Obesity worldwide has reached epidemic levels. 65% of the world’s population live in countries where they are more likely to die from obesity than malnutrition. “For the first time in the history of the world more people will die from overeating than undereating this year,” declared former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The Red Cross estimates there were 1.5 billion dangerously overweight people worldwide last year, while 925 million were underfed. According to the World Health Organization at least 2.8 million adults die each year as a result of being overweight or obese.
The obesity rate in Florida is 25.6 percent, ranked 40th in the nation. Fort Myers and Naples, Florida have seen an increase in obesity prevalence among children age 2-17 and adults age 18+ increase to 37.9% from 33.2% in 2015. This is in comparison to the current 29.4% national average. “I have seen an increase in the number of surgeries we perform for weight loss and in particular the gastric sleeve over the last few years. Here at Surgical Healing Arts Center in Fort Myers we have a very comprehensive weight management program that accompanies the surgeries”, says Dr. Moses Shieh.
The weight loss options have increased for those who are on the lower end of the overweight or obesity spectrum with the weight loss balloon. The Gastric Balloon is for those who wish to lose 25-60 pounds and can be a great tool for dropping weight while exercising to gain better health. The Orbera Intragastric Balloon System for weight loss was recently approved by the FDA in August 2015. The Orbera Intragastric Balloon System is a weight-loss system that uses a gastric balloon that occupies space in the stomach. The balloon is placed into the stomach through the mouth, using a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure, while the patient is under mild sedation. Once in place, the balloon is filled with salt water (saline) so that it expands into a spherical shape. The balloon can be filled with different amounts of saline (from 400 to 700 cc’s) to best match the patient’s body structure.
There are many current options to weight loss in today’s marketplace. This can range from diet and exercise alone, to gastric balloon with diet and exercise, to more invasive surgeries such as the gastric sleeve or gastric bypass.
When looking at taking action on your weight loss, look for a medical practice that has a comprehensive weight management program and a bariatric surgeon. Surgical Healing Arts Center has battled diabetes for years in the form of helping their patients achieve and maintain successful weight loss results. With new groundbreaking procedures like the Obalon Gastric Balloon, Dr. Shieh and his team of surgeons are reducing the chances of serious health issues related to diabetes one patient at a time.