If you’ve struggled to lose weight in the past, you know how frustrating and stressful the process can be.
The prevalence of obesity has risen dramatically over the past 20 years, and more people experience the health effects of obesity than any other disease.
Obesity is a complex medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health. It’s typically defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater and is associated with the leading causes of death, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer. In addition to physical health issues, obesity also impacts mental and emotional health.
If you’ve struggled to lose weight in the past, you know how frustrating and stressful the process can be.
“Oftentimes, patients I see in the office say they’ve tried many times to lose weight,” says Dr. Carl Pesta, bariatric surgeon and Medical Director of the Bariatric Surgery Institute at McLaren Macomb. “They’ve spent countless hours researching and trying different medical weight loss options, without ever achieving long-term success.”
The first step to getting long-lasting help is meeting with your primary care provider to discuss healthy lifestyles and explore weight loss options. In some cases, bariatric surgery might be the best option.
In general, weight loss surgery is considered for those who haven’t been able to lose weight through diet and exercise. To qualify for coverage through most insurance plans, the person considering surgery would have a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher. BMI is a value derived from the mass and height of a person.
Know your BMI
Check your body mass index with this BMI calculator.
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