Defining Obesity
Obesity is an excess of total body fat, which results from caloric intake that exceeds energy usage. It also is a life-threatening disease afflicting the United States at an alarming rate. A quarter of the population is obese , and another 97 million Americans are overweight or at risk of becoming obese.1 The prevalence of obesity has increased more than 60 percent in the past decade. Given this aggressive increase in the rate of obesity, experts predict that this national health crisis will only continue to escalate.

Causes
Obesity is not a sign that a person’s eating habits are necessarily out of control. Many things can lead to this chronic disease, such as:

* Energy balance—Taking too much energy from food that is in excess of what the body needs can lead to weight gain, depending on individual metabolism and activity level.
* Heredity—If others in your family are obese, you have a higher risk for obesity.
* Metabolic disorders—Changes in metabolism
, or how your body gets energy from food, may affect your energy balance and your weight.
* Eating and social habits—Eating an unbalanced diet, snacking between meals, and not getting enough exercise may all contribute to obesity.
* Psychological factors—Social or emotional eating is also one of the main causes of excess weight gain.

Any one or a combination of these factors can lead to obesity. As science continues to search for answers, seriously overweight individuals must understand how to treat their condition in the most effective way.

Health Risks
Contributing to 120,000 deaths each year, obesity is considered the second leading cause of preventable death after smoking. In fact, it is more damaging to your health than smoking and alcohol abuse.4 In addition, obesity is a major risk factor for serious medical conditions (comorbidities), such as:

* Type 2 diabetes
* Hypertension (high blood pressure)
* Heart disease
* Stroke
* Breathing difficulties
* Cancer
* Joint problems

Being seriously overweight (having a BMI of 35 or greater) significantly increases the chance of developing health conditions that can result in significant physical, mental, and social disabilities.

The Personal Cost of Obesity
The cost of obesity is enormous, with an estimated annual treatment cost in excess of $238 billion, of which roughly $100 billion is devoted to treating related health problems.5 Additionally, Americans spend $33 billion each year on weight-loss products and services.6

In addition, few people realize that individual weight-related costs can amount to more than $15,000 a year per person:

Weight-Related Expenses Estimated Annual Costs
Medical/drug costs (BMI>35) 7 $ 5,965
Out-of-pocket healthcare expenses 8 $ 2,182
Employment inactivity costs 9 $ 900
Commercial weight-loss program fees 10 $ 600
Prescription co-pays (5 meds, $10 each) $ 600
Grocery and dining costs 11 $ 5,321
TOTAL $15,568

1. Weight-Control Information Network (WIN) of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), a part of NIH. NIDDK statistics represent US adults over the age of 20.
2. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Clinical guidelines on the identification, evaluation, and treatment of overweight and obesity in adults. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Web site. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/ob_home.htm. Accessed April 2006.
3. American Society for Bariatric Surgery Web site. Available at: http:// www.asbs.org. Accessed April 2006.
4. Sturn R. The effects of obesity, smoking and problem drinking on chronic medical problems and health care costs. Health Affairs. 2002;21(2):245-253.
5. del Negro A. Its time to treat obesity. Program and Abstracts of paper presented at: 73rd Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association; November 12-15, 2000.
6. Colditz GA. Economic costs of obesity. Am J Clin Nutr. 1992;55:503-507.
7. Health Management Research Center, University of Michigan, 2001.
8. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditures, 2001.
9. Colditz, GA. Economic costs of obesity and inactivity. Med Science Sports Exercise, 1999.
10. Marketdata Enterprises, Inc., October 2002.
11. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditures, 2001.

To receive more information on the LAP-Band® System or other weight-loss options offered by Tri-City Reigional Medical Center Bariatric Program please call
1-877-4OBESITY.

Weight-Loss Options • Comparison of Surgical Options • Obesity Defined