Approximately 1.7 billion people worldwide are overweight. Although excess weight is a global health problem, the percentage of overweight adults is highest in the United States. Approximately two thirds of all Americans are overweight or obese.¹

Obesity is defined by your Body Mass Index (BMI), which evaluates your weight in relation to your height. A BMI of 30 is considered obese; people with a BMI of 40 or more or a BMI of 35 or more with one or more significant co-morbidities are considered morbidly obese.

Obesity is not simply a result of overeating. Research has shown that, in many cases, an underlying cause of morbid obesity is genetic. Other causes of obesity include metabolic disorders, hormonal imbalances, and cultural and environmental factors.²

Living with excess weight can negatively impact your physical, emotional, relational, and financial well being. The effects of obesity are widespread and far-reaching. Some effects are obvious. You may tire easily, or you may have trouble finding clothing that fits, keeping up with your kids at the playground, or fitting into a movie theater seat. Perhaps you even avoid particular social situations or limit your activities because of your weight.

Some effects are not so obvious. Morbid obesity has been found to affect the quality of health and the duration of life. ³ It has been linked to several serious and life-threatening diseases, including:

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes, a long-term metabolic disorder where the body produces insulin, but resists it. Insulin is necessary for the body to utilize sugar.

High Blood Pressure 

Excess body weight keeps the heart from working properly. The result can be high blood pressure, which can cause heart attacks, strokes, and kidney damage. 

High Cholesterol 

Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found in all parts of the body. People with high cholesterol are at risk for developing heart disease, stroke, kidney damage and vision loss due to blocked blood vessels to the eye.

Heart Disease

Heart disease is an umbrella term for several conditions that affect the heart and circulatory system. People who are obese are more likely to experience heart attacks, angina, arrhythmias, and coronary heart disease.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder with symptoms of loud snoring and long pauses in breathing. People with obstructive sleep apnea are at risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, daytime drowsiness and type 2 diabetes.

Depression

Clinical depression is a mood disorder during which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday living for extended periods of time.

People who are obese are also more likely to suffer from acid reflux, cancer, osteoarthritis, joint pain, stress urinary incontinence and reproductive health issues.

Cancer

Several studies have been conducted to examine the link between morbid obesity and cancer. In 2001, experts at the National Cancer Institute concluded that the following cancers are associated with obesity.⁴

• Colon cancer
• Breast cancer (postmenopausal)
• Endometrial cancer (lining of the uterus)
• Kidney cancer
• Esophageal cancer

Women who experience intentional weight loss episodes of 20 or more pounds and were not currently overweight were observed to have an incidence of cancer similar to nonoverweight women who never lost weight. ⁵

In addition to the human toll, the financial costs are staggering. Researchers estimate obesity cost Americans 92.6 billion dollars in 2002. In 1994, lost productivity (including workdays lost, doctor visits, restricted-activity days and bed-days) costs were estimated at $3.9 billion.⁶

The good news is that losing weight significantly affects health issues associated with obesity. In a 3-year clinical study completed by 228 Realize™ Band patients, patients in the study reported improvements in various aspects of their quality of life. To evaluate these improvements, patients completed a written evaluation that measured various aspects of their mental and physical health.⁷

68.8 percent (154 patients) reported their general health to be much better one year after surgery.⁷

Patients reported a significant improvement in their vitality, mental health, and social functioning three years after surgery.⁷

Patients reported a significant improvement in the physical aspects of their quality of life three years after surgery. This included improvement in general health, reduction in bodily pain, and increased ability to complete daily and work activities.⁷

These results show that gastric banding surgery can be effective for people who choose to transform their health with the REALIZE Band.

The REALIZE Personalized Banding Solution can help in your fight against obesity and its negative health effects. No band is safer or more effective, and our interactive, web-based application - Realize mySuccess™ - guides you through your weight loss journey every step of the way. Why not begin establishing a new, healthy lifestyle now?

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