Obesity and Diabetes
About Obesity
Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death in this country. Approximately 127 million Americans are overweight, 60 million are obese (Body Mass Index, or BMI of >30), and 9 million are considered extremely or morbidly obese (BMI>40, about 100 pounds or more overweight). That translates to an estimated 65.2% of US adults, 20 years or older. Fifteen percent of children and adolescents are overweight, and 30.5% who are obese.
As well as shortening lifespan, obesity and in particular, extreme or morbid obesity sharply increases the risks for many serious conditions, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglycerides, osteoarthritis, urinary incontinence, gallbladder disease, hypothyroidism, sleep disorders (sleep apnea), kidney stones, fertility and pregnancy problems, metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome, certain cancers (kidney, breast, colon, and esophageal cancer), depression, fatty liver disease, and lung diseases including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or emphysema, and premature death. Studies have shown that weight loss can reduce or eliminate most, if not all, of these conditions.
For individuals with extreme obesity, for whom other weight-loss treatments have failed, weight-loss surgery may be a good option. Approximately 205,000 individuals in the US have weight-loss surgery each year, which is less than 1% of those who are candidates for this treatment.
About Bariatric Surgery (Weight-Loss Surgery)
NewYork-Presbyterian Obesity Surgery offers surgical treatment for obesity and is one of six clinical centers in the United States to be part of LABS, a National Institutes of Health (NIH) consortium that evaluates bariatric procedures.
The Service utilizes a team approach to care which includes surgeons, advanced nurse practitioners, physician's assistants and registered dietitians. Together, the team works with patients to help them sustain their weight loss and health following surgery.
About 90% of weight-loss surgeries we perform are laparoscopic, which require a number of much smaller incisions, and result in less time spent in the hospital, and a more rapid recovery period. Surgical procedures currently offered include Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, LAP-BAND, Duodenal Switch and Gastric Sleeve. All of these are performed laparoscopically.
Eligibility for Bariatric Surgery (Weight-Loss Surgery)
Individuals who are eligible for obesity surgery include those who:
- Weigh at least 100 pounds more than ideal body weight.
- Are at least 80 pounds overweight, and have life-threatening, obesity-related problems, such as diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Have failed to lose significant weight with non-surgical methods of weight loss.
- Have a full understanding of the possible risks, benefits, and uncertainties of procedure.
- Understand that bariatric surgery is a very serious undertaking, and are willing and able to comply with pre-operative and post-operative evaluations, and to make significant, lifelong lifestyle changes required by weight-loss surgeries.
