Treating obesity can often be difficult. If you’re affected by obesity, you know first-hand that addressing your weight and improving your health is not always an easy task to accomplish. The scope of weight-loss options are wide and can often be confusing and intimidating.
More than 93 million Americans are affected by the disease of obesity. Obesity carries with it various other diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea and more. Combined with obesity, these conditions may greatly impact an individual’s quality of health and life.
What are some weight loss options:
Gastric bypass and other weight-loss surgeries are major, life-changing procedures. While weight-loss surgery can help reduce your risk of weight-related health problems — such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea — it can also pose major risks and complications. You may need to meet certain medical guidelines to qualify for weight-loss surgery. You likely will have an extensive screening process to see if you qualify.
When is surgery an option:
In general, gastric bypass and other weight-loss surgery could be an option for you if:
· Efforts to lose weight with diet and exercise have been unsuccessful
· Your body mass index (BMI) is 40 or higher (extreme obesity)
· Your BMI is 35 to 39.9 (obesity) and you have a serious weight-related health problem, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or severe sleep apnea.
In some cases, you may qualify for certain types of weight-loss surgery if your BMI is 30 to 34 and you have serious weight-related health problems.
Two-thirds of residents in South Texas are Hispanic and health problems are typically linked to lifestyle choices. More than 50% of South Texans do not get the recommended amounts of exercise, defined as 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week, and 76% do not eat enough fruits and vegetables. These rates are similar to the rest of the state and nation.