Contributing to 300,000 deaths each year, obesity is considered the second leading cause of preventable death afer smoking. In fact, it is more damaging to your health than smoking and alcohol abuse. In addition, obesity is a major risk factor for serious medical conditions (comorbidities), such as:

The cost of this serious disease 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. Additionally, Americans spend $33 billion each year on weight-loss products and services.

Measuring Obesity

Obesity The most common measurement for obesity is the Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is the body weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters (see the formula for pounds and inches in the Glossary of Terms under "Body Mass Index"). While BMI does not actually measure body fat, it tends to correlate well with the degree of obesity. Thus it should not be used alone for diagnosis, but can be useful as a general guideline.

The BMI calculation cannot distinguish between body fat and muscle. This could cause a very muscular person to be mistakenly classified as obese. For this reason, your physician should always consider your individual case. The obesity categories adopted in 1998 by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are:

o BMI 25 to 29.9 kg/M2- Overweight

o BMI 30 to 34.9 kg/m2- Obese

o BMI 35 to 39.9 kg/m2 - Severely Obese

The Thread of Morbid Obesity

The Morbid Obesity category represents individuals who carry the largest and most
dangerous amount of excess body weight.

In simple terms, it is defined as:

o BMI _ 40 or
o Weighing at least twice the ideal weight or at least 100 pounds more

Obesity Causes

Obesity is not a sign that a person is out of control. Many things can lead to this chronic disease, such as:

o 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.

o Heredity - If others in your family are obese, you have a higher risk for obesity.

o Metabolic disorders - Changes in metabolism, or how your body gets energy from food, may afect your energy balance and your weight.

o Eating and social habits - Eating an unbalanced diet, snacking between meals, and not getting enough exercise may all contribute to obesity.

o Psychological factors - Social or emotional eating is also one of the main causes of gaining excess weight.

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

REVOLUTIONIZING OBESITY SURGERY

With obesity reaching epidemic proportions, the search for safe and effective treatment options has taken on a heightened sense of urgency. While diet, exercise and medication continue to be the first line of defense in treating the disease, studies indicate that morbidly obese patients will not achieve long-term weight loss through dietary and behavioral modifications alone. Surgery remains the best hope for those patients convinced that the improved health effects associated with weight loss will be worth the operative risk.
In an effort to develop a new surgical option that eliminates many of the known associated operative risks and provides unique benefits compared to more invasive surgical treatments for obesity, INAMED Health partnered with leading bariatric surgeons around the world to devise a solution that would deliver:

• Less trauma
• Less risk of peri-operative and post-operative complications
• Fewer side effects
• Adjustability for individual needs
• Reversibility
• Effective long-term weight loss

This effort resulted in the BioEnterics®LAP-BAND® System, a laparoscopic approach to sustained weight loss that a growing number of surgeons around the world hail as an optimal surgical alternative for improved health and enhanced quality of life with less operative risk.

Most people lose between one-third and two-thirds of their excess weight with the help of the LAP-BAND System. It is important to remember that the LAP-BAND System is an aid to support you in achieving lasting results by limiting food intake, reducing appetite and slowing digestion. However, for the ultimate success of the operation it is very important that you play an active part in the effort to lose weight and keep it off by adopting a different lifestyle and eating pattern for the rest of your life.