According to Marketdata Enterprises, a market research firm, Americans spend more than $ 60 billion a year fighting the battle of bulge. The huge weight loss industry includes everything from diet programs to gym memberships to exercise equipment. However, lost in all this excess are the disappointing and downright depressing statistics that people who want to lose weight must face.
The numbers
At a time when Americans are exercising and dieting more than ever, our waistline is still expanding. One-third of the US population is now officially obese, while two-thirds are simply overweight. In the last three decades, adult obesity has doubled and childhood rotundity has tripled. The negative effect our growing sizes have had on our collective health is nothing short of shocking.
The cold and hard facts
Obesity is now the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, ahead of smoking and drunk driving. It is primarily responsible for the rapid rise in chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. The toll it takes on your body can shorten your life expectancy by up to eight years, according to a recent study.
The solution
A frequently cited statistic tells us that 95 percent of dieters regain the weight they lost. Many overweight and obese people try dozens of diets before throwing in the proverbial towel. They waste their time and money waiting for things to change, but they rarely do. The reason? Diets only work if you follow them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The moment you drop them, your waist will most likely return to its previous size. The only proven way to win the battle against the bulge once and for all is to have surgery for obesity.
How does it work
One of the reasons obese people can eat more than average people is that they have much more spacious stomachs. Obesity or bariatric surgery addresses this problem by reducing the size of the organ, making it impossible for patients to comfortably consume large amounts of food. Whether the stomach is simply restricted by a gastric band or a part is surgically removed, the patient will be physically unable to overeat at any given time.
How effective is it?
Almost all people who have obesity surgery lose some weight in the first 18 to 24 months. After that time, many patients regain some of the pounds they lost, but few regain it fully. Surgery has also been shown to be very effective in treating chronic weight-related conditions such as high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
Who needs it?
As we have mentioned, obesity is extremely detrimental to a person’s health. Furthermore, studies show that the risk of death from chronic weight-related problems returns to normal once a person’s waist is reduced to a healthy size. But what exactly is a healthy waistline? There are several accepted parameters.
According to the latest research, people with a body mass index (BMI) between 35 and 39.99 who have weight-related conditions, such as obstructive sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure, could greatly benefit from surgery obesity. The ideal candidate is also someone who has not been able to maintain a healthy size with diet and exercise. It is also important to note that patients must understand the risks associated with any surgical procedure.
Much more effective than non-surgical options, bariatric surgery offers a permanent solution to obesity.
