We believe Medical Weight Loss is a Personal
Response to the Epidemic of Obesity
Obesity in the United States continues to affect people of all ages. Even though Colorado is one of the healthiest states per capita, many of us know loved ones who are affected by this condition:
- 20.2% of adults in Colorado are obese (BMI>30)
- 24.1% of adults 45-64 years old in Colorado are obese
- 43.2% of men in Colorado and 28.5% of women in Colorado are overweight with rates of obesity similar among men and women.
- 57.4% of Adults in Colorado are overweight or obese
While many of us feel the effects of obesity, it also presents several unseen health and emotional complications. Thankfully, the gift of medical weight loss holds the power to reduce, even eliminate in some cases, these risks and improve quality of life:
- Acid Reflux: In a 2013 published study, modest weight loss of 10-15 pounds resolved acid reflux in 65% of study participants. (Obesity (Silver Spring). 2013 Feb; 21(2): 10.1002/oby.20279)
- Asthma: weight loss has led to an improvement in asthma, marked by decreased exacerbations and complete resolution in some patients, in some studies. (Eneli IU, Skybo T, Camargo CA Weight loss and asthma: a systematic review Thorax 2008;63:671-676)
- Osteoarthritis: Weight loss can contribute to a 35% increase in function and a 35% decrease in osteoarthritic pain based on two common function and pain scoring systems. (PM R. 2012 May; 4(5 0): S59–S67.)
- Sleep Apnea: A majority of patients in several Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSA) experienced a significant decrease in symptoms and a 20% cure rate. (Douglas C. Cowan and Eric Livingston, “Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome and Weight Loss: Review,” Sleep Disorders, vol. 2012, Article ID 163296, 11 pages, 2012. doi:10.1155/2012/163296)
- Diabetes & Heart Disease: Modest weight loss (measured as 5-10% body weight) has shown to improve diabetes and significantly decrease heart disease risk. (Diabetes Care. 2011 Jul; 34(7): 1481–1486.)
- Low Testosterone: In the area of men’s health, weight loss improved testosterone levels in men with male obesity-associated low testosterone. (Eur J Endocrinol 168 829-843, doi: 10.1530/EJE-12-0955 First published online 12 March 2013)
While the benefits of weight loss are well-known, the approach and care given towards medical weight loss is in need of a revolution.