What is Morbid Obesity?

If a person’s body mass index (BMI) is in excess of 35, it is clinically called a condition of morbid obesity. The primary cause of this condition is the storage of excess fat deposits in the body. When an individual consumes more calories than what their body can burn, they will gradually accumulate fat deposits, which may eventually turn into morbid obesity.

Morbid obesity may also occur due to genetic factors and certain diseases and medications. Bariatric surgery is an effective way to reverse morbid obesity. Dr. Wiljon Beltre provides bariatric surgery and other weight loss procedures to patients in Orlando, Tampa, Maitland, Central Florida, and surrounding locations.

Potential Complications

Patients should treat morbid obesity as an important health concern, and seek appropriate treatments. If left untreated, morbid obesity may contribute to serious complications, such as:

• Osteoarthritis
• Heart Disease and Blood Lipid Abnormalities
• Stroke
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Sleep Apnea
• Reproductive Problems
• Gallstones
• Certain Cancers
• Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome
• Metabolic Syndrome

Dr. Beltre is an experienced bariatric surgeon providing innovative and advanced surgical treatments to address morbid obesity.

How to Achieve Weight Loss?

The approach to achieving weight loss can vary from one patient to another, but overall, an individual should follow a balanced diet program and a regular exercise regimen to improve health and fitness. In some patients of morbid obesity, stress management techniques may also help to curb the urge of overeating or snacking during stressful moments.

Patients should ideally work with a weight loss physician or surgeon who will be able to create a scientific weight loss program to help them achieve their goals in a safe and healthy manner. While weight loss drugs are available in the market to get rid of obesity, the challenge is that most patient quickly return to their original weight once they stop taking the drugs.

Weight Loss Surgery

The most predictable and scientifically proven way to treat morbid obesity is bariatric surgery. This procedure will not only help to get rid of obesity, but in many cases, may also mitigate or eliminate associated diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and sleep apnea. The most common forms of weight loss surgery include:

Gastric Banding Surgery  

The surgeon will place a band around the upper part of the patient’s stomach to cut down the quantity of food they can eat at one time. The patient will quickly feel full after eating a little food. A scientific weight loss program combined with gastric banding surgery can help a patient get rid of morbid obesity.

Gastric Bypass Surgery

This procedure will change the way the food eaten travels through the digestive tract. After the surgery, the food will bypass a portion of the stomach and small bowel. As a result, the patient will feel full after eating a smaller amount of food. Dedicated bariatric surgeon Dr. Beltre receives patients from Orlando, Tampa, Maitland, Central Florida, and other areas in this part of the nation for weight loss surgeries.

Important Note: If the weight is regained, diabetes and other conditions could return.

To find out more about the procedures & treatments performed by Orlando Bariatric Surgeon, Dr. Wiljon Beltre, at The Center for Metabolic and Obesity Surgery Call 321-499-6505 or Click Here to Schedule a Consultation.