Morbid Obesity in America Essay Example

are prevalent in this group because many feel immense shame about their appearance.

Obese individuals are often ridiculed and pitied by society, causing some to avoid leaving their homes to avoid embarrassment. One option for those with extreme weight issues is bariatric surgery. The two most common types of this surgery are Gastric Bypass and Lapband. Gastric Bypass is considered the most effective and extreme procedure since it alters the body's digestion process. During the surgery, a surgeon creates a small stomach pouch which restricts food intake.

By attaching a Y-shaped section to a pouch, the small intestine is altered in such a way that food is redirected from the lower stomach, duodenum, and first part of the jejunum, resulting in decreased absorption of calories and nutrients. The Weight Control Information Network (2008) reports that gastric bypass surgery is a popular choice due to its high success rate, with patients typically losing 75-80 percent of their excess weight. It should be noted, however, that this procedure carries potential risks and complications.

Patients who have undergone a surgery that prevents food from passing through the lower stomach or first and second segments of the small intestine face nutritional deficiencies. This surgery also results in an unpleasant reaction called "dumping syndrome" which causes symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea, bloating, sweating, faintness and sometimes diarrhea after eating. While less successful than gastric bypass, LapBand is a safer surgical option. It involves placing a silicone rubber band around the upper end of the stomach to create a small pouch and narrow passage into the rest of it. The band is filled with salt solution using an access port under the skin

connected to a tube.

According to The Weight Control Information Network (2008), the size of the passage can be altered by adjusting the amount of salt solution, either increasing or decreasing it. This approach carries less risk as there are no changes in the digestion process. Additionally, laparoscopic surgery makes it less dangerous. Nevertheless, the LapBand's efficiency is a challenge, with patients only experiencing a 40-50% loss of surplus weight. Ultimately, selecting the best option for patients hinges on their individual medical history.

Physicians typically encourage morbidly obese patients to first attempt conventional weight loss methods, such as strict diet plans and prescribed medications like Meridia, Phentermine, or Xenical. While weight loss surgery is an option, it should be viewed as a final resort due to the potential risks involved.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2008), a successful long-term weight loss strategy involves reducing calorie intake and increasing physical activity. People can monitor their food choices, control portion sizes, and avoid high-fat foods that may harm their health. Incorporating physical activities such as walking longer distances or using stairs instead of elevators on a daily basis can also benefit overall health. Exercise has many advantages including lowering the risk of diabetes, colon cancer, high blood pressure, helping with weight management, promoting healthy bones, muscles and joints while preventing falls among older adults and relieving arthritis pain.

It is becoming more common for fast food chains to offer healthier menu items in recent years, which should continue for the benefit of society. If we prioritize maintaining a healthy diet and regularly exercising, positive change can occur. The number of Americans reaching

morbid obesity levels increases annually and requires action. We must take this issue seriously as it poses life-threatening risks. (Reference: 1. Department of Health and Human Services- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.)

The facts and statistics of 2008 can be found by visiting http://www.cdc, according to a retrieved source on January 8th of that year.

The Weight-Control Information Network provides information on contributing factors to obesity on their website: gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/contributing_factors.htm (2008).

The source "Facts and statistics" can be found at http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/gastric, as of January 8th, 2008.There is no text toor unify in this case. The given text simply consists of opening and closing HTML paragraph tags with the content "htm" inside. Therefore, the output would be:

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