Medical Conditions Associated With Morbid Obesity
Sleep Apnea
Hypertension
Congestive Heart Failure
Diabetes mellitus
Liver dysfunction
Varicose veins/hemorrhoids
Leg edema
Urinary incontinence
Infertility
Depression
Migraine headaches
Restrictive lung disease
Coronary artery disease
Stroke
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Gallbladder disease
Elevated cholesterol and triglycerides
Abdominal wall hernias
Increased risk of breast, uterine and colon cancer
Degenerative arthritis
Pseudotumor cerbri blindness
What is Obesity?
Surgical Bariatrics Northwest was founded to help fight the epidemic problem of obesity through the application of state-of-the-art surgical and medical treatment methods. This site has been developed to provide information to help you in making your decision as to whether or not surgical treatment for obesity is in your best interest. Surgery is a very serious step forward and should only be contemplated after you have done exhaustive research and have discussed other options with your family physician. You are making a most important life-changing decision. Surgical treatment for obesity should be considered as a "last resort" - only after other reasonable alternatives have failed.
Obesity: A Progressive Disease
Morbid obesity is a pervasive and tenacious disease. It is not a defect in one's personality or character. It is not a condition of "sin and sloth. "
A person's genetic makeup is the single thing which most strongly influences whether or not he/she becomes obese. Environmental and lifestyle choices are important secondary factors.
Obesity is actually the most common form of malnutrition in the western world. Left untreated, it causes progressive dysfunction of many of our body systems; slowly consuming its victims and leading to premature death. It does not respect gender, race, age or socioeconomic class. This disease's negative health impact is compounded by its association with social prejudice and environmental, professional, and economic discrimination.
Why Surgery?
Morbid obesity is a very serious form of obesity. In this disease, a person has become more than 100 pounds heavier than their ideal body weight. (Body mass index, or BMI, of 40 or more). When obesity reaches this level, there is a drastic increase in the associated medical problems (co-morbidities) and a sharp statistical increase in premature death rates.
Unfortunately, efforts at controlling this severe form of obesity by nonsurgical means (diet, exercise, drugs, behavioral modification, etc.) have been conclusively proven to be ineffective. More than 95% of patients regain their body weight within a few years of conservative treatment.
On the other hand, surgical treatment, although risky, is a highly effective and durable treatment. When a person becomes morbidly obese, the risk of doing nothing exceeds the risk of surgery and therefore, surgery becomes a reasonable and attractive option.