Obesity, the Epidemic

Obesity has become an epidemic in the U.S. and other developed countries. It is estimated that 93 million Americans are obese. That is more than 1 in 3 Americans, and that includes at least 1 in 5 children.

In 1962, research showed that the percentage of obesity in America's population was at 13%. By 1980 is had risen to 15%. By 1994 to 23% and by the year 2000 the obesity progression in America had reached 31%. Now it is estimated that more than half of the U.S. population is above their ideal body weight.

In the United States, roughly 300,000 deaths per year are directly related to obesity, and more than 80% of these deaths are in patients with a BMI (body mass index) over 30.

Facts related to the effects of obesity:

• Lifespan may be cut short by obesity
• Obesity is a factor in increase of disability
• Obesity reduces overall well-being of children
• Type II diabetes
• Insulin resistance
• High blood pressure
• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Sleep apnea
• Some cancers
• Obesity is on the verge of surpassing smoking as the #1 cause of preventable death.

Every year millions of people turn to diet, fitness and medication first to treat their obesity. However, the National Institutes of Health report that 90% of the people who participate in diets and weight-loss programs do not lose significant and sustained weight. Studies demonstrate that weight-loss surgery, when compared to non-surgical treatments, yields the longest period of sustained weight loss in patients who have failed other therapies.

Surgical Treatment

Awareness of Bariatric surgery has dramatically increased, yet today only 1% of people that qualify have surgery. In order to qualify for surgery, a person must have a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 40 or above or a BMI of 35 with comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, etc). However some bariatric surgeons relax these requirements and often will perform surgery for patients with a BMI below 35 and above 30 if the patient will benefit significantly from the procedure.

Bariatric surgeons agree surgical treatment is often the best option considering the ineffectiveness of non-surgical treatment to produce sustained weight loss. Additionally surgical treatment carries a relatively low risk of complications of the procedures verses not having surgery and the significant health risks of morbid obesity. Most bariatric surgeons also agree there is not one surgery that is right for everyone. Some people prefer the AGB (Adjustable Gastric Band) because it is the least invasive and is easily reversible. Yet others prefer a more permanent procedure. Many times when complications or poor weight loss occur with one surgery, a revision or conversion (revising an existing procedure or converting one procedure to another) can be performed.

The Good News

• There are more surgical treatment options than ever before
• New government report on morbid obesity finds weight-loss surgery effective.
• Health risks related to obesity improved or were eliminated with bariatric surgery.
• Most, if not all co-morbidities are improved or resolved after weight loss
• Decrease in health care costs result with bariatric surgery.
• Bariatric surgery patients show improved mortality and morbidity.