Obesity -- the condition of being significantly above oneвs healthy weight -- is a health crisis in Delaware. Across our state, the number of overweight and obese individuals is rapidly increasing. In fact, almost 64% of the population of the First State is overweight or obese. Unsurprisingly, Delawareвs obesity rate tracks closely with its rate of physical inactivity: 59% of adults in Delaware say they do not exercise or engage in any type of regular physical activity.
Obesity is the second most common cause of preventable death in the United States, and may lead to life-threatening illnessesвЂ"such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertensionвЂ"which are called co-morbidities. (In fact, 27.7% of all residents of Delaware suffer from high blood pressure.)
Getting Fit
Obesity can be one of the most difficult diseases to treat. Weight loss itself is a simple matter: once a personвs daily caloric intake falls below the number of calories needed to maintain life, the body begins to burn fat to stay alive, resulting in weight loss. The difficulty comes in restricting caloric intake вЂ" the primal urge to eat when hungry is almost irresistible.
Many obesity sufferers use eating as a substitute for emotional satisfaction. Others are food addicts and will continue to eat long after they have met their caloric needs. In essence, their “fullness meter” is broken. Sadly, many people who do not suffer from obesity see these behaviors as indicators of personal weakness on the part of the obese.
The truth, however, is that obesity is a disease, not a character flaw. Gimmicks, fad diets, or so-called weight-loss pills can cause a person to lose significant weight, but most that do quickly regain it вЂ" and often suffer damage to their health as a result of such quickie “cures”. The only way to successfully treat the disease of obesity is by a complete change in the patientвs lifestyle and eating habits. To beat obesity we must change the way we relate to food, enabling us to eat better food and less of it. For some, education and willpower are enough to accomplish this. For the rest, another option exists: weight loss surgery.
About Weight Loss Surgery
Weight loss surgery is performed under general anesthesia, usually laparoscopically. Three main types of surgical procedure are performed in the U.S.вЂ"malabsorptive, restrictive, and combinationвЂ"each with different risks and benefits. In each, however, the principle is the same: to surgically alter the patientвs stomach and/or digestive tract in order to physically limit the amount of food the patient can eat at a given time. If successful, the surgical alterations will cause the patient to take in fewer calories each day than he or she burns, resulting in steady, safe loss of excess weight.
However, excess weight is only a symptom of obesity, and, while treating it is a giant step toward recovery, only a complete change in the patientвs lifestyle and relationship to food can cure the disease. Patients who fail to follow postoperative instructions may regain any weight lost. The surgical alterations are a powerful tool, but they can only be part of a comprehensive program of weight loss treatment, including counseling, medical and peer support, activity level changes, and (if necessary) psychiatric care.
Delaware can beat obesity. By educating ourselves, supporting one another, and using weight loss surgery when necessary, we can make our state healthier, happier, and a better place in which to live.
