Obesity as a disease

Obesity has now become a critical problem in the US, with the prevalence among adults, which increased nearly 50% during the 1980s and 1990s. Now, nearly 70% of adults are classified as overweight or obese, compared with fewer than 25% 40 years ago.

Recent evidence indicates that obesity is more associated with morbidity than smoking, alcoholism, and poverty, and if current trends continue, obesity may soon overtake cigarette abuse as the leading cause of preventable death in the US.

Sudden death is more common in those who are naturally fat than in the lean.

Obesity plays a major role in adversely affecting major cardiovascular risk factors, including Hypertension, Dyslipidemia, and Diabetes mellitus (DM), are the major component of metabolic syndrome.

Numerous studies have reported an association between BMI and stroke. In fact, for each 1-U increase in BMI, there was an increase of 4% in the risk of ischemic stroke and 6% for hemorrhagic stroke. This increased risk of stroke may be attributable to a higher prevalence of Hypertension, a Pro-thrombotic and Pro-inflammatory state that accompanies excess adipose tissue accumulation.

Conclusion

Patients with high BMI and morbidity, including cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome are considered high-risk patients. Indeed, at OCC Health department, we evaluated all the health survey data, and contact the patients. We take the proactive measurements to avoid surgical complications. So in summary, we have a Cardiac Care program that prevents any medical cardiovascular complication, in fact, our mortality rate is 0% in more than 15,000 cases.


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OCC’s epidemiologist is closely monitoring the COVID-19 status and is actively issuing updates as they are available. The Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization are the most trusted sources online.  While the CDC has announced new mask protocols for vaccinated individuals, there will be no changes for our office protocols for patients, guests, and staff members as the announcement does not apply to hospitals or medical facilities. Masks are still a requirement for all patients, guests and staff at our facility.

As we reinitiate weight loss surgery, we are constantly adapting and installing new and updated safety measures.

Weight loss surgery is medically necessary.

Bariatric Surgery and the clash of two pandemics.   

Major metabolic and bariatric surgery Societies and colleges globally are now calling for the safe resumption of bariatric and metabolic surgery before the COVID-19 pandemic is declared over. 

The sooner bariatric surgery can be safely performed, the quicker obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other diseases can be reduced or resolved as they are not only chronic they are also progressive.  Obesity is also linked to more than 40 diseases including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, and at least 13 different types of cancer.

A recent statement from the ASMBS says “Before COVID-19 began, it was clear that patients with obesity were ‘safer through surgery.’ In the era of COVID-19, ‘safer through surgery’ for patients with obesity may prove to be even more important than before.” Obesity and Metabolic syndrome have been identified as an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes including death among COVID-19 patients.

See here for full COVID-19 update. 

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