Phoenix Bariatric Surgery

Within the past year, adult obesity rates rose in 23 percents with no declines reported in the country, in a recent report by the health advocacy organization Trust for America’s Health. The epidemic continues to grow as waistlines and costs do the same.

The report, F is for Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America 2009, noted that individuals ages 55 to 64, otherwise known as baby boomers, had the highest rate of obesity. In return, Medicare and Medicaid costs are also likely to increase because of the high rate.

Just as fast as waistlines are growing, so are costs. It’s estimated that obesity-related health care costs hit nearly $117 billion every year.

Individuals with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher are considered obese. Those with a BMI of 40 or higher may be eligible for bariatric surgery procedures, such as LAP-BAND®.

According to the report, Arizona has 33rd highest adult obesity rate at 24.8 percent, and has the 26th highest obese and overweight children (ages 10 to 17) rate with 30.6 percent. Although LAP-BAND® surgery is most recommended for adults ages 18 to 55, teens with extremely high BMIs may be eligible for surgery, if health risks are especially life-threatening.

States, however, are taking measures to prevent this growing epidemic. Nineteen states now implement nutritional standards for school meals, while twenty-seven have nutritional standards for a la carte, vending machine, school store, and school bake sales.

The report recommends taking action for more affordable, nutritious foods, public health education programs, and encouraging physical activity. The organization also aims to ensure that adults and children have medical coverage relating to nutrition and obesity.

Obesity has not only become a national, but a worldwide, epidemic. With weight loss methods like LAP-BAND® surgery, individuals who were once obese have been able to adapt lighter and healthier lifestyles.

Can joining a support group help you lose weight? Major bariatric and psychiatric professionals say so.

At the 26th Annual American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) meeting, Dr. Kathryn Kaiser, Dr. Susan Franks, and Dr. Adam Smith discussed these results. The study found that LAP-BAND® patients who regularly attended post-surgery support groups reported higher weight-loss rates.

Here are some tips on how you can find a local weight loss support group to help further your weight loss efforts.

Ask Your Bariatric Surgeon
First, ask your Phoenix bariatric surgeon or local bariatric surgeon about these types of groups. They should be able to refer you to a local support group to help you share your experiences and lose weight. Surgeons sometimes even run several support groups themselves.

Online Forums
If your busy lifestyle can’t accommodate support group meetings, then an online lap-band forum may be the perfect solution for you. Lap Band Talk offers support groups based on cities and/or regions, as well as special interests, age, gender, ethnicity, and more. Forums like this are great resources for those who are considering the procedure. Use discussion boards to share your goals and struggles with others who may be able to relate and/or help with suggestions.

Meetup.com
Lap Band Meetups are happening all over. Use Meetup.com to find a local lap band meetup group and to see when a local event is happening next. Some Lap Band Meetup groups organize other walking and exercise groups, too. You can also find plenty of other general weight loss group, not specifically tied to bariatric surgery.

The key to these support groups is to regularly attend or if you’re participating online, to regularly update and tune-in to your fellow group members. Whether you want to share your goals or your struggles, remember that the key word is support; these people are here for you.