Facts
About
Clinical
Obesity
Obesity is now
recognized as a
serious medical
problem that
contributes to
nearly 300,000
deaths each year in
the United States.
When other weight
loss methods have
failed, gastric
bypass surgery for
obesity can be a
valuable tool for
helping patients to
improve their
overall physical
health. The
procedure aids
weight loss by
reducing the
functional portion
of a patient's
stomach to help him
or her feel full
after eating only a
small portion of
food.
One in three
American adults can
be considered obese.
Many of these people
have struggled with
their weight
throughout their
lives. Al Roker,
Carnie Wilson, and
other celebrities
who have publicly
spoken about their
experiences with
gastric bypass
surgery have helped
generate awareness
of the procedure as
a weight loss aid
for morbidly obese
patients. However,
patients must take
care to separate
fact from myth when
considering gastric
bypass surgery.
If you are
considering
bariatric surgery,
the Internet can be
a great source of
information. There
are many websites
devoted to
explaining the
advantages and
disadvantages of
weight loss surgery.
Just remember that a
website created by a
hospital or medical
institution is a
much more credible
source of
information than
something you read
on a stranger's
personal website.
Verify the accuracy
of your gastric
bypass information
before making any
final decisions
about the procedure.
Who Is at Risk for
Clinical Obesity
Socioeconomic
factors play an
important role in
determining the risk
of morbid obesity.
Dietary therapy, the
most common type of
morbid obesity help,
can be difficult to
accomplish for
people with limited
financial resources.
People with low
incomes are more
likely to have a
diet that is high in
fat and
carbohydrates, since
this is less
expensive than
fruits, vegetables,
and whole grains.
Gender is also a
risk factor for
morbid obesity.
Women are more
likely to be obese
then men. Research
has shown a direct
link between
increased body
weight and deaths
from all causes in
women ages 30 to 55.
The LAP-BAND system,
a type of bariatric
surgery, is a form
of morbid obesity
help that can assist
women in reaching
their weight loss
goals while still
allowing for the
possibility of
pregnancy.
As the numbers of
those who are
morbidly obese
increase, the
options for
treatment are
expanding. Beyond
the LAP-BAND
procedure, gastric
bypass surgery is
another viable
option. In fact,
treatment that
results in a weight
loss of just 10
percent of excess
body weight leads to
in a significant
improvement in most
obesity-related
medical conditions.
Severe Obesity or "Clinical Obesity"
Severe obesity is often defined as being 100 pounds or more overweight. A better way to determine obesity is by calculating your Body Mass Index, or BMI. This index combines your weight and height into a single number. The easiest way to calculate your BMI is with the BMI Calculator on this website! This will help you determine whether or not you are a candidate for weight loss surgery
Is Clinical Obesity a Cosmetic Problem?
Severe obesity is a disease, not cosmetic problem. If you are 100 pounds or more overweight, you are at increased risk for many health problems including diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and even certain types of cancer. By losing this excess weight, you can lower your risks to that of a normal-weight person.
Obesity is not just a disease, it's an epidemic.
A recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association identified obesity as the cause of 400,000 deaths per year in the United States. The National Institute of Health has recommended surgical treatment of obesity for severely overweight individuals who have not been successful with dieting and exercise alone.
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