Articles

Article appeared in The Patent Trader – Northern Westchester’s Community Newspaper
December, 2002

Obesity on the rise: A national epidemic
By Dr. Dominick Artuso

In October, The Journal of American Medicine released a new study on obesity. The findings were truly alarming to the general public, but not surprising to health care professionals that treat primarily overweight and obese patients. Approximately 55 percent of American adults and children are now categorized as being overweight or obese, and these numbers have been rising steadily in recent years. According to the American Obesity Association, obesity affects nearly 39 million Americans and is the second leading cause of premature death, after smoking, accounting for about 300,000 deaths per year. And the problem is not just here in America. Worldwide, obesity has become a health problem of epidemic proportions.

There are several important things to understand about obesity. First, obesity is a disease. It is life-long, progressive and can be life-threatening.

Second, obesity is linked with other serious health problems. Obesity-related diseases include heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, respiratory disease and arthritis. Being obese also increases a person’s risk of developing hormone-related cancers like breast cancer, ovarian and prostate cancer.

Third, the consequences of obesity extend beyond medical problems. Excess body fat can inhibit a person’s social and personal relationships. Individuals suffering from obesity can be a target of discrimination in both their personal and professional lives. Depression is also prevalent among people who are overweight or obese.

Roughly 10 million Americans are morbidly obese. The causes of morbid obesity are complex and include genetic, metabolic, environmental, neurological and hormonal factors as well as a disordered relationship with food.

Because the causes of obesity are complex and multi-faceted, it is also hard for people to treat on their own. A diet and exercise program is not the solution for everyone and is difficult to maintain, leading to the “yo-yo effect”, in which people lose and regain weight repeatedly. Also, some obese people have a hard time exercising because of physical restrictions that affect them due to their excess weight. Lack of success through dieting can also fuel feelings of inadequacy and despair. Weight loss therapies can also be costly. In recent years, consumers have spent $20 billion on health clubs and weight loss programs and more than $14.7 million on dietary supplements, all while the number of people who are either overweight or obese has continued to climb.

In the past month, bariatric surgery as a weight loss solution has been in the news. Several high profile individuals who have had the procedure have come forward to tell their stories of success with it. Often, bariatric surgery succeeds when other methods fail and the procedure has become much more popular and safer.

Bariatric surgery reduces the capacity of the stomach. Surgical options include laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery, laparoscopic adjustable gastric band and roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Following surgery, the average patent will lose 60 to 70 percent of his or her excess weight. Surgery involves a serious commitment from the patient, and the most successful programs include strong support and post-operation counseling.

Candidates for gastric bypass surgery have a body mass index in the range of 35-40, are generally between 18 and 60 years old, are more than 100 pounds or 100 percent over their ideal weight and have at least one obesity-related health condition. BMI is a mathematical calculation used to determine whether a patient is overweight or obese. While weight loss surgery isn’t for everyone, it has brought hope, relief and a new lease on life to individuals who have done it.

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