Bariatric Surgery (Obesity)
What Is Morbid Obesity?
Morbid (severe) obesity is a disease that affects approximately three to six million people in the United States and is not curable by medical therapy, dieting or medication. Morbid obesity is defined by a Body Mass Index (BMI) of > 39 Kg/Meter2 - the equivalent of 100 or more pounds over the Ideal Body Weight (IBW). In morbidly obese people, lost weight is regained approximately 90 percent of the time despite dieting, exercising and taking medication.
For people who fit into this category, the National Institutes of Health recognizes surgery as the only therapy to have long lasting effects. Surgical treatment does not remove fat, it does reduce caloric intake and absorption, therefore helping the individual modify his or her eating habits.
Why Is Weight Loss Important?
Weight loss is important because it improves patients' overall health and lifestyle. Losing weight decreases the chances of diabetes, sleep apnea, gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), stress incontinence and hypertension. In addition, weight loss provides an increase in mobility for previously sedentary patients.
At Inova Fairfax Hospital and Inova Fair Oaks Hospital, specially trained surgeons perform bariatric (obesity) surgery that has proven effective at keeping weight off when the patient complies with post-surgical care instructions. Patients who choose surgery have access to dietitians, psychiatrists and psychologists, and nurses with special expertise in the treatment of severely obese patients. Our facilities are specially designed to make severely overweight patients comfortable so they do not feel out of place or self-conscious.
/images/bariatric_support_group_a137tsr.gif "Bariatric Support Groups. Taking the first step.")
