CLEVELAND, Ohio (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Obesity is a chronic disease that leads to very poor health. A body mass index of 30 or higher is classified as obese and over 100 million people in the United States fit the class. Recent research shows that obesity can have an even worse effect on your health than ever known before. Bariatric Surgery
Forty-two percent of Americans are classified as obese and this puts them at risk for developing deadly diseases like cancer.
“There are a number of obesity-related cancers, which are 13 different kinds. These are cancers of the stomach, of the liver, the gallbladder, the pancreas, the colon and rectum, ovaries, uterus, even breast cancer,” General and Bariatric Surgeon at The Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Rickesha Wilson, explains.
Recent research from The Cleveland Clinic shows that instead of lifestyle modifications, longer lasting permanent therapies could be the gateway to saving lives.
Dr. Wilson adds, “It seems like bariatric surgery can reduce that risk significantly.”
Bariatric surgery has been shown to be the most effective way for people with obesity to lose weight, and in a study of 5,000 patients who underwent bariatric surgery, patients showed a 32 percent lower risk of developing cancer and a 48 percent lower risk of dying from cancer.
“We found that for weight loss strategies, bariatric surgery is the most effective,” Dr. Wilson says with confidence.
Most insurance companies will partially cover the amount for a bariatric surgery if the patient is in stage three of chronic obesity.
Contributors to this news report include: Ally Stratis, Producer; Cleveland Clinic, Videographer; Roque Correa, Editor.
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Sources:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/11209-weight-control-and-obesity
https://www.lerner.ccf.org/news/article/?id=6456905b3cb9c6ecb28f9b1cd2d4305fdf02ab57
https://www.drrsnow.com/blog/does-insurance-cover-weight-loss-surgery
MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS
RESEARCH SUMMARY
TOPIC: BREAKING BARRIERS: BARIATRIC SURGERY TO PREVENT CANCER
REPORT: MB #5262
BACKGROUND: Obesity rates in the United States have been steadily rising over the years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2020, approximately 42.4% of adults in the U.S. were considered obese. Bariatric surgery, also known as weight loss surgery, is a surgical procedure performed to help individuals with severe obesity lose weight and improve their overall health. This type of surgery is typically considered when other weight loss methods, such as diet and exercise, have not been successful, and the individual’s obesity poses significant health risks. Recent research shows that obesity could lead to cancer, and having a weight loss surgery could be the difference between life and death.
(Sources: https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html
DIAGNOSING: Diagnosing obesity involves assessing a person’s body weight and body composition to determine whether they fall within the obesity category. The most used measurement to diagnose obesity is the Body Mass Index. The process of determining whether a person is a suitable candidate for bariatric surgery involves a comprehensive evaluation by healthcare professionals, which typically includes an initial assessment, a BMI evaluation, a health screening, a psychological and nutritional assessment, and informed consent. Diagnosing cancer-related obesity involves identifying and assessing obesity in individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer.
(Source: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/risk.htm
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9857053/
NEW TECHNOLOGY: Recent research from the Cleveland Clinic shows that long-lasting therapies like bariatric surgery could be the new gateway to ending obesity-related cancer diagnosis. In a study of five thousand participants that underwent bariatric surgery had a 32 percent lower risk of developing cancer at the end of the trial than the patients that did not have surgery. The standard for bariatric surgery has also been lowered from 40 to 35.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT, PLEASE CONTACT:
Caroline Auger
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