Obesity is harmful to a person’s health. Someone who is 40 percent overweight is twice more likely to die prematurely than an average-weight person. (This effect is seen after 10 to 20 years of being obese.) In this country alone, about 300,000 deaths per year can be blamed on obesity. Obesity is a risk factor for many serious, life-threatening diseases, including:
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Heart disease
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Stroke
Studies show that the risk of death from these conditions return to normal after weight loss. Within the six months of having weight loss surgery, patients usually no longer need to take medications for these conditions. In addition, women who were struggling with infertility before surgery find that conception is possible after surgery.
To help you make a valid, logical and informed decision, we provide you with several resources. First, there is this website where you find a lot of information as well links to other sites. During your office visit, Dr. Kent will help you to gain an understanding of your options for weight loss and will answer your questions. As an experienced bariatric surgeon, Dr. Kent can answer questions about all your options for weight loss, both surgical and non-surgical.
If you are ready to begin your weight loss journey or if you have questions about weight loss surgery in general or about specific procedures like LAP-BAND® surgery or the Orbera® Balloon, please contact our office today.