Bariatric Surgery Programs In Ohio: Part Of The Fight Against Obesity

Bariatric surgery programs both nationally and internationally are fighting a growing epidemic of obesity and its health consequences. The numbers are staggering. The World Health Organization (WHO) says that more than a billion people around the world are overweight and as many as 300 million of them are obese. It is the result of consuming foods that are high in energy but poor in nutrients with high levels of sugar and saturated fat combined with a decreasing amount of exercise. Obesity rates have already tripled since the 1980s in parts of North America, Europe and even the Middle East and China.

If you are overweight or obese some of the potential consequences could give cause for concern because obesity poses a major risk for certain types of cancer, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and several other chronic diseases. In the United States, for example, more than 23 Americans already have diabetes and that number is expected to double by 2034. That doubling is anticipated as a result of an aging population combined with increasing obesity among the general population. As the problem becomes more acute, more overweight people are seeking bariatric surgery programs.

Since so many overweight people are increasingly turning to medically based solutions for long-term sustainable weight loss, it is important to understand what a bariatric practice is and what it is not. Bariatric surgery programs are not simple weight loss programs with commercially prepared meals and regularly scheduled weigh-ins. At its foundation, a bariatric practice is a medical solution to weight loss providing a comprehensive program that includes surgery. These bariatric surgery programs are directed by a surgeon(s) and supported by a team of professionals which often includes nutritionists, exercise physiologists and nurse practitioners who work with the patients to achieve and maintain weight loss goals. While a simple weight loss program can be entered into by just about anyone who has an interest in losing weight, a program that includes surgery is for patients who are morbidly obese or who have coexisting medical conditions that make losing significant amount s of weight medically vital. These bariatric surgery programs involve a lifetime commitment to losing weight and a lifestyle change for the patient.

One of the most popular options in bariatric surgery programs is the Lap-Band System procedure because it can lead to significant amounts of weight loss over time. That loss of weight can help reverse or correct many of the serious medical conditions associated with obesity including diabetes. One study published by the Journal of American Medical Association stated that 73 percent of patients who had contracted type 2 diabetes in the last two years were able to resolve their condition following bariatric surgery. In many cases, patients with hypertension can lower their blood pressure enough to discontinue medication following significant weight loss after gastric banding procedures.

The American Society for Bariatric surgery declared that approximately 220,000 bariatric surgeries were performed in 2008; that compares to 205,000 performed in 2007. More surgical options have come available over the past decade to provide safer and alternative methods to assist in the fight against obesity. Laparoscopic methods have become more popular to allow less invasive procedures and quicker recovery for weight loss patients. And the fight continues as bariatric surgery programs conduct ongoing medical trials continue to evaluate standard requirements for surgical weight loss options.

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