Fat and Weight Loss

Mary is a 35-year-old mother of two daughters. Although she has always struggled with weight, her weight has hit an all-time high in the past few months. A couple of years ago, she injured her back, which left her unable to work. It was after her injury that she really started to gain weight, reaching more than 350 pounds. She considered back surgery but the doctor told her the risks were too great due to her weight-related health issues. Mary looked into getting her stomach stapled, hoping that she would lose enough weight to allow her to have the back surgery. However, her insurance would not pay for the surgery.

At her weight and with her back problems, Mary feels like she cannot exercise, creating a vicious cycle of weight gain and inactivity. Mary is just one of the 9 million Americans who are morbidly obese. If Mary continues to be morbidly obese she will likely suffer dozens of ailments from arthritis to asthma, and have her life shortened by 20 years. Weight-loss drugs, however, are often covered by insurance; if Mary tries them and is able to reduce her weight by 10 percent, she might become a better candidate for the back surgery she needs.

CHILDHOOD OBESITY

TYPE 2 DIABETES

IS IT RUDE TO REFER TO CHILDREN AS OBESE?

OTHER HEALTH IMPLICATIONS

HIGH-FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP: SWEET POISON?

METABOLISM

LIFESTYLE AND GENETICS

DIET AND EXERCISE

HEALTHY WEIGHT LOSS

MEASURING FAT: THE SKIN-FOLD TEST

WEIGHT LOSS AND THE PLATEAU EFFECT

Source: "Drugs The Straight Facts: Weight-Loss Drugs," Chelsea House, 2009