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Obesity Overview

Obesity is a progressive disease that often contributes to serious health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep apnea, arthritis and even cancer. Individuals who are obese have a 10- to 50-percent increased risk of death from all causes, compared with healthy weight individuals (BMI 18.5 to 24.9). Most of the increased risk is due to cardiovascular causes. 3 Obesity is associated with about 112,000 excess deaths per year in the U.S. population relative to healthy weight individuals. 3

Being overweight or obese increase risk for: 6

  • diabetes
  • coronary heart disease
  • high blood cholesterol
  • stroke
  • hypertension
  • gallbladder disease
  • osteoarthritis (degeneration of cartilage and bone of joints)
  • sleep apnea and other breathing problems
  • some forms of cancer (breast, colorectal, endometrial, and kidney)

Obesity is also associated with: 6

  • complications of pregnancy
  • menstrual irregularities
  • hirsutism (presence of excess body and facial hair)
  • stress incontinence (urine leakage caused by weak pelvic floor muscles)
  • psychological disorders, such as depression
  • increased surgical risk
  • increased mortality

Body mass index (BMI), a ratio of weight to height, is one way to measure obesity. Health care professionals generally agree that people who have a BMI of 30 or greater can improve their health through weight loss. 1 This is especially true for people with a BMI of 40 or greater, who are considered extremely obese. 1

Preventing additional weight gain is recommended if you have a BMI between 25 and 29.9, unless you have other risk factors for obesity-related diseases. Obesity experts recommend you try to lose weight if you have two or more of the following:1

  • Family history of certain chronic diseases. H eart disease or diabetes
  • Preexisting medical conditions. High blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol levels, low HDL cholesterol levels, high triglycerides or high blood glucose
  • Large waist circumference. Men who have waist circumferences greater than 40 inches, and women who have waist circumferences greater than 35 inches 1

BMI is calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by height in meters squared. The mathematical formula is “weight (kg)/height (m²).” To determine BMI using pounds and inches, multiply weight in pounds by 704.5,* divide the result by height in inches, and then divide that result by height in inches a second time -- or use a BMI table or calculator .7

Although weight gain is influenced by many social and psychological factors, at its most basic level, obesity can be described as an energy imbalance: People gain weight when they take in more energy (measured in calories) than they consume through physical activity and metabolism. Excess energy is stored as fat.

* The multiplier 704.5 is used by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Other organizations may use a slightly different multiplier; for example, the American Dietetic Association suggests multiplying by 700. The variation in outcome (a few tenths) is insignificant. 7

1. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Understanding Adult Obesity. http://www.win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/understanding.htm
2. World Health Organization (WHO). Obesity and overweight. http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/publications/facts/obesity/en/
3. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (LABS). “Why did the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) launch LABS?” http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/labs.htm#whydid
4. Stein CJ, Colditz GA. The epidemic of obesity. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Jun;89(6):2522-5. Review.
5. Johnson W, Demaria E. Surgical treatment of obesity. Curr Treat Options Gastroenterol. 2006 Apr;9(2):167-74.
6. National Cancer Institute. “Obesity and Cancer: Questions and Answers.” http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/risk/obesity
7. Statistics Related to Overweight and Obesity. http://win.niddk.nih.gov/statistics/index.htm#preval

While clinical studies support the effectiveness of the da Vinci® System when used in minimally invasive surgery, individual results may vary. Surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System may not be appropriate for every individual. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits.

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