Being overweight or obese increases your risk for the following conditions:

• Heart disease: Heart disease is a term used to describe many different conditions related to the heart. Obesity causes your heart to work harder than normal. Over years, this excess work puts stress on your body which can cause permanent damage to your heart, kidneys, and other organs.
• Type 2 diabetes: Diabetes is a medical condition where your body has high blood sugar. Obesity has an effect on insulin, a hormone that helps control the amount of sugar in your blood. These high levels of blood sugar causes damage to many organs of the body, including your heart, kidneys, and eyes.
• Cancer: Obesity has been linked to increasing the risk for many different types of cancer including: endometrial, breast, and colon.
• High blood pressure: Also known as hypertension, this condition can lead to stroke, heart attack, and heart failure. According to the World Health Organization, high blood pressure is the leading cause of heart disease.
• High cholesterol: High cholesterol is simply having too much cholesterol in your blood. This can be caused by your diet, genetics, and obesity. If left untreated, it can lead to heart attack, stroke, hardening of your arteries, and formation of blood clots.
• Stroke: A stroke is when the flow of blood to your brain is disrupted either by a blockage or leak in an artery. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, and obesity are risk factors for having a stroke.
• Liver and gallbladder disease
• Sleep apnea and respiratory problems: In some obese patients, the excess fat is stored in the tongue and neck area. While you are sleeping, these tissues relax and can block your airway making it difficult to breathe. Common symptoms include restless sleep, snoring and fatigue.
• Osteoarthritis: Excessive weight leads to joint damage and swelling in many joints including hips, knees, ankles, and back. Persistent pain, tenderness, swelling, and stiffness are a result of this condition.
• Heartburn: Often referred to as reflux, this occurs when acid from your stomach leaks back up your throat which in turn causes pain and tissue damage. If untreated you may be at increased risk for ulcers and even some types of cancer.
• Infertility: In obese patients, sex hormones are altered in a way that may prevent ovulation.

After bariatric surgery, patients are cured or see improvement in many or all of these conditions.

The National Institute of Health stated that "only surgery has proven effective over the long term for most patients with clinically severe obesity."

Learn more about the Surgical Weight Control Center by attending a free seminar.