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By now many of us have heard that obesity is an epidemic of immense proportion that threatens the health and life of all that are affected by it. But did you know that in 2013 obesity was declared an actual disease by the American Medical Association, the nation’s largest physician organization? Obesity is a chronic medical condition with multifaceted causes and consequences, which is defined by the medical community according to a person’s Body Mass Index (BMI).  BMI is a measurement of height and weight that results in a number used as a screening tool to asses a person’s risk of disease. It is generally thought that the higher one’s BMI, the higher their body fat, therefore the higher the risk for other chronic medical conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and even certain cancers.  Often many of these chronic medical conditions go hand in hand with obesity- these are called “co-morbid conditions” and management of them can make treating obesity even more complicated, and vice versa.  Unfortunately, long-term weight management through non-surgical treatments has proven largely unsuccessful for those suffering from obesity. Even as a Registered Dietitian, I can say that I have not seen anything work for those who suffer from obesity quite in the same way, and with the same efficacy as bariatric surgery does. With proper diet, medications, behavior modifications and exercise, patients can often lose modest amounts of weight, but only for short periods of time, and statistics show that long-term weight loss using these methods is rare. In contrast to non-surgical treatments, weight loss surgery has demonstrated to be highly effective at sustaining long-term weight loss- we have seen this in our practice thousands of times since we opened our doors in 2002.
Obesity related co-morbid conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke are some of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States.  Obesity and obesity related conditions are estimated to cost more than $147 billion annually, and on average those with obesity spend $1,429 more on health care every year compared to those of normal weight. The costs of obesity are great, not only in terms of health and economics, but also quality of life and longevity.  The management of obesity requires serious, life-long treatment, and bariatric surgery can be a safe and effective part of that treatment plan.  The surgical treatment of obesity has proven economic benefits as well and therefore most commercial and managed plans cover some form of bariatric surgery.
Bariatric surgeries that are most commonly performed today produce weight loss by restricting the amount of food the stomach can hold and also by causing gut hormonal changes that reduce appetite in various ways. These powerful changes result in long lasting weight loss, improved co-morbid conditions, and better overall quality of life for the overwhelming majority of those who undergo bariatric surgery. As just one example of how powerful bariatric surgery can be, let’s consider Type 2 diabetes as it relates to obesity. Obesity is a leading cause of Type 2 diabetes and people affected by obesity are 10 times more likely to have Type 2 diabetes.  In fact, Type 2 diabetes can nearly double the risk of death in people affected, and can lead to heart disease, amputations, blindness, kidney disease, and many other serious co-morbid conditions.  Now, can you imagine what the best treatment option for such a debilitating disease might be- a medication, a diet, an exercise? Well, it is actually a surgical treatment- bariatric surgery, which can be more effective than other treatment options for those affected by Type 2 diabetes and obesity.  Diabetes remission rates are as high as 85% with some bariatric procedures.  This powerful effect is the reason why weight loss surgery is often called metabolic surgery- the effects go beyond just simple weight loss.

Now, I’d like to tell you the story of Lauren.  Lauren came to us 2 years ago seeking help with her weight.  She had been struggling with weight issues ever since she could remember and suffered with painful joint and knee pains as the result of carrying extra weight.  She, like countless other patients of ours, had been on numerous diets and exercise programs and lost considerable amounts of weight, only to gain it back time after time.  Lauren had come to the point that she felt bariatric surgery might be the best option to improve her health and quality of life.   She came in for an initial consultation with one of our bariatric surgeons and reviewed the benefits vs risks of various surgical interventions for weight loss.  It was found that the benefits far exceeded the risks for Lauren and a short while later she underwent a Gastric Bypass procedure with Dr. William Graber.  Lauren’s initial weight with us was over 300 lbs. and she has lost more than 160 lbs. in her almost 2 years after having bariatric surgery.  She has a new lease on life, maintains a healthy weight and diet, and even runs for exercise which she loves and never imagined that she could ever do before her operation.         

See this article and more in the latest issue of Women of Upstate New York magazine. 

If you or someone you know is suffering from obesity and/or obesity related conditions, we invite you to come learn more about these life changing procedures at our free monthly seminar given the 2nd Tuesday of every month at our Syracuse office located in the Medical Office Building of St. Joseph’s Hospital, 104 Union Avenue, Suite 809, Syracuse, NY 13203.  Please call (315) 477-4740 to register.  Also, visit/follow/like us at www.DrGraberMD.com, Twitter: @DrGraberMD, Facebook, Youtube, and Google+.

In good health,
Evelyn Mariani, MS, RD, CDN


 

posted at: 2015-07-10 23:22:00, last updated: 2015-07-10 23:32:58