METABOLIC SURGERY FOR OBESITY

Obesity is a highly visible public health problem. We see it on the high streets, in the shopping malls and in the restaurants and, as the numbers in the population classified as overweight or obese become more common, we sadly seem to be getting immune to it. But becoming immune cannot be a solution; complacency will only serve to further increase the costs of too many people carrying too many pounds of unnecessary body fat for too many years of their lives. For developed nations, and for many developing nations too, obesity and its consequences are possibly the biggest public health problem they face as we reach the end of the first decade of the 21st century. Cigarette smoking still remains a significant cost to health but obesity is quickly outpacing smoking as the number one cause of morbidity and mortality; in addition it proves to be a considerable resource burden on already overstretched healthcare systems. In 40 years time if nothing is done, and the 20% of the population who are now obese turn into 50% of the population, then the consequences will indeed be dire as our healthcare systems, as currently constituted, will simply become bankrupt trying to cope.

Yet, since humans must eat to live, obesity, and its resolution, has proved to be a stubborn public health challenge. For most, getting fat is seen as a natural part of life; adding a few pounds year by year is the expectation of the public. Often weight gain and the change in body shape associated with it is seen as a cosmetic problem rather than a threat to health. As a consequence, motivation to change lifestyle to lose weight for health reasons is often lacking. Ironically weight loss for cosmetic reasons has been turned into a global multi-billion dollar industry with an emphasis on weight loss methods that have more to do with vanity and commerce than improving health. There is herein an interesting paradox. For example, health gyms in the US are now more popular than they have ever been, yet this is at a time when 50% of individuals in the US population are moving towards an obese classification in their BMI measurements.
A solution to the obesity problem, and a reduction in its consequential morbidity and mortality, will only be arrived at through the concerted efforts of governments, other agencies and businesses, communities, the family unit and individuals themselves and  The Metabolic Surgery to treat  this problem of obesity.