week to address medical professionals during the annual Research Day symposium organized by the University of the West Indies School of Clinical Medicine and Research. In keeping with the theme of this year’s event, “Weight Challenges in The Bahamas, Are We the Biggest Losers?” the South Florida doctor who has performed more than 1,000 surgeries was very clear – as glamorous as it seems to go from obese to slender without all the hard work of eating right and exercising for extended periods of time, weight loss surgery is not for everyone. It is more effective with younger to middle age patients, less so with extremely obese, older patients, he said, quoting a 7-year study by the Veterans Administration that resulted in the senior citizen findings.
Responsible surgeons will only perform bariatric surgery in non-critical cases when patients demonstrate that they are willing to make the other lifestyle adjustments necessary. Most notably, he told practitioners, bariatric surgery, which works by reducing the size of the stomach either by removing a portion of it or by placing a gastric band around it, is about far more than glamour. The surgery can greatly improve overall health and boost longevity.
“Long-term studies show the procedures cause significant long-term loss of weight, recovery from diabetes, improvement in cardiovascular risk factors and a mortality reduction from 40% to 23%. However, a study in Veterans Affairs patients has found no survival benefit associated with bariatric surgery among older, severely obese people when compared with usual care, at least out to seven years,” said Dr. Lo Menzo, author of more than 85 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 25 book chapters and over 200 abstracts.
Bahamas Photographer – Audience at Medical Conference
The U.S. National Institutes of Health recommends bariatric surgery, he said, for people with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 40 unless the individual is suffering from diabetes in which case the BMI ratio indicating surgery recommended could be reduced to 35. That figure is undergoing consideration of even further reduction in cases where other life-threatening conditions exist.
Medical professionals like Dr. Lo Menzo are increasingly concerned about the impact of obesity on non-communicable, preventable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular conditions including heart disease, stroke and hypertension. Some cases of kidney disease and cancer may also be linked to obesity.
According to Dr. Duane Sands, Minister of Health, 79.2% of the Bahamian population is either overweight or obese. And Dr. Robin Roberts, the Director of the University of the West Indies School of Clinical Medicine and Research, believes there is no weightier issue facing the future of The Bahamas.
“No health care malady presents a greater burden in our population than obesity,” Dr. Roberts said in his Research Day remarks.
Obesity is no longer considered “someone’s fault,” but is recognized as a disease just as alcoholism and drug addiction are, said Dr. Lo Menzo. The one piece of advice he wanted medical practitioners to take with them – when recommending bariatric surgery, refer patients to those surgeons and institutions with extensive and well-documented experience. TV news reports have alerted viewers to what can happen and does happen all too often when someone searching for a quick fix, better body takes a chance with an unqualified person.
Cleveland Clinic Florida with more than 240 doctors representing over 40 specialties is the highest- ranking medical facility in Broward County with two of its specialties earning highest ranking nationally. It is a favourite among Bahamians who make up the largest number of persons seeking medical services at the Weston, Florida facility from anywhere in the region.
Press Release: DPA News
Bahamas News
Nassau Cruise Port Marks Sixth Anniversary with Exciting New Additions for Visitors and The community
Bahamas News
Next U.S. Ambassador? Walker Pledges Business-Driven Approach as U.S. Looks to Counter China in The Bahamas
Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
The Bahamas, September 16, 2025 – For the first time since 2011, the United States is on the cusp of sending an ambassador to The Bahamas — and the nominee, former football star turned entrepreneur Herschel Walker, is promising to bring his business instincts to the diplomatic table.
Speaking before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week, Walker underscored that his background in food-service companies and small business leadership has prepared him to think practically about investment. “I know how to run a business, how to create jobs, how to make payroll. Those lessons translate into building relationships and building trust,” Walker said.
Walker, who was nominated by President Trump in December 2024, faced the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on September 11. As of now, he has not yet been confirmed; his nomination remains under review, pending a committee vote before it can move to the full Senate. If approved, he would become the first U.S. ambassador to The Bahamas since 2011.
For years, U.S. officials have stressed security and counternarcotics cooperation with The Bahamas, including through “Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos.” But in areas like infrastructure, medical care, and long-term investment, Washington has often been absent.
Hospitals and clinics remain under-resourced, and hurricane recovery has been slow in many islands. Chinese state-backed firms, by contrast, have shown up with financing packages and construction deals — a presence that has raised alarms on Capitol Hill.
“Only 50 miles off our shore, The Bahamas is too important for us to ignore,” warned Senate Foreign Relations Committee leaders during Walker’s hearing. They called China’s inroads “strategic, not charitable,” suggesting Beijing’s long game is about ports, proximity, and political leverage.
Walker positioned himself as a nontraditional but pragmatic envoy. He argued that his business career, rooted in private sector success, equips him to champion American investment in The Bahamas.
He pledged to:
- Promote U.S. companies interested in medical and infrastructure projects.
- Support an environment that encourages American investors to see The Bahamas as more than just a beach destination.
- Highlight opportunities for partnerships that improve public services, healthcare, and resilience against hurricanes.
“I’ve built businesses. I know what it takes to attract investors and create opportunity. That is exactly what I intend to bring to our relationship with The Bahamas,” Walker said.
The Bahamas is not just a tourist paradise. It’s a frontline state in migration, drug interdiction, and hurricane response. More than six
million U.S. visitors travel there annually, making stability and safety a U.S. domestic concern as much as a foreign policy one.
And yet, with the ambassador post vacant for 14 years, the U.S. has often looked detached — opening space for China’s ambitious Belt and Road agenda. The fear is that infrastructure deals signed today could give Beijing leverage in the region tomorrow. Walker’s confirmation would symbolize a course correction, signaling Washington’s intent to re-engage not only in security but in the economic future of The Bahamas. Not everyone is convinced Herschel Walker is the right man for the job. His nomination revived controversies from his 2022 Senate run, including past allegations, public gaffes, and doubts about whether he has the diplomatic polish the post demands. Some senators and analysts questioned whether celebrity and business experience were enough for a role requiring nuance in foreign policy and geopolitics.
Critics argued that The Bahamas, sitting just 50 miles from Florida and facing intense Chinese interest, deserves a seasoned diplomat rather than a political ally.
Walker confronted those doubts head-on. “People have underestimated me all my life — in academics, athletics, and business,” he told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “And I have always proven them wrong, through discipline, determination, and by outworking everyone.”
He admitted he had never served as an ambassador but countered that his career prepared him in other ways: building businesses, managing payrolls, and connecting with people from all walks of life. He framed his business background as a strength, promising to use it to encourage U.S. investment in healthcare, infrastructure, and hurricane resilience projects in The Bahamas.
Rather than sparring with critics, Walker leaned on confidence and persistence: “I know how to build trust and find common ground. That’s what this relationship needs.”
If confirmed, Walker would have to balance his role as diplomat with expectations of being a commercial cheerleader for U.S. firms. His emphasis on entrepreneurship suggests a willingness to push U.S. businesses toward opportunities in healthcare, ports, and post-storm reconstruction — areas where Bahamians say they need the most support.
For Bahamian officials, the question will be whether Washington is prepared to back words with financing. U.S. private sector dollars, paired with aid and development partnerships, could help shift the tide against Chinese influence.
For Walker, the test will be whether his business acumen can translate into diplomatic wins — giving Bahamians alternatives to Beijing, while deepening the U.S. role in the Caribbean.
Analysis: If Walker delivers, this appointment could mark a turning point: a U.S. strategy that recognizes that in the Caribbean, investment is diplomacy.
