Why Obesity Surgery?
Morbid obesity is a very serious form of obesity in Idaho. In this disease, a person has become more than 100 pounds heavier than their ideal body weight (Body mass index of 40 or more). When obesity reaches this level, there is a drastic increase in the associated medical problems (co-morbidities) and a sharp statistical increase in premature death rates. Unfortunately, efforts at controlling this severe form of obesity by nonsurgical means (diet, exercise, drugs, behavioral modification) tend to be ineffective. More than 75% of patients regain their body weight within a few years of non-surgical treatment. On the other hand, treating morbid obesity with surgery, although risky, is a highly effective and durable treatment. When a person becomes morbidly obese, the risks of surgery are much lower than the risks of going untreated. In this setting, obesity surgery becomes a reasonable and attractive option. Medical Conditions Associated With Morbid Obesity: • Sleep Apnea • Hypertension
