Obesity is a serious health concern all over the world and has become one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality. Deadly complications of obesity affect every organ of our body including brain. Research has proved that risk of stroke and Alzheimer’s disease (both are brain disorders) particularly increases in obese people. They suffer these two brain disorders more frequently than do people with normal body weight.

Alzheimer’s disease or senile dementia is a brain disorder in which patient loses recent and past memory. This diseases starts usually in seventh decade of life and worldwide incidence of Alzheimer’s disease is 1 in 85 people having age 65 years or more. Patient initially feels difficulty in recollecting recent events but as the disease progresses past memory is also lost. In severe disease patient experiences extreme difficulty in self-care and independent living. Obese people develop this condition pretty earlier and according to research patients who are severely obese develop Alzheimer’s disease 10-18 year earlier than people with normal weight. Body mass index is closely related to this risk so, severer the obesity, more risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Several studies support the relationship between obesity and Alzheimer’s disease. Brain shrinkage is believed to be the principal factor in earlier development of Alzheimer’s disease in obese people. Neurons in important areas of brain which are concerned with memory and learning (for example Hippocampus) are damaged. Brain mapping studies show that obese people lose more brain tissue with advancing age than people with normal weight. How this brain shrinkage occurs in obesity, is explained in following ways:

1. Increased body fats/ fat cells release some inflammatory chemical called cytokines which cause cell death in different brain parts especially in areas which are concerned with memory. When neurons are damaged in these areas, memory loss occurs and Alzheimer’s disease results.
2. Beta amyloid protein (which is present excessively in brain cells of patients having Alzheimer’s disease), increases in brain tissue of severely obese people. This increases chance of brain shrinkage and Alzheimer’s disease in obese people.
3. Role of obesity in Alzheimer’s disease is also supported by the presence of FTO gene. FTO gene is related to body fats and increases body mass index. People who have this gene are at greater risk of brain shrinkage and Alzheimer’s disease. In one study 1000 Swedish people of age 75 years were followed for nine years to determine the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. It was found that persons who had FTO gene were at 58% more risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Fortunately Alzheimer’s disease develops slowly and its symptoms appear only if obesity remains for long time. This fact is very important for prevention of Alzheimer’s disease in obesity. If obese people lose weight quickly, the risk of Alzheimer’s can be reduced. Research has found that losing weight improves mental slowing and memory in obese people. The key to success is losing weight as early as possible otherwise; it will be of little help if brain shrinkage has already occurred.

Weight loss can be achieved by adopting different measures. Dieting and exercises are helpful measures in mild to moderate obesity but they alone are in-effective in severe obesity. In severe obesity weight-loss surgery along with dieting and exercise, is the only effective measure that has no failure in bringing the desired results. Weight loss surgery or bariatric surgery loses weight quickly and reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease significantly. American college of surgeons only recommends dedicated bariatric surgery hospitals for safe and effective bariatric surgery procedures. Surgery centers that lack many of the facilities for bariatric surgery should never be selected for this vital surgery.

Infertility is one of the major problems related to obesity and this problem is compounded with every pound rise in weight. Research says that every unit increase in BMI over 29 reduces the chances of fertility by 4%. Thus morbidly obese females have very low rate of fertility as compared to age-matched women with normal weight.

Obesity hampers fertility in several ways; hormonal disturbances are thought to be the main cause of infertility in obese women. Obese females usually don’t have regular menstruation and ovulation which are cornerstones of achieving pregnancy. Another astonishing fact is that even those obese women who have regular menstruation and ovulation still have little chances of pregnancy. This fact was testified in a research by Dr. Van der Steeg, a medical researcher at the Academic Medical Center in The Netherlands. This means the mechanism behind low fertility rate in obesity is very complex and many missing links are yet to be elucidated.

Losing weight improves many obesity related problems and if weight loss is gradual, it also increases pregnancy rate. Weight loss improves fertility by several ways by removing the bad effects of obesity. Several studies have been published emphasizing the significance of weight loss in improving fertility. Some of the proposed mechanisms are as follows,

Weight loss reduces insulin resistance which is beneficial in improving fertility rate in women having polycystic ovarian disease. Insulin resistance is an important factor causing infertility in PCOS, when it is removed, hormonal disturbances also improve so is chance of getting pregnancy.

Weight loss helps improves menstrual irregularities in obese ladies and induces normal ovulatory cycles. This again increases the chances of pregnancy.

Having or achieving normal weight not only improves the chances of pregnancy but it is also helpful in reducing pregnancy related problems. Research has found that obese ladies entering pregnancy have more chances of getting gestational diabetes mellitus, hypertension, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, fetal abnormalities and difficult labor. This is again a valid reason for achieving normal weight before being pregnant.

Weight loss needs a solid commitment and a right selection of weight loss program. General measures (exercise and dieting) and medications are effective in losing weight in mild to moderate obesity (BMI 30-35) but morbid obesity (BMI more than 40) is a special issue which is best solved with Bariatric surgery. Weight loss surgery is extremely effective at losing weight in morbid obesity. The only remembering point is that weight loss surgery is a specialized surgery for which only dedicated Bariatric surgery hospital is a safe site. Don’t choose a substandard cheap weight loss surgery center that lacks many of the much needed facilities for safety of the patient.

Obesity is a giant obstacle in the way of healthy living. It disturbs the function of almost every organ of our body. Pancreas is among the most important organs that serves many vital functions. It not only helps in digestion of food in the intestine by producing pancreatic juice but also the main source of insulin in our body. Increased body fat (as in case of obesity) is a danger for severe inflammation of pancreas called acute pancreatitis. This inflammation may lead to a number of complications including death.

Acute pancreatitis is a condition in which inflammation of pancreas cause severe pain in upper abdomen along with symptoms like vomiting, low blood pressure and others depending upon the severity of pancreatitis. Almost 80% patients suffer mild pancreatitis while 20% patients have severe pancreatitis with local and systemic complications. But in case of obesity more and more complications occur.

Complications of acute pancreatitis can be divided into local complications and systemic complications. Local complications include necrosis and inflammation of the pancreas, necrosis of the colon, rupture of spleen and bleeding from gastrointestinal tract. Systemic complications include coagulopathy (deranged function of blood clotting), hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, renal failure, respiratory failure and hypovolumic shock. The consequences of pancreatitis in the long run may be pancretitic insufficiency in which pancreas is not able to produce pancreatic juice and digestive system is affected badly as well as diabetes mellitus.

How Obesity Enhances Severity of Pancreatitis?

Research shows that fat tissue of our body serves endocrine function and releases substances called adipokines which are main culprit in producing severe inflammation of pancreas. Severity of obesity is directly related to severity of acute pancreatitis. Obesity is considered one of the prognostic factors in acute pancreatitis so patients who have normal weight recover from pancreatitis easily without acquiring complications while those who are obese suffer complications of pancreatitis more frequently. Some of the facts about obesity and complications of acute pancreatitis are as follows,

1. Obese patients have more severe inflammation of pancreas than non-obese patients
2. Systemic and local complications of acute pancreatitis are seen more frequently than in patients with normal weight
3. Chances of dying in acute pancreatitis are more in obese people than in non-obese patients

Conclusion

The above discussion signifies the importance of normal weight in bearing the stress of acute pancreatits. Obesity is a life threatening condition that should be addressed seriously. Good thing about the complications of the obesity is that most of them are reversible if weight reduction is done in time. Losing weight remains challenge in morbid obesity where simple measures like dieting and exercise don’t prove much effective in significant weight loss. In case of morbid obesity in which patient has BMI more than 40 the only effective and time tested measure is weight loss or bariatric surgery.

The beauty of bariatric surgery is that it has a number of options individualized to need of people selecting this wonderful way of losing weight. Effectiveness of bariatric surgery is above board; people who undergo bariatric surgery procedures at specialized bariatric surgery hospitals feel the difference in weeks. Many complications of obesity are cured automatically when patient comes to normal weight. Important thing to remember is that bariatric surgery is a specialized type of surgery that should only be done by experienced surgeon in safe environment. Both experienced surgeon and safety of procedure is only available at dedicated bariatric surgery hospitals not in substandard surgery centers.

Obesity causes many joint problems and gout is one which has strong association with obesity. It has been found that prevalence of gout in obese people is very much higher than in persons having normal weight. American health statistics say that prevalence of gout is 1% ( 1 in 100 Americans sufferers from crystal arthropathy or gout) in general population but this is much higher in obese population. In obese population prevalence of gout increases to 6% in men and 2% in women which means one in sixteen obese people suffers from gout.

Gout is a disabling disease of joints in which uric acid levels increase in the blood. When uric acid levels reach to much higher value, it forms crystals which settle in different body tissues including joints. These crystals cause severe inflammation of joint tissue and result in gouty attack. The most commonly involved joint is big toe joint (first metatarso-phalyngeal joint) but ankle, knee, shoulder and other joints may be involved. Most commonly gouty attack occurs suddenly and joint swelling and pain settles over hours to days but in some case joint pain may persist for several weeks.

Obesity is a declared risk factor for gout. Research shows that excessive weight increases the risk of gout in two ways:

1. People having excessive weight or obesity, suffer gouty attacks at earlier age than population with normal weight. On average obese people experience gouty attacks 3 years earlier than people with normal weight.
2. Severity of obesity is directly related to severity of gout. It means that people with more severe obesity experience more frequent and severe attacks of gout.

How Obesity Contributes to Gouty Attacks?

The main factor behind increased risk of gout in obese people is insulin resistance. Obese people have metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance which increases uric acid levels in the body by causing overproduction of uric acid and reducing excretion of uric acid by the kidneys. Both, overproduction and under excretion builds uric acid levels in blood to higher values. At higher levels, chances of precipitation of uric acid in the form of crystals increase. This results in hyperuricemia and crystallization of uric acid in joints. Uric acid accumulated in joints set severe inflammatory reaction which causes excruciating pain and swelling of joints. Repeated attacks of gout can destroy the joint to an extent that patient may not be able to walk comfortably.

Higher uric acid levels not only cause gout but also damage blood vessels and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. People with hyperuricemia suffer these conditions more often than the people having normal weight.

Effects of Weight Loss on Gout

Losing weight is an extra-ordinarily beneficial measure in getting rid of gouty attacks. Advice regarding weight loss is a part of prescription for patients who are obese and have gout. Research has shown that coming to normal weight reduces chances of future attacks of gout to less than half and many patients get complete cure of this painful condition.

Weight loss is not an easy way in people who are morbidly obese. People who have BMI more than 40 less often respond to conventional weight loss measures like dieting and exercise. For those who have severe obesity the only effective way of coming to normal weight is bariatric surgery. Bariatric or weight loss surgery has a number of procedures which reduce weight in matter of weeks. The only thing that should be kept in mind is that for this important surgery only dedicated bariatric surgery hospital should be selected to get maximum benefits of surgery with safety.

Exercise after a weight loss surgery is essential for the patient to maintain his/her weight and to keep those extra pounds in the curb, a statement which Christopher Still, director of “Geisinger Obesity Institute” in Pennsylvania strongly agrees with. Whenever we lose the pounds we also lose our muscles. Our muscles are the ones which gauges and takes charge over our metabolism. Engaging in constant proper exercise is the safest way to keep our body mass lean, which would retain the normal metabolism and effectively facilitate weight loss.

There has been a current study that showcased one hundred and ninety patients who submitted themselves to bariatric surgery (a surgery option to loose weight), and out of all them, about sixty eight percent confirmed that they needed and committed themselves to change their lifestyle to become physically on-the-go in the whole year after surgery to keep off the unwanted pounds. “Active” or on-the-go meaning, they have do walking or some other minimal or vigorous exercise for at least “200 minutes” every week. Those active patients lost approximately 13.2 pounds in general compared to the inactive patients. The active ones also experienced less depression as well as anxiety and gained better scores in their health over-all.

Doing regular exercises also shortens the time for recovery after doing the weight loss procedures, and is said to reduce post-surgical risks at the same time. Having continuous physical activity also reduce stress and improves the mood of the patients.

A tip to those who are planning to undergo a surgery to lose weight, start early with the exercise if possible. It’s important to get used to the exercise routines pre-surgery so that it wouldn’t be as hard post-surgery, because by then you already have an idea of the exercise and have already warmed-up your system. It could be really hard to get started when you possess a lot of excess pounds, but “determination” is the key. Before you engage in any exercise it’s good to get your cardiac evaluation done by you internist, especially if you’re “morbidly obese”. After getting a go signal from your doctor, you can start slowly by doing 20 up to 30 minutes of active physical activity for at least three days per week. A good example would be breast-walking or just simply marching in place.

Two up to three weeks post-surgery it’s valuable to get back to being physically active. Start by doing things lightly and slowly pumping up the volume as you go along. For the first six months, a good example would be bending carefully and picking things up from the ground. Try to do your exercises for at least 30 minutes continuously for three up to five whole days every week. Other good examples are walking, biking, and swimming exercises. You can also do resistance trainings using dumbbells; this can help strengthen the abdominal muscles of your body.

About one year after that, you be able to have already increased your minutes of exercises for at least 45 minutes, for about four times per week. A variety of work-outs is substantial to work different parts of your body. To help improve your posture it’s also crucial to strengthen your stomach muscles, for this will start to alter as you get to lose more and more weight. Good examples are doing yoga, aerobics, dancing, and kickboxing for at least 45 minutes for four times every week. Also continue to do the resistance training for your abdominal muscles.

After more than one year, never falter to keep the lifestyle of healthy choice of foods and constant exercise. This time, the different body trainings and exercises should not faze you the very least. Still maintain or do more than 45 solid minutes of physical activity for about four days a week. Training intervals on a treadmill with varying speed as well as inclines, for at least 45 minutes should no longer be much of a problem for you. You can also do more active exercises like hiking, running, and bicycling. Just keep in mind that in losing and keeping off the weight, “Exercise” is always a must!

You might ask, are obesity and depression related to each other? This is the proverbial chicken and egg scenario of which comes first. People who are morbidly obese or overweight often suffer from depression and low self esteem. Depressed people often become obese as time goes by, because depression by nature tends to make your be less active, less social and feed emotional problems with high calorie, high carbohydrate foods.

With various researchers, these obesity and depression have been found to be closely related to each other by the virtue of the chain reaction effect. The connection is quite simple, and functions on two very basic and logical levels. The first connection level between obesity and depression happens when a person truly becomes obese because of being depressed over time. A good example would be as we mentioned before “emotional eating”, to take away that feeling of emptiness or loneliness, or sometimes even to get rid of the stress that’s been bothering him/her. When a person gets accustomed to this, it will in time become a bad habit, which could be very hard to break. The person can’t stop eating because it’s the only way to make he/she feel better. To add to that, as the person gets deeply depressed, the more comfort he/she will need, therefore this will lead to the person consuming more food. This is a chain reaction that is hard to ignore, with the fact that one condition leads to the other condition which can turn out to more serious than it appears.

Secondly, the reaction can also begin the other way around. It is generally known that it is usual for obese people to feel depressed because of their weight. Feeling inadequate because of the inability to control the gnawing hunger some feel, unable to improve their current health and obesity compels overweight people to feel more depressed.

Bottom line is, a person can potentially become obese with overeating due to depression and obese people can become depressed because of how they look, coupled with how other people treat them. When you’re obese, discrimination is still alive and well in the U.S. and practiced regularly in business, schools – everywhere. The common assumption is obese or overweight people are lazy, unmotivated, lack will power and are generally substandard. This can make life very difficult, especially if you do not have emotional support available. It helps when you have friends or your family members that can see the real you and encourage you to stand up and do something to resolve your dilemma.

Why do we need to ask, “How is depression related to obesity?” It is important that we ask this question, to be able to observe the consequences and relationship between depression and obesity. Once we understand the symbiotic relationship between these two entities it becomes clear that once the obesity issue is resolved, the depression will also be resolved and vice versa. With this understanding it becomes clear that weight loss surgery is indeed indicated for obese and overweight individuals in order to reclaim their lives and lessen their depression.

Weight loss surgery can prevent certain future health risks from obesity and also lessen medications needed to control depression. Weight loss surgery gives an obese person a chance to be back in control of their life and minimize depression and low self esteem issues.

According to Dutch researchers, they have found out that there is truly a corresponding link between obesity and depression. Their factual compiled data suggests that being obese can escalate the chances of depression in people who are initially not depressed by 55 percent. Depression on the other hand, can increase the chance of being obese by 58 percent to people who previously had a normal weight. It was notably stated that they carried out the analysis not to find out if a certain person has a risk for obesity with depression, but they found the connection anyway. In addition to that the “National Institute of Mental Health” discovered that in about four cases of obesity, one of it is related to depression or an anxiety or mood disorder. These facts can be found on the NIHM website which significantly correlates with other findings from various studies that shows the increasing rate of obesity in the US, to be tied up with the increase of depression as well as other psychological problems mostly involving the person’s self esteem.

The current compelling findings came from 15 strategically gathered studies that were published. They were all trying to decode the connection between depression and obesity. These studies were inclusive of more than 58,000 people who utilized tools like the BMI or body mass index to measure the how overweight or underweight a person is. For more information, an average American with a BMI of 25 and above can be considered as overweight, and American’s with a BMI of 30 or more are counted as obese. As stated by the Dutch researchers, obesity does not only aggravate the risk of having depression but it initiates the beginning of a clinical depression instead of just passing symptoms of depression.

Studies communicated in a recent copy of the “Archives of General Psychiatry” points out the verifiable truth that Europeans have lesser chances of being obese which leads to depression, compared to Americans. It also been discovered that an average European weighs less than an average American which gives more proof to the reality that Americans are more prone to being obese. To add to that, the more a person’s weight increases, the more he/she is prone to depression. Why is this possible? You might ask… Well, we all know the trend these days that being “thin” is “in”! This is the case, especially in the Western countries. So obviously, if you have weight issues, you are more likely considered to be unattractive. This could really do major damage to the self-esteem of a person. With low self-esteem, a person could find dissatisfaction to his/her body which would in turn lead to depression. There are also people who turn to food when they are feeling down, stuffing themselves with sweets and carbohydrates to fill-in the gap and empty feeling inside. If this is the habit of the person to find satisfaction even how transient it may be, then he/she is in danger of being obese.

We should not take this lightly? This is because both obesity and depression is a major concern which can greatly affect a person’s life. It is always essential to find a solution to the problem before it becomes an insurmountable problem. The team of Dutch researchers, advocates other health care professionals in the medical field to work together and share their knowledge in the different fields, to find a solution to the problem.

The most effective solution with our current advancements in medical technologies is, undergoing a surgery. If you are excessively overweight and are not able to lose any unwanted pounds by following a healthy diet and regular exercise, then surgery is the answer for you. To qualify for a surgery, men need to be at least 80 pounds and women need to be overweight by 65 pounds. If your weight does not meet these needed pounds, you can still undergo surgery if have diabetes, sleep apnea or a heart disease.

If you submit yourself for surgery and were successful, the primary reaction of the body will be limiting the amount of food the patient can take in. There are also other surgeries that will inhibit the amount of food your body can digest or absorb. Dramatic weight loss is generally experienced by patients who successfully undergo surgery. Following a healthy diet and exercise regimen will help keep depression and the unwanted pounds from coming back.

Teenage life is the most exciting stage in every person’s life. We experience a lot of changes when we reach this stage; from physical change, psychological and even emotional change. This is the period when we love experimenting, discovering and exploring life sometimes without regard of the consequences.

Research indicates that adolescents represent 1/5 of the world’s population and together with the increasing number of the world’s population is the occurrence of teenage obesity. It is considered as one of the most common problems in the US and other developed countries, and has already reached alarming levels. Weight can be a real problem within the teenage population; because of this, they are more likely to feel isolated for fear of being criticized or bullied. The result is teens become depressed and the tendency to hate or dislike themselves is higher.

Dealing with obesity within the teenage population is quite complicated. It is not just about changing your eating habits and choosing the right food to eat. Obesity is something that must be taken seriously.

Obesity is not just as simple as being overweight, since the latter can be treated by having a good diet and exercise. Obesity is not an ordinary health problem; it is a medical condition in which excess body fats have been accumulated and may bring health risks. There are several factors that make a person obese; such as low physical activity, hormonal changes, America’s penchant for large portions of fast foods and metabolic disorder.

While there are many weight loss programs available to choose from, one of the most common or most recommended treatments for obesity, aside from diet and exercise, is weight loss surgery or also known as the Bariatric surgery. But the question is, is it right for obese teenagers to undergo this kind of surgery? Or the most important question is, is it safe?

Based on research, teen weight loss surgery has been found to be safe; as safe as adult weight loss surgery. But despite the fact that weight loss surgery for teens is considered safe, there are still risks that must be taken into consideration.

Bariatric surgery includes different procedures performed on obese people. There are three types of weight loss that can be performed on teens:

1. Gastric Bypass surgery – It is a process where in the surgeon creates a small pouch by stapling off a large portion of the stomach and connects the tiny pouch directly to the small intestine. This makes the stomach hold less food and creates malabsorption of nutrients which results in weight loss from both restriction and malabsorption.
2. Gastric Banding – reduces the size of the stomach by using a restrictive device to create a small pouch but banding does not interfere with food absorption in the small intestine.
3. Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy – removes ¾ of the stomach laparoscopically resulting in weight loss from the tiny portions but no malabsorption.

A teen candidate for weight loss surgery must also be prepared physically and emotionally and have good support from parents. Weight loss surgery is only a tool and the teen must be prepared and committed to keeping up with the new lifestyle right after surgery.

Just like any other surgery, weight loss surgery also has its risks; like occasional discomfort, vomiting and diarrhea; especially when the patient has eaten too much or too fast. Teen patients who have undergone weight loss surgery have to start again with a new eating approach. It will entail many adjustments and life style changes which may take time to adjust to.

Most importantly is that with weight loss surgery or Bariatric surgery, an obese teen will have the opportunity to establish a more balanced relationship with food and exercise. The teen may enjoy life once again with heightened confidence and self-esteem and end their struggle with obesity forever.

Bariatric surgery is the best way to deal with obesity; along with proper diet and exercise and of course positive disposition. Every single penny, the discomfort and effort is all worth it.

At a certain point in your life, have you ever felt being unhappy and miserable? That moment when you feel like you are at your lowest point and nothing is going right. Well, frankly speaking, you are suffering from what we call depression.

Depression refers to a mental state in which you are sad and you feel like you don’t enjoy anything that you do because you feel unpleasant or you are always not in the mood. This kind of mental state or illness is usually felt by people who are what we call obese. Obesity is a medical condition by which a person suffers excessive or abnormal fat accumulation that may bring adverse effect to that person’s health. In other words, obesity is having too much body fat and may put the person’s health into risk.

Based on recent studies, the issues about depression and obesity remain to be a major topic. The question becomes does obesity cause depression or is depression a result of obesity. One thing is certain, each one affects the other.

Where it is a known fact that there is a connection between obesity and depression, it is still unresolved on which condition comes first. An obese person is more likely to feel depressed for reasons such as being uncomfortable with their physical appearance and afraid of being bullied especially for those in the adolescent stage. Obese persons have the tendency to lose confidence and become more sensitive and vulnerable.

Depressed people tend to isolate themselves from others and are more comfortable being alone. They find comfort by eating and the craving for food is much higher than the usual. For some obese people, foods provide emotional comfort. When you are depressed there is not much motivation in you, you don’t have the energy to participate in activities and the tendency is to just become sedentary. This lack of physical activity contributes to weight gain; and once your body get used to poor eating habits and sedentary life style, you will not notice you are already considered obese.

Obesity and depression are a serious psychological illness and considered a primary health concern and must be given extra attention. Depression is usually treated by way of therapy and counselling. But with the case of obesity, there are a lot of ways to lose weight and shed off those extra pounds. Natural weight loss methods that can be used such as various fitness programs and diet programs fail 98% of the time. Only 2% manage to lose more than 20 pounds and keep it off for 5 years. Most often than not, natural weight loss methods work best for those people slightly overweight not for the obese. The difference between overweight and obese is that overweight is generally a common condition and can be treated by the usual diet and exercise while obese is a medical condition usually cause by genetics and inability to control diet. Obesity responds best surgical methods of restriction and reduction.

Speaking of weight loss by means of surgical method, there are several different surgical weight loss methods available and one of the most successful surgical procedures is the vertical sleeve gastrectomy surgery. This is a weight loss procedure by which the size of the stomach is reduced through removal of a portion of the stomach. This method has indicated excellent long term results based on recent studies.

Obesity and depression are two interchangeable conditions and is recommended that people who are obese and at the same time suffering from depression must be treated at the same time.

One of the most vital organs of the human body is the heart. It is located anterior to the vertebral column and posterior to the sternum and weighs around 250-350 grams. The heart is a muscular organ responsible for pumping oxygenated blood through blood vessels throughout the body. It is also responsible for the successful elimination of waste products of the body specifically carbon dioxide. Like the brain, the heart also needs oxygen-rich blood to function and this is carried by the coronary arteries.

Coronary artery disease is the narrowing of the blood vessels that supply oxygen to the heart. Other names such as coronary heart disease and arteriosclerotic heart disease also refer to this disease. It is the result of the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaques which occurs when fatty materials and other materials build up over time in the walls of the artery. Narrowing happens afterwards and manifestations of the disease then shall occur. Atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease are closely related to high fat intake, less exercise lifestyle or obesity in general. The disease may occur in families as well and may also come with the hypertension, smoking and diabetes.

Coronary Artery Disease Statistics

In the United States, coronary artery disease has been the leading cause for sudden death both in men and women. Among the signs and symptoms associated with the disease are angina or chest pain, shortness of breath and arrhythmias. The disease is diagnosed thru ECG, cardiac angiography, stress testing and blood work ups. In some patients however the condition has no visible sign and symptom, it is only discovered when stroke or a myocardial infarction occurs which may eventually cause death.

Coronary Artery Disease Treatments

Conventional treatment for the disorder includes taking medications like ACE inhibitors, aspirin, beta blockers, calcium blockers and nitrates. Angioplasty a nonsurgical procedure that opens blocked or narrowed coronary arteries is also an option for treatment. Lifestyle changes are also an important part towards treating coronary artery disease. These include diet high in fiber, low in fat, patient must be physically active as well and patient’s weight and BMI should be controlled. Weight loss is a vital part in treating coronary artery disease.

As stated above coronary artery disease is closely related to obesity. The link to these two most prevalent and related disorder has been indirect however. Commonly, the relation has been noted towards other condition that obesity causes such as hypertension and diabetes then to coronary artery disease. Long-term longitudinal studies, however, indicate that obesity as such not only relates to but independently predicts coronary atherosclerosis. Thus, treatment towards control and prevention of further damage from coronary artery disease should include that of obesity. The first approach towards control of obesity is usually through diet programs involving more fruits and vegetables with an increase in physical activity. Next to this will be with the use of diet pills or medications. The last resort in gaining weight loss is through bariatric surgery.

Bariatric surgeries have been gaining attention recently. People somehow think that these procedures give them instant and easy weight loss. This theory is however, untrue. Few of the known weight loss surgery are sleeve bariatric surgery, lap band surgery and gastric bypass surgery. Given the scenario that an illness is present with obesity, the best choice is gastric bypass surgery. This surgery involves two parts, thus safest. First a part of the stomach is taken out and a small pouch is created then it is bypassed and reconnected to the intestine. The shorter route and the absence of the cells that produces ghrelin in the stomach help in the weight loss process. The gastric bypass surgery’s role in treatment of coronary artery disease is still not clear. Ongoing research suggests however that only surgery has been proved to produce substantial sustained long-term weight loss. Since with the disease then needs long term weight loss, gastric bypass surgery should be considered.

No matter what the therapeutic approach, it is important to realize that obesity is a disorder and that it may also cause other chronic illnesses that may shorten the life of an individual. Treatment of obesity should be based on its severity and the presence of comorbidities like coronary artery disease. To effectively control or treat these comorbidities obesity must also be controlled and treated.

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