CDC Says Obesity Is on the Rise

Every year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveys thousands of Americans about their health and the health of their family members. As Dr. Joseph Michaels will explain, some of the results of the 2015 survey were disappointing. Although it was revealed that more Americans had health insurance, more got the flu vaccine and fewer smoked, the number of Americans struggling with obesity is steadily climbing. Obesity raises the risk of developing life-threatening diseases like diabetes and heart problems.

More Americans Facing Obesity

Based on the survey responses of over 100,000 Americans, obesity affects more people with every passing year. The number of Americans age 20 and older that reported being obese rose from 29.9 percent in 2014 to 30.4 percent in 2015. This percentage has increased every year since at least 1997, when the number of self-reported obese Americans hovered around 19 percent. Experts define obesity as having a body mass index (which stands for BMI, a calculation of weight and height) of 30 or higher.

The number of Americans facing obesity might actually be higher, based on the findings of other surveys. A recent National Health and Nutrition Survey, in which CDC researchers measured the BMI of more than 9,000 adults, found that 34.9 percent of adults age 20 and older were obese.

The group most likely to be obese were adults between the ages of 40 and 59. More than 34 percent of people in this age group claimed they were obese. This was compared to 26 percent of adults between the ages of 20 to 39 and 30 percent of adults 60 and older.

Plastic Surgery after Weight Loss

Plastic surgery procedures like liposuction are not appropriate for individuals that struggle with obesity. However, post-weight loss plastic surgery can be tremendously helpful for people that have lost a significant amount of weight and struggle with folds of excess, loose skin. By removing the excess skin and firming the body’s contours, post-weight loss plastic surgery makes it easier to exercise and stay active. Skin removal also makes the weight loss results more obvious, which can be a motivating factor to work out and eat healthfully. All of these benefits make it less likely the person will regain weight. Furthermore, research has shown that patients who have undergone weight loss and have had plastic surgery are better at maintaining their long-term weight loss compared to those that did not have plastic surgery.

Learn More about Post-Weight Loss Plastic Surgery

If you have lost a significant amount of weight — either through bariatric surgery or lifestyle modifications — and would like to learn more about your body contouring options, Dr. Michaels is here to help. Contact Michaels Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery by calling (301) 468-5991 or (703) 957-8610 to schedule a consultation. We have offices in both North Bethesda, MD, and Fairfax, VA.