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Treat Your Obesity Patient Learning Center
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This Time It Counts Videos
This project was launched in order to provide a space for the many people who have had bariatric surgery and want to share their own unique weight-loss journey through video. The site provides a welcoming environment for them to talk about their motivation for surgery and the personal successes reached because of their life-changing surgery. To view “This Time It Counts” video submissions, please click on “Read More” below.
It Starts Now Contest Winners
In 2015, It Starts Now, a nationwide competition seeked short videos and films about obesity in America. Many individuals created videos that creatively inspired, motivated and/or educated the public about issues related to obesity. To view “It Starts Now” video submissions, please click on “Read More” below.
Disease of Obesity
Obesity is no longer considered a cosmetic issue that is caused by overeating and a lack of self-control. The World Health Organization (W.H.O.), along with National and International medical and scientific societies, now recognize obesity as a chronic progressive disease resulting from multiple environmental and genetic factors.
The disease of obesity is extremely costly not only in terms of economics, but also in terms of individual and societal health, longevity, and psychological well-being. Due to its…
BMI Calculator
BMI (Body Mass Index) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. Use our online calculate to find out your BMI.
The Impact of Obesity on Your Body and Health
Obesity is when your body has too much fat. Obesity can cause a lot of damage to your body. People with severe obesity are more likely to have other diseases. These include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and many more. Combined with obesity, these diseases may lead people to have a lower quality of health. In some cases, these can lead to disability or early death.
Obesity is a major cause of…
Making Choices About Surgery
These tools are designed to assist those considering bariatric surgery.
Working with your insurance provider for coverage of bariatric surgery can often be a difficult task. Your insurance policy may or may not cover bariatric surgery and such coverage varies widely depending on your location and employer.
Most bariatric practices have a dedicated staff to help you navigate your insurance policy; however, in the event they do not, there are resources available. The Obesity Action…
Medical Tourism
Medical tourism is the practice of traveling across international borders to access healthcare systems or physician services that are not available or less attractive in a person’s native country. Although medical tourism is not a new concept, high health care cost, long wait times, availability of relatively inexpensive worldwide travel, and increasing number of countries catering to medical tourism have led to an increase in this practice throughout the last decade. Today, facilities catering to…
Bariatric Surgery Misconceptions
As many as 50 percent of patients may regain a small amount of weight (approximately 5 percent) two years or more following their surgery. However, longitudinal studies find that most bariatric surgery patients maintain successful weight-loss long-term. ‘Successful’ weight-loss is arbitrarily defined as weight-loss equal to or greater than 50 percent of excess body weight. Often, successful results are determined by the patient, by their perceived improvement in quality of life. In such cases, the…
Surgery for Diabetes
» Someone in the world dies from complications associated with diabetes every 10 seconds. » Diabetes is one of the top ten leading causes of U.S. deaths. » One out of ten health care dollars is attributed to diabetes. » Diabetics have health expenditures that are 2.3 times higher than non-diabetics. » Approximately 90 percent of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the most common form of diabetes, is attributable to excessive body fat. » If…
Who is a Candidate for Bariatric Surgery?
Qualifications for bariatric surgery in most areas include:
» BMI ≥ 40, or more than 100 pounds overweight. » BMI ≥35 and at least one or more obesity-related co-morbidities such as type II diabetes (T2DM), hypertension, sleep apnea and other respiratory disorders, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, osteoarthritis, lipid abnormalities, gastrointestinal disorders, or heart disease. » Inability to achieve a healthy weight loss sustained for a period of time with prior weight loss efforts.
For example,…
Life After Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery is a major event in a patient’s weight-loss journey, but the event is best seen as a new beginning. Obesity is a lifelong disease and there is no operation, diet or medication that can by itself offer a permanent cure. Surgery with good aftercare and moderate lifestyle changes can give wonderful long-term results for health and weight.
In the weeks after surgery, your dietitian will have a nutrition plan for you to follow…..
Childhood and Adolescent Obesity
Obesity is not exclusive to adults. Each day, more and more children are finding themselves at risk for overweight and obesity. Childhood obesity often accompanies many of the obesity-related conditions adults affected by obesity often experience, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea and more. Recent data shows that up to 80 percent of children affected by obesity will continue to be affected by obesity into adulthood.
Obesity impacts children in a variety of…