For years Blanca Ramirez, like many Americans, started each new year with a resolution to lose weight. But no more. "I lost 55 pounds this year and the weight is rolling off and will stay off," said the 42 year-old, married, mother of three. Ramirez underwent bariatric surgery at Loyola Center for Metabolic Surgery & Bariatric Care in August and has lost 55 pounds in four months.
Losing weight and improving health are top New Year's resolutions expected to challenge Americans this year, experts say.
According to a study released in December, 2012, more than a quarter (27.8%) of Americans are obese. The United Health Foundation also reports that 30.8 % of American adults have high blood pressure.
"Losing weight has a positive effect on diabetes, heart disease, orthopaedic injuries, and even cancer," said Bipan Chand, MD, director, Loyola Center for Metabolic Surgery & Bariatric Care, who performed Ramirez's gastric sleeve surgery. "Looking good is just one part of the weight- loss equation; adding years to your life is the real benefit."
Chand says there are many reasons that spur people to choose weight-loss surgery, from years of trying and failing to lose weight to experiencing a serious health scare. For Chicago-area resident Blanca Ramirez, it was her own reflection that spurred a decision to have a gastric-sleeve bariatric procedure. "I have been overweight since I was a teenager and I didn't like what I saw when I looked in the mirror," said Ramirez, who is 5 ft. 3 inches and weighed 225 pounds before her surgery in August. "People would tell me I was pretty and I didn't need to lose weight but I knew I was obese and was sick of being fat."