Severe obesity is a medical condition that is currently classified by a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or greater. Patients suffering from obesity require the help of a medical professional to navigate their condition. Without support, success with weight loss is often likely to be short-lived.
As kids, we don’t think about our overall health and how our lifestyle and food choices impact our body. When we’re young, our bodies are invincible or incapable of becoming seriously ill or damaged. However, we are seeing the effects of obesity in many younger populations before they reach high school due to factors such as poor diet or lack of physical activity.
“Obesity really affects the entire body from head to toe, oftentimes in ways that people don’t even really appreciate. Things like worsening migraine headaches, worsening of psoriasis, inflammatory bowel conditions, and so on. The adipose tissue we carry around doesn’t just add excess weight, but it also secretes a lot of substances- hormones, inflammatory things- that places patients at risk for developing associated health conditions that we call comorbidities. Things like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and obstructive sleep apnea. As patients lose the weight, any of these conditions will improve, if not go away altogether.”
John D. Rutkoski, MD, FACS, FASMBS
Director of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, Sisters of Charity Hospital
Anyone suffering from obesity is carrying more than just extra weight, they are at a significantly higher risk for other serious health problems.
Excess weight puts pressure on the joints, wearing them down faster, and forces organs to work harder than they should for any size or age. As with anything, wear and tear over time can eventually lead to malfunction. Sadly, the most dangerous consequences may not have symptoms and go undetected until it is too late.
Obesity in children continues to be a growing concern among physicians and health experts. According to the American Medical Association, rates of obesity in children are growing, and kids need immediate and early intervention to successfully lose weight and have healthier futures.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Being overweight or obese is one of the main risk factors for problems such as coronary artery disease, stroke, and heart failure.
Many people who are overweight also have high cholesterol, which can allow fat molecules to build up in the blood. These fats can attach to other masses and form blockages in a blood vessel, causing a heart attack.
Our country spends over one-hundred billion dollars every year taking care of diabetes, making it the most expensive disease. This is because living with diabetes not only requires patients to change their lifestyle, but also check their blood sugar frequently and take very costly medications.
There are a number of factors that put people at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Some, like genetics, may be out of anyone’s control. However, obesity is known to be the greatest contributor of all. If not managed properly, diabetes can go on to rob patients of their eyesight, kidneys, legs, and even life.
Obesity causes the immune system to become chronically inflamed, reducing its ability to fight off infections and viruses. Another issue facing patients with chronic conditions or infectious diseases is they avoid seeking medical treatment due to not having an established relationship with a doctor, or avoid returning for fear of judgement or a repeating a previous negative experience.
Sleep apnea is defined by reduced breathing effectiveness while sleeping, sometimes to the extent that breathing periodically stops. Excess body weight can cause sleep apnea because it puts abnormal pressure on the upper respiratory system. The poor quality of sleep that results from sleep apnea not only disrupts one’s quality of life, but also puts them at risk for developing other medical conditions.
There’s many complex factors that affect our lifestyle choices and overall health. Together, with the help of our specialists and metabolic team, we will find a strategy that you are comfortable with and achieves all of your weight-loss goals.
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