The surgical treatment of morbid obesity

Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States according to C. Everett Koop, M.D., former Surgeon General of the United States. The use of tobacco is the leading cause, but in the near future, obesity will become the first. Estimates of the percentage of adult Americans who are overweight range from 35% to 50%. Those who are morbidly obese (100 pounds or more overweight), number approximately 8 million. There is no doubt that obesity is a significant public health problem, particularly when its comorbidities are considered: diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux, cardiovascular disease, degenerative arthritis, cholelithiasis, respiratory insufficiency, cancer, sleep apnea, and many others. Serious medical problems are usually present in patients with morbid obesity. When significant long-term weight loss is accomplished for these patients, the comorbidities almost always improve or disappear entirely.