National Obesity Care Week: Preventing Obesity One Patient at a Time
Coast to coast, millions of Americans invest significant time and energy into achieving weight loss goals each year, often to look better or feel better. However, weight loss is about more than vanity; it’s an issue of health with complications associated with being overweight continuing to escalate. National Obesity Care Week 2018 seeks to highlight the challenges in obesity, both on a personal and national level offering educational resources and information designed to raise awareness about the growing influence of obesity.
At Central Carolina Surgery Bariatrics, we are committed to offering opportunities for patients in need by providing medical and surgical options to encourage sustainable weight loss, address health problems, and create lasting lifestyle changes. As participants in this year’s National Obesity Care Week, we are pleased to continue our efforts to support those seeking a happy, healthy life free of obesity throughout the Triad region and beyond.
Defining the Challenges in Obesity
Obesity is among the most prevalent chronic diseases in the United States, with 93 million Americans affected. Characterized by a BMI of 30 or higher – a healthy BMI is considered between 18.5 and 24.9 – obesity contributes to countless health challenges, including type II diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Further, obesity doesn’t just affect those who are overweight; in total, the treatment of obesity and obesity-related health challenges cost the United States an estimated $427 billion annually.
Despite the knowledge of these challenges, obesity rates aren’t falling – the opposite is actually true. Experts estimate that if no change is made to education and treatment of obesity, approximately 50% of adults will be obese by 2030.
Obesity Action and Education
Organized by the Obesity Action Coalition, The Obesity Society, the STOP Obesity Alliance, the Obesity Medicine Association, and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, National Obesity Care Week is an annual program that aims to address a lack of scientific and clinically-based care surrounding obesity in the United States. Together, these organizations work to educate the general population about the risks that accompany obesity as well as the costs to the national healthcare system.
National Obesity Care Week 2018 takes place from October 7th to October 13th with each day emphasizing a specific message. Topics include behavioral management, bariatric surgery, weight bias, and access to care, covering many of the issues that practitioners and patients alike confront when addressing obesity.
How Central Carolina Surgery Bariatrics Can Help
For those who are considering weight loss options, CCS Bariatrics is able to offer flexible, customizable, and effective opportunities. As a leading provider of bariatric surgery and educational resources in Burlington and Greensboro, we are able to help those seeking a healthier approach to life. Through exercise plans, nutritional guidance, and surgical options, we can provide a foundation for our patients who desire a life-long change.
National Obesity Care Week 2018 is centered on the principles of education and action, urging those involved to pledge to take action against obesity. At CCS Bariatrics, we are pleased to be involved in furthering obesity awareness and doing our part to reverse the current trends. To learn more about the treatments we have available, please contact CCS Bariatrics at 336-387-8100.