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OBESITY!
re you or a loved one affected by obesity? Are you looking for help?
Your answer could be right here in your own community. At Jefferson
Hills Surgical Specialists along with Hope Bariatrics, Dr. Tunc
Aksehirli is here to answer your questions and help you control the biggest
fight of your life – your weight.
What is obesity?
Obesity is a medical condition that is associated with having excess body
fat. If your body weight is more than 20% higher than it should be, you are
considered obese. Morbid obesity is when you are more than 100 pounds
over your ideal weight. The standard used to measure body weight is the Body
Mass Index (BMI). The BMI is a statistical measurement derived from your
height and weight.
How can obesity be unhealthy for you?
Most people who are obese suffer from many common medical conditions
such as diabetes, hypertension, depression, sleep apnea, heartburn and arthritis
to name a few. Large medical studies have also suggested a two-fold increase in
endometrial and breast cancers in those who are morbidly obese, a decrease in
life expectancy of 10-15 years, as well as a 50 to 100% higher rate of death from
all causes.
Does losing weight help to lessen these medical problems and risk
of death?
The good news is that losing weight is very effective in controlling or
eliminating many obesity-related illnesses. Here are some examples of how
weight loss can improve your health:
Type II Diabetes
82-96% resolved
Hypertension
62-70% resolved
Obstructive Sleep Apnea 74-98% resolved
Heartburn
72-95% resolved
Risk of Mortality (Death) 89% decreased in a 5-year period
Quality of Life
95% improved
Which avenue of weight loss is right for a person who is morbidly obese?
The best way to find out is to first make an appointment with your primary
care physician to discuss your obesity and health issues. A referral to our
bariatric program may be the next best step to evaluate all the medical and
surgical options that best suit your individual needs. Find out more at
www.jeffersonsurgical.net or www.hopebariatrics.com.
To set up an appointment/inquire about the Bariatric Surgery Program
through Jefferson Hills Surgical Specialists/Hope Bariatrics, please contact
Patricia Patton, RN, Bariatric Nurse Specialist at 412.267.6260. For a surgical
consultation at Jefferson Hills Surgical Specialists, please call 412.469.7110.
Article submitted by Tunc Aksehirli, M.D., Fellowship trained Bariatric
and Laparoscopic Surgeon, American Society of Metabolic and
Bariatric Surgery, American College of Surgeons.
Main Office
1200 Brooks Lane, Suite 170
Jefferson Hills, pA 15025
Bethel Park
1000 Higbee drive, Suite 102
Bethel park, pA 15102
charlerOi
1200 McKean Avenue, Suite 107
Charleroi, pA 15022
BrentwOOD
3720 Brownsville road
pittsburgh, pA 15227
Peters tOwnshiP
455 Valleybrook road, Suite 300
McMurray, pA 15317
Is it possible to lose weight on my own with diet?
Unfortunately, the answer is very hard to predict. Many of the conditions
associated with obesity make it very difficult to lose weight with conventional
diet plans. The body will crave food with insulin spikes and most people,
after they lose the weight, will gain it all back. The odds are that many of you
reading this article may have already experienced that.
How does a person go about losing weight to help live better and longer?
There are three recommended treatment options for obesity, depending on the
individual’s BMI:
1. Lifestyle Modification (for BMI > 25)
These include changes to your diet, behavior, and physical activity.
2. Pharmacotherapy (for BMI > 30)
These include medications for individuals dealing with medical
issues as a result of their obesity.
3. Bariatric Surgery (for BMI > 35 with other medical conditions
or BMI > 40 with no other medical conditions).
What types of bariatric surgeries are offered?
Bariatric surgery, also called metabolic surgery, is often indicated for patients
who are morbidly obese. We offer three types of minimally invasive
surgeries, and we would discuss which surgical option w