Why Weight Loss Surgery?
The latest statistics from the National Health Institute shows that more than 50 percent of the adult population in the United States is overweight.
Current statistics reveal that nearly 25 percent of the population is obese.
Obesity is defined as being 100 pounds over your ideal weight. The formula for defining obesity is called the Body Mass Index or BMI. To calculate your BMI go to Am I a Candidate for Bariatric Surgery?
Obesity has many adverse effects on your medical and psychological well being.
Obesity can lead to premature death and is responsible for 300,000 deaths per year.
Americans spend $100 billion dollars annually on weight related diseases and another $100 billion dollars on weight-loss products and services.
Many medical conditions are caused or worsened by morbid obesity.
Obesity is directly related to:
- Nearly 70% of cardiovascular disease
- 80% of Type II diabetes
- 30% of all gallbladder surgery
- 42% of breast and colon cancer
- 26% of high blood pressure
- Musculoskeletal such as degeneration of knees and hips, disc herniation, chronic nonsurgical low back pain.
- Skin - multiple disorders, most related to diabetes and difficulty with hygiene.
Morbid Obesity has adverse effects on the quality of your life as well as your health. Studies show that pre-mature death is 2 to 12 times higher in obese individuals compared to those without a weight problem.
Obese individuals often suffer from social and emotional discrimination,
depression, as well as decreased energy and mobility.
Some of the additional health risks include: asthma, high blood pressure, high
cholesterol, sleep apnea and infertility.
If you are obese, there are several key factors to keep in mind when making a decision as to managing your weight.
- Bariatric surgery is the only proven long-term method of weight loss for individuals 100 or more pounds overweight
- Diet, exercise and behavior modification result in only a 10 percent long-term weight loss
- Patients are able to maintain their weight loss after surgery. Studies show that:
The average weight loss after gastric bypass surgery is:
» 75% of excess weight after 1-2 years
» 55-65% of excess weight after 5-10 years - Long-term weight loss requires a lifestyle change in addition to surgery
- Successful individuals incorporate healthy eating habits and exercise into their new, healthy lifestyle