4 Common Myths About Obesity
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity affects more than two in five adults in the United States1 and one in eight adults globally2. With the growing prevalence of obesity, it is important to recognize what it means to be obese and understand the proper ways to address it. After all, it is very possible you or someone you know is struggling with this condition.
One of the ways obesity is measured is through the BMI scale, which defines it as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. However, BMI is not the only indicator of obesity. Healthcare professionals should also look at waist circumference, blood pressure, lipid and glucose levels, family history, body fat percentage, and how the fat is distributed throughout an individual’s body.
To help people better understand obesity and its causes, our Chicago bariatric surgeons answer four myths about the condition, as well as how bariatric surgery procedures can be a life-changing decision for long-term weight management.
Myth #1: Obesity Is Not a Disease
Medical research and studies continue to document obesity as a complex and chronic disease caused by an excess of fat in the body, including the American Medical Association (AMA), which defines obesity as a multi-metabolic and hormonal disease. Additionally, there is more support to show it is a relapsing, ongoing neurometabolic disease that must be managed for life—there is no quick fix or one-size-fits-all cure.
Every person has a unique network of hormones that control hunger, metabolism, and fat storage. For those living with obesity, this network can be impaired or dysfunctional and lead to excess fat in a form that increases the risk of more than 200 obesity-related illnesses.
Myth #2: Obesity Is a Choice
As noted above, obesity is in fact considered a disease, not simply a result of personal choices or a lack of willpower.. There are many factors that can contribute to obesity, including:
- Genetics: It is believed that genetic predisposition can lead to obesity, in which at least 15 genes have been found that can influence the disease.
- Medicines: Certain medications can cause weight gain by disrupting chemical signals to the brain involving hunger. Some of these medications include antidepressants, antipsychotics, birth control, beta-blockers, glucocorticoids, and insulin.
- Health conditions: For example, metabolic syndrome or polycystic ovary syndrome.
- Stress: Activity in the brain can be affected by stress and cause the body to make hormones, such as cortisol, signaling hunger urges to eat more and, therefore, the potential to store more fat.
- Lack of sleep: Studies have shown that getting less than seven hours of sleep each night on a regular basis can also trigger the hormones that activate hunger urges.
Myth #3: Obesity Is Caused by Overeating & Lack of Movement
As we have discussed, the underlying network and biology of each individual is the foundation of obesity. It is important to recognize that two people can exercise at the same rate and eat the same things with completely different physical results. Similarly, some people can diet and exercise their entire life and still not be able to keep the weight off. An individual’s diet and exercise can be referred to as symptoms rather than the solitary cause of obesity.
Myth #4: Obese Individuals Lack Willpower
Since obesity is a chronic medical disease, it should not be linked to a weakness in willpower. Similar to other diseases, many individuals struggling with obesity may require some form of treatment. If the treatment stops, the symptoms and problems can return as an ongoing cycle.
When to Consider Weight Loss Surgery
For individuals that have tried other means of treatment for obesity—such as lifestyle and/or behavioral strategies, dietary and nutritional counseling, and medications—the next step may be bariatric surgery for sustained weight loss. Our team at Suburban Surgical Care Specialists / Kane Center offer a wide range of effective weight loss procedures to help patients struggling with obesity and morbid obesity achieve a healthier weight and improve their overall well-being.
While candidacy varies for each patient, in general those with a BMI of at least 40, or a BMI of 35 with associated diseases, may be eligible for weight loss surgery. From Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and duodenal switch to LAP-BAND® surgery and vertical sleeve gastrectomy, our team of experienced bariatric surgeons can help you determine if surgery is right for you and which option is most appropriate for your needs.
To learn more about obesity-related weight management and bariatric surgery, or to schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified surgeons, please contact our team at Suburban Surgical Care Specialists / Kane Center today.