Morbid Obesity

Obesity is a life threatening disease and is now considered the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. The rates of obesity have increased over the past 25 years and currently the statistics show that over 72 million individuals in the United States are overweight or obese (severely overweight). When an individual's weight increases to an extreme level, it is called morbid obesity.

Causes of Obesity

Obesity is not a sign that a person is out of control. It is a complex, chronic disease.

Many things can contribute to this condition, such as:

Energy balance - your body may take too much energy from food - more than what your body needs can lead to weight gain. This depends on your level of activity and your metabolism. Heredity - you have a higher risk of obesity if it runs in your family. Metabolic disorders - if your body's metabolism changes, it may affect your energy balance and weight. Eating and social habits - An unbalanced diet, snacking between meals and too little exercise can all lead to obesity. Psychological factors - Social and emotional eating are among the main causes of excessive weight gain.

Any one or a combination of these factors can lead to obesity. Inherited conditions can't be changed, but you have the power to change your behavior patterns and improve your own health and well-being.

Health Risks

Obesity is associated with about 112,000 deaths each year in the United States relative to healthy-weight individuals. In fact, it is more harmful to your health than smoking and alcohol abuse. In addition, obesity is a major risk factor for serious medical conditions (co morbidities), such as:

Type II diabetes Hypertension (high blood pressure) Heart disease Stroke Breathing difficulties Cancer Joint problems

The good news is that by losing weight, you can improve, prevent, or lower your risk for these weight-related health conditions.

The Costs of Obesity

The national cost of this disease is very high. Based on 1998 estimates, annual medical costs to treat patients who are overweight and obese were approximately 79 billion, or 93 billion in 2002 dollars. The healthcare cost burden of being obese now rivals that of smoking.

The personal cost of living with obesity can also be significant. Consider what you might spend on the following items:

Out of pocket healthcare expenses Over-the-counter medication costs Co-pays for doctor office visits Co-pays for lab work Co-pays for specialists Co-pays for physical therapists/allied health professionals Prescription co-pays Employment inactivity costs (days of missed work) Non-surgical weight loss programs (such as Weight Watchers® or Jenny Craig®) Grocery and dining costs

These expenditures quickly add up. You may find that dramatic weight loss can greatly reduce your weight related costs.

While millions of severely overweight Americans do try diet, fitness and medication programs to treat their obesity, unfortunately these efforts usually offer only short-term results. Medical studies show that if you are obese, you are not likely to achieve significant long-term weight loss through diet and behavior changes, alone.

Non-Surgical Treatments

The most common approach to weight loss is to eat less and more sensibly, and to increase exercise/activity. A weight loss program, monitored by your doctor, should always be your first weight loss option. However, here are some important facts to consider:

Studies show that obese patients on diets, exercise programs, or weight loss medications lose approximately 10% of their body weight, but tend to regain two-thirds within one year, and most of the weight within five years. This is called 'yo-yo dieting', which can make it harder to lose weight in the future. Seriously overweight patients should seriously consider weight loss surgery when other methods have failed. Significant long-term weight loss through surgery can improve overall wellness and obesity-related health conditions, and greatly enhance everyday life.