UNDERSTANDING OBESITY

Obesity results from the excessive accumulation of fat that exceeds the body's skeletal and physical standards. Today 97 million Americans, more than one-third of the adult population, are overweight or obese. An estimated 5 to 10 million of those are considered morbidly obese.

Obesity becomes "morbid" when it reaches the point of significantly increasing the risk of one or more obesity-related health conditions or serious diseases (also known as co-morbidities) that result in significant physical disability or even death.

Emphasis and Co-Morbidities

Weight loss is not a cure for eating disorders. And there are medical conditions, such as hyperthyroidism, that can also cause weight gain. It's important to work with your doctor to make sure that you do not have a condition that should be treated with medication and counseling.

Co-morbidities are health conditions, which whether alone or in combination, can significantly reduce your life expectancy. A partial list of common conditions follows. Your doctor can provide you with a more detailed and complete list.

Diabetes: Obese individuals develop a resistance to insulin, which regulates blood sugar levels. Over time, the resulting high blood sugar can cause serious damage to the body.
High blood pressure/Heart disease: Excess body weight strains the ability of the heart to function properly. The resulting hypertension (high blood pressure) can result in strokes, as well as inflict significant heart and kidney damage.
High cholesterol: Elevation of lipids and triglycerides in the blood, which contributes to early heart disease, blood vessel disease and stroke.
Sleep apnea/Respiratory problems: Fat deposits in the tongue and neck can cause intermittent obstruction of the air passage. Because the obstruction is increased when sleeping on your back, you may find yourself waking frequently to reposition yourself. The resulting loss of sleep often results in daytime drowsiness and headaches.
Osteoarthritis of weight-bearing joints: The additional weight placed on joints, particularly knees and hips, results in rapid wear and tear, along with pain caused by inflammation. Similarly, bones and muscles of the back are constantly strained, resulting in disk problems, pain and decreased mobility.
Gallbladder disease: The formation of gallstones within the gallbladder, which can lead to symptoms of severe abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.
Menstrual irregularities: Morbidly obese individuals often experience disruptions of the menstrual cycle, abnormal menstrual flow and increased pain associated with the menstrual cycle.
Infertility/Pregnancy complications: The inability or diminished ability to produce offspring or maintain a healthy pregnancy.
Urinary stress incontinence: A large, heavy abdomen and relaxation of the pelvic muscles, especially associated with the effects of childbirth, may cause the valve on the urinary bladder to be weakened, leading to the leakage of urine with coughing, sneezing or laughing.
Depression: Seriously overweight persons face constant challenges to their emotions: repeated failure with dieting, disapproval from family and friends, sneers and remarks from strangers. They often experience discrimination at work, cannot fit comfortably in theatre seats, or ride in a bus or plane.
Gastroesophageal reflux/Heartburn: Acid belongs in the stomach and seldom causes any problem when it stays there. When acid escapes into the esophagus through a weak or overloaded valve at the top of the stomach, the result is called gastroesophageal reflux, and heartburn and acid indigestion are common symptoms. Approximately 10-15% of patients with even mild sporadic symptoms of heartburn will develop a condition called Barrett's esophagus, which is a pre-malignant change in the lining membrane of the esophagus, a cause of esophageal cancer.
Increased surgical risks: Obese individuals are at high risk for surgical complications because they may be experiencing medical problems listed above.