As many as four million Americans suffer from clinically severe obesity. Confronting this widespread disease, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) assembled a group of care experts from several related scientific disciplines. The stated purpose was to consider all aspects of this disease and to make recommendations regarding treatment options. The following quote is taken from the NIH report:

"Dietary regimens fail to provide long-term weight control in severely obese patients. For those who have failed such programs, surgery (Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass) is recognized as an effective treatment available to provide significant weight loss and long-term weight control. Weight reduction surgery has been reported to improve quality of life and associated disease such as diabetes, hypertension, pulmonary disease, and cholesterol levels. Patients may be considered for surgery if they meet the criteria, understand possible complications, and agree to comply with the postoperative regimen of dietary and physical lifestyle changes. The operation should be performed by surgeons experienced with Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass surgery."

The NIH report also draws these conclusions:

• Clinically severe obesity is defined as weight in excess of 100 pounds over the Ideal Calculated Weight or somewhat less than 100 pounds if there is a serious associated condition.
• Success of non-surgical therapy is only temporary in most cases.
• Most patients with clinically severe obesity have an organic genetically based disease.
• Psychological and social issues contribute to clinically severe obesity but are not fundamental causes.
• Clinically severe obesity results in a mortality rate of about 10 times that of the general population in the same age group.
• Clinically severe obesity results in many serious medical, psychological, social and economic problems.
• Dietary regiments fail to provide long-term weight control in severely obese patients.

We concur with these findings and have developed a program that incorporates these and other important aspects into a multidisciplinary approach for treating the disease of clinically severe obesity.

It is important to be aware that evidence is increasing that obesity is a disease just like diabetes or hypertension and may be genetic in origin. No one chooses to become obese, it happens. It appears the brain doesn't receive the signal to tell you when to stop eating when you have had enough. This is why diets don't work. Once eating begins again, the same faulty communication from the stomach to the brain exists. Unfortunately, many people don't understand this function and blame themselves for being weak or lacking self-control.

For some of you, a bariatric surgery may be the last hope to control the disease of morbid or clinically severe obesity. Studies show a correlation between gastric bypass and a subsequent improvement of self-confidence, assertiveness and positive mood. Furthermore, many patients report improvements of their social life and sexual life as well as enjoyment of simple tasks such as the ability to cross their legs or sit comfortably in an ordinary chair.