Obesity is an epidemic that harms health and claims lives. One-third of Americans are overweight, and another third are obese. 6 percent of Americans are morbidly obese, with a BMI over 40 and frighteningly high risks for diseases. The effects of obesity are stunning.

Obesity is an epidemic that harms health and claims lives. One-third of Americans are overweight, and another third are obese. 6 percent of Americans are morbidly obese, with a BMI over 40 and frighteningly high risks for diseases. The effects of obesity are stunning.

The United States pays about $190 billion per year in medical costs related to obesity. That includes things like hospital bills, prescription drugs and special equipment necessary for treating obese individuals. Then, of course, there are additional costs related to things like worker absenteeism because of more illnesses among obese employees. Your own insurance costs and healthcare bills can go up because of your obesity.

You know that obesity is unhealthy. Everyone says that all the time. But do you know just how harmful obesity can be? It increases your risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure and osteoarthritis. It can cause sleep apnea and asthma. It can make you ashamed of yourself and be a trigger for others to look down on you. Obesity can take ten or more years off of your life.

Here are a few quick fact about what can happen when you lose a significant amount of body fat.

• If you have type 2 diabetes and are obese, losing weight can almost certainly get you on lower doses of diabetes medications – or off of them entirely!
  
• Your knee pain, back pain and are probably being caused by your obesity. When you achieve a normal weight, you’ll probably be pain-free.
  
• High cholesterol and high blood pressure will almost certainly drop when you lose excess weight.
  
• You’ll feel happier and more confident when you can go shopping in normal stores and fit into your car without sliding the seat back.
  
• You’ll have more energy because – let’s face it – it’s hard to carry around all that weight all day.
  

Okay. You know obesity harms physical health. It can cause depression and low self-esteem. People may look down on obese individuals. Nobody wants to be obese. So why are so many people obese? You already know this one! Too much eating, and not enough exercising! Our whole society is built to make us obese. Consider these factors leading to high calorie intake and not enough calorie burn.

• Fast food is cheap, tasty and high in calories, fat and sugar. Plus, it’s everywhere!
  
• High-calorie food tastes good, is everywhere and is heavily advertised – so you can’t get away from it.
  
• Healthy food is more expensive and often takes longer to prepare.
  
• We drive and take the elevator instead of walk and take the stairs.
  
• It’s hard to find time for exercise.
  
• Sitting around and watching television means that you’re not moving and burning calories – and it often means that you’re eating potato chips mindlessly.
  

If you’re interested in learning more about what obesity is doing to you and millions of others, check out Chapter 1 of The BIG Book on the LAP-BAND^®. It has simple explanations for all of these medical conditions and also a clear description of the body mass index – or BMI. Doctors use your BMI to assess your weight status, so you’d better be familiar with it as you continue your weight loss journey!

Great Post Alex!

So true....thanks for posting Alex !

Alex for the Win! So true and correct. Lets get healthy together!

You done good Cutie Patootie! Reeeeal GOOD at keepin it real! Your Number ONE FAN, Mystic Sandy2

I think it's great that you started these sites. I love my surgeon but I found answers to things I never would have even thought about asking. I was fully prepared for my surgery, i had made a few new friends, I had trolled around and gotten read a lot of topics that I actually had questions about. I'm on this site all the time and I hope that I am able to offer others the same support and education that I received. Your surgeon can give you the technical explanations but all of these members who have been there; they can give you that REAL emotional explanation that only someone like us can understand. It really is like having a giant extended family available to talk to you at any moment on any given day. We all come from different backgrounds and cultures but we all that common link that pulls you together.

Excellent information.

One of the items that stands out to me and is a problem area for many of us is the excuses we make for not having time to exercise. I tried this with my surgeon and he was very quick to explain that he has practices in two towns and is the only bariatric surgeon at a huge hospital in a major metro area but he still exercises 10 hours a week. He thinks of it in the same way as prescription medication, you just do it, no excuses.

I agree 100%,I actually order some Pilates dvds this morning from amazon. They are do in next week, so I am eagerly waiting for their arrival.And I;m just going to have to break out some tie each day as "Mommy Time" it'd pilates for beginners so hopefully I won't kill myself LOL trying it out nest week!!

Thank you for starting this wonderful site!...and blessings to you on your own journey - as I prepare for my surgery, you and others inspire me...thank you!

Thank you Alex for starting these . I don't know where I would of found the important information if it was not for these forums. I have learned so many things from different people from all over the world. Again Thank you!

first time reading your story would never think in a million years you have been on our shoes and are proof that the program works and that we can turn our lives around my respects for you hopefully ill be a success story and ill be giving advise and helping people through rny talk as well my respects for you and thank you fir this site I have learned a lot through this months of preop and I thank you for this

Thank you Alex, if it wasn't for you we would all be lost. It's because of your struggles for support you developed these sites and to that I thank you...

LOVE YOU ALEX !!!!!!