Nearly 4 in 10 Americans Now Classified as Very Overweight
The announcement published today is tough to accept, I’ll be honest. As an obesity doctor and bariatric surgeon, you see people battling the chronic disease of obesity – but also you see people losing weight and getting healthy again.
But clearly, we are far from winning this war. In fact, it appears that the other side is gaining ground.
Nearly 40% of U.S. adults were considered obese — not just classified as ‘overweight’ — in 2015-2016, a 30 percent increase from 1999-2000, according to recent research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics.
The risks of carrying too much weight are widespread and life-threatening:
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Sleep apnea
- Depression and anxiety
- Chronic pain
- Higher cancer rate
Even pediatric obesity rates have risen — 18.5% of youths 2 to 19 were considered obese in 2015-2016 compared with 13.9% in 1999-2000.
>>> Dr. Sowemimo Discusses Obesity with the Asbury Park Press (July 2017).
Healthcare providers need to do more
As I’ve stated over the years, healthcare providers cannot just tell obese people that “they have to lose weight” or “they need to go on a diet or get to the gym more often.” In all walks of life, we need to aggressively provide people with the tools they need to avoid or overcome the chronic disease of obesity. If not, the healthcare consequences these people will eventually become debilitating.
On the positive side, in the past few years, we (Prime Surgicare) have seen a significant uptick in number of doctor referrals for bariatric surgery coming from New Jersey and New York, especially primary care doctors, OB/GYNs, cardiologists and endocrinologists treating obese diabetics.
Prime Surgicare’s Personalized Obesity Treatment Program
If you or a loved one has more than 75 pounds to lose and traditional diets and exercise plans have not worked for you, consider a bariatric weight loss solution which could open the door to weight loss exceeding 100 pounds in about a year, in some cases. Prime Surgicare’s Bariatric Success Program, is comprised of five exclusive weight loss support resources tailored to meet your specific ‘real-life needs.’
“The disease of obesity has become an epidemic in our country,” Dr. Seun explains. “We are vigorously responding with a lifestyle change program to help people rid themselves of this disease quickly, safely and permanently.”
To find out more, register for one of our free monthly bariatric seminars or webinars, or call our weight loss surgery specialists at (732) 982-2002 to schedule your private consultation.
About Us
Dr. Seun Sowemimo and Dr. Bennet Togbe are board-certified and fellowship-trained, general, laparoscopic and bariatric surgeons in NJ. They specialize in minimally invasive weight loss surgery and general surgery procedures including diverticulitis, gallbladder and hernia conditions. They are the top NJ surgeons at Prime Surgicare, with offices in Freehold serving Monmouth and Ocean counties.
To learn more, visit our YouTube channel or call Prime Surgicare at (732)-982-2002.