Understanding Obesity

We understand that many factors contribute to weight gain, including our surroundings, genetics, metabolism, family history and lifestyle. Today, obesity is a serious health concern facing the United States.

  • An estimated 93 million Americans are obese.
  • Obese individuals are at a higher risk for impaired mobility and experience a negative social stigma commonly associated with obesity.
  • Socioeconomic status plays a significant role in obesity. Low-income minority populations tend to experience obesity at higher rate and are more likely to be overweight.
  • Almost 112,000 annual deaths are attributable to obesity.
  • In the United States, 40 percent of adults do not participate in any leisure-time physical activity.
  • Being overweight, obese or morbidly obese significantly increases the risk of developing many other diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, osteoarthritis and much more.
  • Morbid obesity is characterized by an individual weighing more than 100 pounds over their ideal body weight, or having a body mass index (BMI) (link to BMI) of 40 or higher.
  • In 2002, 25 percent of the morbidly obese were being treated for six or more co-morbid conditions.
  • The cost of obesity in the United States in 2000 was more than $117 billion.
  • Many insurance companies do not cover clinical or non-clinical weight-loss programs.
  • Treating an obese individual cost $1,244 more per year in 2002 than treating a healthy-weight person did.
  • In 2003, Americans spent about $75 billion in weight-related medical bills.

Source: Obesity Action Coalition

Obesity often causes or worsens other medical conditions. The most common obesity-related medical conditions, also called co-morbidities, include:

  • Coronary artery disease
  • Depression
  • Gallbladder disease
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • Hyperlipidemia (elevated cholesterol)
  • Joint pain or arthritis
  • Obstructive sleep apnea
  • Stress urinary incontinence
  • Type 2 diabetes

Getting started with Guthrie Weight Loss Center is easy:

To start your weight loss program, call us at 570-887-3920 or email us at weightloss@guthrie.org to schedule an appointment today. Those interested in weight loss surgery can review and complete the New Patient Information Packet for additional information on getting started.