TACOMA, Wash., Sept. 19, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Franciscan Health System, the leading provider of surgical weight-loss procedures in the Puget Sound region, will present a free, online seminar about weight-loss surgery and its benefits from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 12.
The live, interactive presentation will feature Myur Srikanth, MD, a leading weight-loss surgeon, and Lynda Rider, a registered nurse and educator with the Franciscan organization. They will discuss the numerous surgical weight-loss options that are now available, review patient qualifications for surgery, explore risk factors and more during the Web seminar.
Obesity has dramatically increased in the United States in the past 20 years, affecting both adults and children. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates that 127 million Americans are overweight. Of those, nine million people are 100 pounds or more over their optimum weight, making them "morbidly obese" and possible candidates for weight-loss surgery.
Being moderately to extremely overweight can cause heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and other health problems that may shorten lives, health experts warn. Excess body weight also causes hip and joint problems, in addition to general physical discomfort. According to the National Institutes of Health, obesity and its accompanying medical problems are among the leading causes of preventable deaths in the United States.
"People can often reduce their weight and become healthier by following a physician-approved regimen that includes a nutritious diet and physical exercise," says Ms. Rider. "For many overweight individuals, however, no combination of diet and exercise will result in significant, long-term weight loss. One treatment option for them is bariatric surgery, which is also called weight-loss surgery."
There are several bariatric surgical procedures, but each achieves the same goal: decreases the stomach size; reroutes the intestines; and shrinks the person's food consumption.
Because of its growing popularity, many people have questions about this type of surgery. The Web seminar on Oct. 12 will offer reliable information that can help individuals make informed decisions about whether to pursue weight loss through surgery.
To register for this free Web seminar, go to www.FHShealth.org and click on the homepage story headlined, "Is Weight-Loss Surgery Right For You?"
Franciscan Health is affiliated with Catholic Health Initiatives, one of the nation's largest not-for-profit health care systems. Franciscan is online at www.FHShealth.org.