The fourth-largest American city, Houston, TX is located in Harris County and covers 579.4 square miles. As of July 2009, 2,257,926 lived there. This marks a population increase of 15.6% since 2000. Of those residents, 19.5% lived in poverty. There is a nearly even balance between males and females in the city. 42.7% of the population is Hispanic, with the other majority balancing between White and Black. Just 5.4% are Asian.
The median age of a Houston resident is 30.9 years, slightly younger than that of the state of Texas. The state's largest city, Houston boasts many zip codes including: 77001, 77002, 77003, 77004 and 77005. The median income per household is $44,315 Renters pay a gross average of $775 per month in rent.
Houston, Texas is home to an impressive array of hospitals including the Menninger Clinic and The Institute for Rehabilitation & Research. The city also houses the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex in the world. The facility boasts 13 hospitals, including Texas Children's Hospital and the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Known for its innovation in medicine, the city hosts patients from all over the world. Countless disciplines are represented, including ear, nose and throat, neurologists, plastic surgeons and cardiologists.
Weight loss surgery can be a lifesaver for many individuals. Being obese or overweight can cause a host of symptoms, some of which are life threatening. Losing weight is your first line of defense against the following weight-related illnesses:
- type II diabetes
- cancer
- stroke
- high blood pressure (hypertension)
- cardiovascular disease
- gall bladder disease
- metabolic syndrome
- ocular cataracts
- bronchial asthma
- macular degeneration
- complications of pregnancy
- infertility
- premature death
Obese individuals experience these diseases much more often than non-obese individuals. Losing even 10 - 20% of your body weight can reduce the likelihood of developing these conditions.
For obese and morbidly obese patients, weight loss surgery is often the best answer stubborn excess weight. Many studies have shown that more patients lose weight and keep the weight off with weight loss surgery than with other methods, including weight loss drugs, diet, and exercise.
One study showed that 50 - 70% of weight loss surgery patients lost up to 50% of their excess body fat and kept it off. In the same study, 0% of patients taking weight loss drugs were able to lose weight, and only 2 - 5% of patients were able to lose weight and keep the weight off with diet and exercise.
Having a healthy, trim body not only makes you feel good about yourself, but it also helps you live a longer, happier, and easier life. Excess weight causes many diseases and conditions, making everyday life difficult for millions of people around the world.
Your Health
Simply put, being overweight or obese is dangerous to your health. Obesity kills more Americans than smoking. Your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and many other illnesses is much greater if you are obese.
Cost of Health Care
Money spent on doctor and hospital visits, prescription drugs, and clothing in various sizes adds up over time to much more than the cost of weight loss surgery. Up to 12% of health care dollars spent in the U.S. are obesity related.
Sense of Well Being
Being overweight or obese gives you a sense of malaise -- a general sense of feeling unwell. You feel lethargic, self conscious, out of breath, hopeless. It is a vicious cycle. The more weight you gain, the worse you feel, and the worse you feel, the more weight you gain. It sometimes takes a new approach to break through, lose weight, and recapture your sense of well being.
All surgery carries a certain risk. However, for severely obese individuals, weight loss surgery actually increases the average life expectancy, even when factoring in the risk of surgery.
Weight loss surgery has come a long way and is no more dangerous than any other major surgery and is beneficial for those with a high BMI.
Only a qualified weight loss surgeon can determine if weight loss surgery is appropriate for you. A weight loss surgeon takes many factors into consideration. However, there are general guidelines. Find out if you might be a candidate for weight loss surgery.
For more information about Houston Weight Loss Surgery Center, or to schedule a consultation, click here and contact us today!
