What is obesity?
A clear definition of morbid obesity is very important because this definition is used to guide physicians in the selection of treatment options for people who are overweight.
Clinically severe obesity is a chronic condition that is very difficult to treat. Surgery to promote weight loss by restricting food intake or interrupting digestive processes is an option. Individuals are usually considered morbidly obese if their weight is more than 100 pounds above their ideal body weight. However, a more widely accepted and more exact way to define morbid obesity is with the body mass index (BMI).
The BMI is calculated as follows:
BMI = weight (kg)/height (m2)
Many weight loss websites have BMI calculators.
A BMI above 40 indicates that a person is morbidly obese and therefore a candidate for bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery may also be an option for people with a BMI between 35 and 40 who suffer from life-threatening cardiopulmonary problems, diabetes or other medical problems.
Recent research has shown that genetics plays a central role in the causation of morbid obesity, and it is hoped that with increased understanding of this complex disease, the public and medical community will stop stigmatizing morbidly obese individuals and treat morbid obesity like any other disease. Research has also shown that non-surgical means of weight loss (dieting, exercise, behavior modification and medications) are ineffective in causing significant amounts of weight loss in 98 percent of morbidly obese individuals. Average weight loss with such modalities is 10 percent to 15 percent over a period of one to two years. Unfortunately all of that weight comes back in the majority of patients in five years, plus more. Weight loss surgery is the only effective treatment available for morbid obesity at this time.
Hamot has been designated a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) and has on staff two board-certified surgeons who specialize in bariatrics. The ASBS Center of Excellence designation recognizes surgical programs with a demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes in bariatric surgery.
According to a study released in July 2005 by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the number of U.S. bariatric surgeries more than quadrupled between 1998 and 2002 – from 13,386 to 71,733. Faced with clinical evidence that the most experienced and best-run bariatric surgery programs have by far the lowest rates of complications, the ASBS Centers of Excellence program was created to recognize bariatric surgery centers that perform well and to help surgeons and hospitals continue to improve the quality and safety of care provided.
To earn a Center of Excellence designation, Hamot underwent a series of site inspections during which all aspects of the program’s surgical processes were closely examined and data on health outcomes was collected. Hamot and other centers receiving the Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence designation agree to continue to share information on clinical pathways, protocols and outcomes data.
Obesity has become a significant national health issue, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting that 64 percent of all U.S. adults are overweight or obese. Morbid obesity is closely correlated with a number of serious conditions that severely undermine the health of overweight patients, including heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.
Bariatric surgery, when performed correctly, can help obese patients manage these conditions. By definition, surgeons with ASBS Center of Excellence designations practice only top-quality care, ensuring efficacy of the procedure with each patient to the best of their abilities. As a pioneering organization, designating Centers of Excellence based on top quality care and efficacious outcomes, the American Society for Bariatric Surgery, with the help of SRC, is working to align the common interests of patients, surgeons, hospitals and insurers, all of whom suffer when complications develop after surgical care.
Choosing surgery to control your weight is a major decision. For success, both your mental and physical effort will be needed. Talk with your family, your doctor and other people who have had the surgery. If possible, attend a weight loss surgery support group meeting. Think carefully about your hospitalization, recovery and chances for a successful outcome.
