Questions: What is and what causes obesity?

Obesity is a disease of excess accumulation of fat. Because the excess accumulation of fat can result in illness or even death in men and women, obesity is considered a disease. Obesity is most commonly measured in terms of body weight and the term is used when this excess weight become a health risk. According to the National Institutes of Health, NIH, an increase in 20 percent or more over ideal body weight is the point at which excess weight becomes a health risk, and the point where one is considered obese. Based on the NIH data, about one-third of the US adult population suffers from obesity.

To find your ideal weight for your height and sex from a weight chart or what is referred to as a Body Mass Index chart or BMI chart. Being severly overweight is a serious condition because it increases your risk of having major conditions / illnesses, such as:
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Some types of cancer, such as colon, breast, and uterine cancer
- Osteoarthritis (sore joints that you can get as you get older)

Obesity makes life hard on you and makes it harder for your doctor to give you a thorough physical, take x-rays and perform surgeries.

We recommend that everyone look into eating and being heathier, but if your obesity places your health at serious risk, then you may want to consider other ways to fight obesity. These procedures include:

- Gastric Bypass
- Gastric Band ( Stomach Stapling )

If you have additional questions about obesity and Bariatric Surgery please visit our other quesiton and answers pages.
- Are You a Weight Loss Surgery Candidate?
- Bariatric Surgery Questions
- Weight Loss Options
- After weight loss surgery?

For more information on obesity and weight loss surgery please Contact Us

To learn more about our Weight Loss Surgery Program, you are invited to attend an information session held at Florida Hospital Celebration Health.

Meet the surgeon, office staff, previous surgical weight loss patients, and get the opportunity to know if this is an option for you.

To enroll, call 1-888-303-4504 or click here.