The latest numbers say that approximately 34% of American adults and 15–20% of children and adolescents are obese.

This obesity epidemic affects all segments of the U.S. population, increasing the risk of many chronic diseases in children and adults. Substantial public health efforts are being directed toward addressing obesity, but there is not yet clear evidence of success.

Because of the complexity of obesity, it is likely to be one of the most challenging public health issues our society has faced over the years.

Key facts (according to the World Health Organization)

• Worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975.
• In 2016, more than 1.9 billion adults were overweight. Over 650 million of these were obese.
• Most of the world’s population live in countries where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight.
• 41 million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese in 2016.
• Over 340 million children and adolescents aged 5-19 were overweight or obese in 2016.
• Obesity is preventable and curable.

Obesity epidemic in the United States

The U.S. Surgeon General has declared that obesity epidemic proportions in the United States are shocking already. Approximately:

• 35% of women and 31 percent of men are considered seriously overweight.
• 15% of children between the ages of six and 19 are overweight.

Public health officials warn that the results of physical inactivity and poor diet are catching up to tobacco as a significant threat to health.

Effects of obesity epidemic in your health

Obesity is a serious, chronic disease that have a negative effect on many systems in your body. If you are suffering overweight or some level of obesity, you have a much greater risk of developing serious conditions, including:

• Heart disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• Bone and joint disease
• Some types of cancer

What causes obesity?

Simply put, obesity is a medical condition that comes about due to the consumption of high calorie meals over a considerable duration of time.

Becoming obese is up to quite a several factors. Some of these factors may include genetics, behavior and the environment as well. Also, there are some illnesses that are closely associated with obesity.

Keep a good calorie balance

In ten years, an average person eats about 10 million calories but their weight typically only changes by about 5kg up or down. So, in most cases, our weight remains stable over time.

This is because our bodies control our calorie balance very precisely; much like a thermostat keeps the temperature of a room steady. Our genes and our environment both affect the setting of this ‘weight thermostat’ and can cause a calorie imbalance.

For example, our genes can affect the amounts and types of food that we prefer to eat. And our environment affects the amounts and types of food that are available to eat. So most of the time, our body weight is controlled by instinctive drives.

This is why it is absurd to say that obesity is simply due to a lack of willpower.

This is an incorrect assumption and a simple way of looking at a very complex medical condition. It can make people feel guilty or stigmatized and can affect their daily life.

Stay away from the obesity epidemic with bariatric surgery

If you feel that your weight is affecting your life, it may be time to reach out and speak to our weight loss surgeon. Whether it be your energy levels, mental health, relationships or is having an impact on your health.

The sooner you take the first step in your weight loss journey, the less chance you have of adverse effects developing as a result of obesity.

At our Bariatric Center, we consider bariatric surgery a tool to help patients live healthier and fuller lives. Our multidisciplinary approach includes the team of surgeons, internal medicine specialists, nutritionists, and clinical coordinators.

Check all the information about the different types of bariatric surgery and contact us as soon as possible to schedule your first appointment.

We are committed to helping you get healthy and stay that way.

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Individuals affected by severe obesity are often affected by many other obesity-related conditions and diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea and more. Being obese with these diseases leads to premature death.

The U.S. Surgeon General has declared that obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. Public health officials warn that the results of physical inactivity and poor diet are catching up to tobacco as a significant threat to health. Approximately:

• 35 percent of women and 31 percent of men are considered seriously overweight
• 15 percent of children between the ages of six and 19 are overweight

Diabetes

Patients with obesity are 400 times more likely to develop diabetes than patients with a healthy BMI. Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes is reported to reduce longevity by as much as 35 percent and is a major cause for amputations, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and blindness. It can also lead to a number of other complications including kidney disease, hypertension, lipid abnormalities, circulatory and nerve defects, chronic infections, impotence, and more.

Hypertension

Obesity is a major contributor to hypertension (high blood pressure). Hypertension affects the majority of individuals with severe obesity. Hypertension increases the risk of other diseases. These include coronary heart disease (CHD), congestive heart failure (CHF), stroke, and kidney disease.

Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease accounts for the loss of nearly 700,000 lives per year. The American Heart Association considers obesity a major risk factor for heart disease. Large studies have shown that as the level of obesity increases, so does the risk for heart disease and associated mortality. Individuals affected by severe obesity have a high incidence of coronary artery disease and are at a considerable risk for a heart attack.

Obesity also leads to an enlargement of the left side of the heart which may result in congestive heart failure. Approximately 10 percent of individuals with severe obesity have congestive heart failure. In addition, severe obesity is associated with a greater incidence of arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) resulting in a 3-fold increased risk of cardiac arrest.

Respiratory Disorders

Individuals affected by obesity have reduced respiratory capacities, are more susceptible to respiratory infections, and have a far greater incidence of asthma. Studies find that approximately 25 percent of individuals with severe obesity have asthma and the majority of those affected by severe obesity have a serious, breathing disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

This condition occurs when excess fat in the neck, throat, and tongue obstructs air passageways during sleep causing apnea (a temporary cessation of breathing). An individual with OSA may have hundreds of apneic episodes each night. These episodes cause exceptionally low oxygen levels in tissue and blood which may contribute to systemic and pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, sudden cardiac death and stroke, as well as fatigue and drowsiness.

Cancer

Obesity is believed to cause up to 90,000 cancer deaths per year. As BMI increases so does the risk for and mortality from specific types of cancer including: endometrial, cervical, ovarian, postmenopausal breast, colorectal, esophageal, pancreatic, gallbladder, liver, kidney, thyroid, prostate, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma and leukemia.

The overall death rate from any type of cancer is increased by 52 percent for males and by 62 percent for females affected by severe obesity.

Cerebrovascular Disease and Stroke

Obesity puts a strain on the entire circulatory system, increasing the risk for stroke. Obesity also is responsible for the development of other stroke risk factors including heart disease, hypertension, lipid abnormalities, type 2 diabetes and obstructive sleep apnea.

Accidents

Severe obesity contributes to the development of a number of musculoskeletal issues that increase the risk for accidents, including aggravated joint diseases (osteoarthritis, gout), disc herniation, spinal abnormalities, and pseudo tumor cerebri, a condition associated with disorientation and visual impairment.

Other Conditions

• Alzheimer’s disease: Studies find that obesity during middle-age may contribute to hormonal and metabolic conditions that increase the risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease later in life.
• Kidney disease: Hypertension, Type 2 Diabetes and congestive heart failure (all conditions caused or worsened by obesity) are major contributors to kidney disease and kidney failure.
• Suicide: Reduced quality of life, depression, and societal discrimination caused by obesity may increase the risk for suicide. The incidence of suicide for those affected by obesity is approximately 2-fold higher than for patients with a healthy BMI.
• Septicemia: The condition is a serious infection that rapidly progresses to septic shock and death. Studies have shown that individuals affected by obesity, particularly those affected by severe obesity, are at higher risk of septicemia than individuals who are normal weight.
• Liver disease: Obesity is the major cause for fatty liver and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The majority of individuals with severe obesity have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Fatty liver disease can cause progressive fibrosis of the liver, resulting in impaired liver function, and eventually can progress to cirrhosis and liver failure.

Take the first step to managing your weight 

Use our BMI calculator to help you determine whether or not you are considered obese. If you are obese, or have one or more risk factors for obesity, our surgeons can help you. In cases of severe obesity, surgery may be an option.

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