Bariatric Surgery In Los Angeles, Ca.

What is Obesity?

Obesity results from the excessive accumulation of fat that exceeds the body’s skeletal and physical standards. It is the most common form of malnutrition in the western world. The health consequences are most apparent in individuals whose weight exceeds twice their ideal body weight. The risk of death is doubled in obese individuals as compared with non-obese individuals. In addition the risk of death from diabetes or heart attack is five to seven times greater than the general population. Morbid obesity surgery for our Los Angeles and Orange County patients can drastically reduce the health risks associated with being overweight.

What is Morbid Obesity?

Medically, the word “morbid” means causing disease or injury. In general, individuals who weigh twice their ideal body weight, or are at least 100 pounds above their ideal body weight, are considered to have morbid obesity. This level of obesity is referred to as morbid because it is associated with progressive, serious, and debilitating disease. It is a major contributor to diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, respiratory problems, gallstones, certain types of cancer, depression, and other serious disorders. An estimated five to 10 million Americans suffer from morbid obesity. Surgery with our bariatric specialists for Orange County and Los Angeles patients is available, allowing you to lose weight and keep it off. Contact our gastric bypass surgery staff in Arcadia today to find out if you would be a good candidate for this procedure.

What Causes Obesity?

The causes of obesity and morbid obesity are not fully understood. A complex combination of genetics, behavior, and environment reflects the current thinking. Research indicates that a substantial underlying cause of morbid obesity is genetics. Once this level of obesity is reached, diets and exercise have a very limited ability to provide long-term weight loss. Gastric bypass surgery at our Arcadia facilities can help you combat this problem.

Diabetes Mellitus
Obese individuals develop a resistance to insulin. Resistance to insulin results in elevated levels of blood sugar or glucose. Elevated blood sugar levels result in damage to tissues and blood vessels throughout the body. Diabetes is the leading cause of adult-onset blindness and a major cause of kidney failure and heart disease. More than one-half of extremity amputations are the result of complications of the disease. It is the number three cause of death in the United States. Gastric bypass surgery in Arcadia can significantly decrease your chances of acquiring health problems related to morbid obesity.
Health Effects of Morbid Obesity

Hypertension
The progressive elevation of blood pressure is much more common in individuals that suffer from morbid obesity. The increased blood pressure results in damage to the heart, blood vessels, and other body organs. This results in an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and kidney disease.

Heart Disease
Excess body weight strains the heart. Morbid obesity can cause a person to be approximately six times more likely to develop heart disease than those of normal weight. The increased workload on the heart can lead to the early development of congestive heart failure. Increased levels of blood fats and other metabolic changes associated with obesity predispose the person to coronary artery disease. Sudden cardiac death is 40 times as likely in morbidly obese persons compared with their non-obese counterparts. Contact us today about morbid obesity surgery in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas today.

Respiratory Insufficiency
In obese individuals, the chest wall is heavy and difficult for the muscles to lift. The lungs are decreased in size, while the need for oxygen is increased. The person quickly becomes out of breath with even modest levels of exercise. This leads to a decreased level of conditioning. Ultimately, daily activities such as shopping, climbing stairs, or doing yard work become difficult or impossible for those suffering from morbid obesity.

Sleep Apnea
Fat deposits in the tongue and neck can cause intermittent obstruction of the upper airway. In obese persons, this commonly causes stoppage of breathing during sleep. The common scenario is loud snoring interspersed with periods of complete obstruction. Affected people often notice that they sleep poorly and awaken repeatedly during the night. They often awake feeling tired and fall asleep periodically throughout the day. This condition is often thought to be a relatively benign process; however, the reverse is actually true. Health effects may be severe, and the mortality rate of this condition is high. Gastric bypass surgery in Arcadia can help reduce sleep apnea in our patients.

Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease
A weak or overloaded valve in the last part of the esophagus may allow reflux of stomach juices into the esophagus and even into the back of the throat. This is often called “heartburn” or “acid indigestion.” The acid and alkaline fluid from the stomach can damage the lower esophagus and lead to the development of a pre-malignant condition known as “Barrett’s esophagus.” The stomach fluid may regurgitate high enough to allow the fluid to spill over into the airway and lungs. This often occurs at night when one is recumbent and asleep.

Asthma and Bronchitis
Obesity does not directly cause asthma or bronchitis; however, the gastro esophageal reflux associated with morbid obesity may seriously aggravate asthma and even cause bronchitis.

Degenerative Arthritis
Degenerative disease of the lumbo-sacral spine and the weight bearing joints is a common complication of morbid obesity. The entire weight of the upper body falls on the base of the spine. The increased weight causes the bone and cartilage to wear out or fail. The hips, knees, ankles, and feet also bear most of the weight of the body. The wear and tear on these joints is greatly accelerated by carrying excess weight. If you would like to find out if you would be a good candidate for morbid obesity surgery and you live in Orange County or Los Angeles, contact California Bariatric and General Surgery Associates for a consultation today.

Gallbladder Disease
Gallstone formation and complications from gallstones occur several times more frequently in obese persons compared with the non-obese. Gallstones can cause obstruction to bile outflow from the gallbladder. Bile is needed to promote absorption and digestion of fats by the small intestine. Obstruction of bile outflow causes upper abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. It can lead to severe infections and gangrenous changes of the gallbladder.

Infertility
Morbid obesity is associated with a decreased ability to produce offspring.

Increased Risk of Cancer
Obese women have a three times greater risk of cancer of the ovary and breast, as well as a five times greater chance of uterine cancer than normal weight persons. Obese men have a three times greater risk for cancer of the colon and prostate than the non-obese. The obese risk of dying from other types of cancer is greater by about one-third for men and over one-half for women as compared with the non-obese. If you suffer from morbid obesity, surgery for our Los Angeles and Orange County patients can help you lose weight and keep it off.

Venous Stasis Disease
The veins of the lower extremities are equipped with one-way valves to combat gravity and, combined with the muscles in the leg, allow blood to return to the heart. The increased pressure caused by obesity leads to failure of these delicate valves. The pressure in the veins of the lower extremities then increases, causing swelling of the legs, which can be severe. This swelling may result in damaged, ulcerated skin and an increased risk of venous thrombosis.

Understanding the Gastrointestinal Tract

The digestive tract is an assembly line in which food, digestive juices, and enzymes come together to allow digestion and absorption of nutrients.

The esophagus is a long muscular tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. The stomach stores food and mixes it with acids and digestive juices. The stomach churns food into tiny particles, which are passed through the stomach outlet valve (pylorus) into the first part of the small intestine (duodenum). Bile and pancreatic juices join the food stream in the mid duodenum via the bile and pancreatic ducts, respectively. The food traverses through the small intestine – approximately 15 to 20 feet in length – where digestion continues and most of the nutrients are absorbed. The intestinal contents are then passed into the colon (large intestine), where excess fluid is absorbed and a firmer stool is formed.

Bariatric Surgery Source

For more in-depth information about weight loss surgery, see Bariatric Surgery Source