Treatment of Obesity

Prevention and treatment of obesity are essential for your health, and it is important to become as well educated as possible about treatment options, such as weight loss programs and the various types of bariatric surgery.

Prevention of obesity is the ideal method of defense. Staying active and monitoring caloric intake to maintain a healthy weight is generally easier than losing weight. As a person gains and loses weight with low-calorie “diets,” the body becomes more efficient at storing excess calories, resulting in weight regain. This becomes the cycle of “yo-yo” weight loss and gain.

We can help our children prevent obesity from an early age. It is estimated that 16 percent of children and adolescents are overweight or obese in the United States. St. Luke’s provides an effective, family-centered resource for childhood obesity.

Medically Supervised and Other Weight Loss Programs

Medical and other weight loss programs can be very useful for certain individuals. If your BMI is 25-29.9, you are considered overweight. If your BMI is 30-34.9, you are considered obese. In these ranges, you may be able to lose weight through a well-organized program of diet, exercise, behavior modification, or weight loss medication. Maintenance of long-term weight loss on these programs can positively impact your health. Studies show that people on such programs lose an average of 10-15 percent of their excess weight over a period of two years, although there is a strong tendency to regain that weight when the program or medication is stopped.

Surgical Weight Loss Programs

The landmark “National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference Report,” compiled by top American obesity experts in 1991, states that for people who are considered morbidly obese, diets, exercise programs, and medication regimens fail almost without exception. This is confirmed by scientific evidence still today. The report states:

“Weight loss surgery for the morbidly obese, when combined with behavior modification, is currently the most reliable and only choice for long term maintenance of excess weight loss.”

Because of the very high risk of developing health problems and early death faced by severely obese people, bariatric surgery has also been endorsed by the American Medical Association, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and the American Association of Family Practitioners.

Is bariatric surgery right for you?
Whether to have bariatric surgery is a difficult and life-changing decision that is deeply personal and must be carefully and well thought out. As a patient, you will play a critical role in the long-term success of your surgery, which is not a quick fix but a tool on your path to a healthier life.

To be a candidate for bariatric surgery, you must meet the following criteria established by the National Institutes of Health and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery:

• Are more than 100 pounds over your ideal weight
• Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater Find your BMI
• Have a BMI of 35-40, with two or more co-morbidities associated with your weight, such as diabetes or hypertension
• Have tried and been unable to lose weight through diet and exercise
• Are prepared to make a lifelong commitment to dietary, exercise, and medical guidelines

Bariatric Surgery Seminar
Interested in learning more about the pros and cons of various surgical weight loss options? Attend a free seminar.