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