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Understanding Obesity

Helping People with Obesity Understand this Disease

At Acadiana Weight Loss Surgery we understand that people with obesity are suffering from a disease – and we’re here to help you learn about the possible effects on your health and life.

The fact is that if you are suffering from obesity, it may eventually cause you multiple health problems (known as co-morbid medical problems). It can also limit your physical abilities and shorten your life expectancy. These are just a few of the reasons why our team wants to partner with you to help you lose weight and greatly improve your quality of life.

Here are more facts and details to help you learn about how obesity affects the lives of so many Americans.

About Obesity

Obesity is a serious disease with symptoms that build slowly over an extended period of time. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines morbid obesity as being 100 pounds or more above your ideal body weight.

The disease of morbid obesity interferes with basic physical functions such as breathing or walking. Long-term implications of the disease include shorter life expectancy, serious health consequences in the form of weight-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and a lower quality of life with fewer economic and social opportunities.

Obesity is a serious public health issue in the United States, as evidenced by the fact that 31 million adults are living with morbid obesity and may qualify for bariatric surgery based on NIH guidelines.

Co-morbid Conditions

The presence of obesity increases your risk for a number of medical conditions, including cancer. A co-morbid condition is a health condition related to a primary disease such as obesity.

Some of the most common medical conditions related to obesity are:

  • Type 2 Diabetes
  • Heart Disease
  • High Blood Pressure
  • High Cholesterol
  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea
  • Acid Reflux/GERD
  • Cancer
  • Depression
  • Osteoarthritis and Joint Pain
  • Stress Urinary Incontinence
  • Infertility and Sexual Dysfunction

All of these conditions occur more frequently in people with morbid obesity – and mortality rates from many of these conditions are also higher among people with morbid obesity.

If you or a loved one are suffering from obesity and would like to learn more about our weight loss procedures, we encourage you to sign up for one of our free seminars today.