Surgical Weight LossThe health of millions of people worldwide is being threatened by an obesity epidemic. In the United States, an estimated 97 million adults are overweight or obese. That is at least half of the American adult population. Despite the growing obesity awareness, there has been a considerable increase in the number of seriously overweight or obese people all over the world. What is Obesity?Obesity is an excess of total body fat, which results from caloric intake that exceeds energy usage. The most common measurement for obesity is Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is calculated by dividing body weight (lb.) by height in inches squared (in2) and multiplying that amount by 704.5. The metric calculation for BMI is kg/m2. While BMI does not actually measure body fat, it tends to correlate well with the degree of obesity. So it should not be used alone for diagnosis, but can be useful as a general guideline. The ideal BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m2. The obesity categories adopted in by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are:
A BMI of 40 kg/m2 is roughly equivalent to 100 pounds overweight for an average adult male. What are the health risks associated with obesity?Morbid obesity may considerably reduce life expectancy and is associated with an increased risk of developing diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, respiratory problems, sleep apnea, and cancer. Sufficient weight loss is important for improving your health, reducing your risk of developing these associated conditions and enhancing your overall quality of life. What are common weight-loss methods?Millions of people turn to diet, fitness and medication 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. If non-surgical methods have not helped you lose weight and keep it off, you still have another option. Studies demonstrate that weight-loss surgery, as compared to non-surgical treatments, yields the longest period of sustained weight loss in patients who have failed other therapies. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is a new minimally invasive surgical treatment for weight loss that requires no stomach stapling or intestinal re-routing. The LAP-BAND® System is the least invasive, safest and the only adjustable and reversible surgical weight-loss option available in the United States. It helps achieve sustained weight loss by placing an adjustable band around the upper part of the stomach to reduce its capacity. The LAP-BAND® is adjusted in the physician's office for the needs of each patient. This procedure enables patients to recover more quickly with less pain and less risk of wound complications than traditional weight loss surgery. We offer a variety of operations to aid in long-term weight loss, including laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding and gastric bypass. Individuals with a BMI of 35 or more with obesity-related health problems may be considered candidates for weight-loss surgery. |