Bariatric Surgery

Important facts about obesity and bariatric surgery

• The disease of life-threatening obesity is at epidemic proportions
• There are approximately 15 million Americans with life-threatening obesity
• Life-threatening obesity is defined as 100 pounds above ideal body weight or a BMI (body mass index) of greater than 40
• America is the heaviest nation in the world
• 25% of our children are now overweight
• Patients with life-threatening obesity die, on average, 12-15 years earlier than their normal weight counterparts
• Patients with life-threatening obesity suffer from multiple medical conditions that affect nearly every organ system in their body, including:
       - Type II diabetes
       - High blood pressure
       - Elevated cholesterol
       - Arthritis
       - Depression
       - Cardiac disease
• Bariatric surgery is the current cure for life-threatening obesity
• Patients who choose to pursue bariatric surgery do so to live longer, healthier lives
• Bariatric surgery is not cosmetic surgery
• Bariatric surgery is a tool to help patients lose weight
• Bariatric patients succeed when they are a part of a comprehensive program that provides lifelong follow-up,
  dietician support, support groups and exercise specialist services
• Bariatric surgery requires a major, lifelong commitment to a change in diet and behavior
• Risks of bariatric surgery today are far less than the risk of living with life-threatening obesity
• Diet and exercise alone have shown long-term effectiveness in only 5% of patients
• Bariatric surgery provides long-lasting weight loss
• Successful weight loss from bariatric surgery can eliminate the medical conditions that patients suffer from
• This successful weight loss translates into lower healthcare costs, more productive workers and patients who
  "have been reborn"