Obesity is a growing problem in the U.S. Not only does obesity cause a multitude of health and medical problems, it's costing billions of dollars in rising healthcare costs. According to the CDC, costs associated with healthcare caused by obesity have reached alarming rates. In the past twenty years, obesity has risen nearly 30% throughout the country.
What is Overweight?
Health care providers determine whether a person is overweight or obese by taking a look at an individual's BMI (Body Mass Index). How is this BMI calculated? Basically, the BMI is calculated by age, gender, height and weight.
How do you calculate the BMI?
A body mass index table will assess your height and weight to give you a rough idea of what your body mass index reading is. If you want to calculate it yourself, here's the formula:
BMI = (weight in pounds x 703) / height in inches squared
So, for example, a person weighs 185 pound and stands 5'9? (69 inches ? 4761 inches squared). 185 x 703 = 130055. Divide by 4761 and you get 27.31674. Round off to 27.31. Look at the chart. This person falls in the ?Overweight? category.
Now, keep in mind that the BMI is just an average. There are different BMIs for children, teens and adults. The BMI can't assess genetic or heredity information, environment, or metabolism. It's used as a guide to help individuals track and maintain healthy weight averages.
How Did We Get Here?
Most obesity in the first decade of the 21st century is blamed on socioeconomic changes in our environment. With a fast food restaurant on every corner that offers, fast, convenient foods and drinks, eating a well balanced and nutritiously prepared meal at home is considered almost boring these days.
Unfortunately, such fast food is loaded with sugar and high-fat content. Coupled with decreasing amounts of exercise, it's hardly surprising that Americans have created bulging bellies and jiggling read ends. What's worse, the fat is killing us.High cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes are afflicting younger people than ever before. Obesity holds the dubious recognition of being ranked among one of the highest causes of death-related illnesses and disease processes, including complications stemming from heart disease, diabetes and high cholesterol.
Help is Out There
Individuals who find themselves chronically or morbidly obese can get help. Today, numerous surgeries and procedures provide a variety of treatments that may help a person retain healthy weight and physical conditioning. Such procedures include but are not limited to:
Weight-Loss Medications
Bariatric Surgery
Gastroplasty
Lap Banding
Sleeve Gastrectomy
Gastric Bypass
Dealing with Costs
Unfortunately, such procedures in the United States cost tens of thousands of dollars, and many are not covered by traditional medical or health insurance plans. Who has time to wait? That's why more men and women in the U.S. are opting to travel abroad for bariatric surgeries that don't require year-long waits or that will leave you in debt for the rest of your life.
The most popular destinations for obesity surgeries include but are not limited to countries such as:
Mexico ? Some popular gastric bypass surgery providers in Mexico include Mexicali Obesity Solutions or Almater Hospital in Mexicali, and Alejandro Aguirre Wallace in Ensinada or the Sanoviv Medical Institute on the Baja coast or The Bariatric Group from Texas offering best bariatric surgeries in Mexico.
India ? A favorite destination of many, Artemis Hospital and Sahara Medical in Gurgaon offers several treatments and procedures. So does Tour2india4health Consultants in Mumbai.
Latin America ? Facilities in Latin America offer popular gastric bypass treatments and procedures in exotic locales, such as Med Logistic Services in Colombia, Angels Abroad in Guatemala and the ever-popular GoSculptura and Dr. Marco More in Argentina
Costs of bariatric surgery abroad in such facilities as these offer medical travelers savings between 30% to 75% over costs of same surgeries and procedures in the U.S., and without the long wait-times often required in the States.
For example, a laparoscopic gastric bypass procedure in the United States will cost roughly $30,000. In India, the cost averages about $16,500. In Mexico and South American destinations, costs may average between $9,800 and $13,000.
So what are you waiting for? Make a life-changing decision and optimize your health. You, and your body, will be glad you did.
More about
Obesity means having too much body fat. Obesity can run in families, but just how much is due to genes is hard to determine. Obesity is mainly caused by taking in more calories than are used up in physical activity and daily life. Obesity puts you at greater risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes and many other serious health problems. Obesity is also increasing rapidly throughout the world. Obesity also can lead to stroke, greater risk for certain cancers such as breast or colon cancer, and even death. Obesity is not just a cosmetic consideration; it is a dire health dilemma directly harmful to one's health. Obesity occurs over time when you eat more calories than you use. The balance between calories-in and calories-out differs for each person. In the United States, roughly 300,000 deaths per year are directly related to obesity, and more than 80% of these deaths are in patients with a BMI over 30. In the United States, women are slightly more at risk for becoming obese than men. Genetic factors play some part in the development of obesity.
Obesity is a disease that needs to be taken seriously. Obesity is one of the few remaining socially sanctioned prejudices. There are four widely shared, inaccurate stereotypes about obesity which perpetuate the prejudice against fat people. Some Common myths and facts associated with Obesity. First is People only become obese and overweight because they do not engage in weight loss efforts including physical activity and have unhealthy eating habits and facts is Obesity is not always a behavioral issue. Although physical activity and eating habits are major contributors to obesity, there are other elements to consider in evaluating causes of obesity. Second myth is only prevalent in developed countries that foster indulgent lifestyles, with poor diets and lack of exercise and facts is economically advanced regions of developing countries, prevalence rates of obesity may be as high as rates in industrialized countries. Contrary to popular opinion, in developing countries, where malnutrition levels are high, there are also reported cases of obesity.
Third myths is Obesity affecting those who are moderately obese as well. But the Framingham study showed that "over" weight women had a lower mortality risk than "under" weight women. Fourth myths is weight gain in women over time is healthy and part of a natural aging process and fact is weight gain of more than 20 pounds is not a normal part of the maturation process and may actually increase a woman's risk of obesity-related disease. Fifth myth is obese individuals should attempt to lose a large amount of weight as quickly as possible but fact is actually, weight loss ? especially fast weight loss (more than three pounds per week) or loss of a large amount of weight ? can increase the risk of developing gallstones. The highest mortality (death) rate for women was for those who were "under" weight. The lowest mortality rates were for women 10 per cent and 20 per cent over average weight. and last six myth is osteoarthritis only develops when an individual gains a large amount of weight over a short time period but fact is timing is not a major factor in the development of osteoarthritis.
Both Mary Jo & Juliet Cohen are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Mary Jo has sinced written about articles on various topics from Health, Cosmetic Surgery and Health. Mary Jo is an RN who has worked in health tourism for over 35 years. She has done international medical management consulting for a major health care organization. Prior to joining PlacidWay (. Mary Jo's top article generates over 880 views. to your Favourites.