Editorial

Bariatric Surgery

Authors: James V. Lewis, MD

Abstract

The number of Americans who are overweight, grossly overweight, and morbidly obese has been increasing rapidly. Of greatest concern is the growing incidence of childhood obesity. Multiple reasons are given for these increases: overeating, high caloric fast food, inactivity, and lack of exercise. It is, though, a matter of numbers— if the calories taken in exceed those expended metabolically, they will be stored as fat. Advising patients to lose weight has a success rate comparable to advising them to quit smoking. It is a welcome surprise when they are able to do so.

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