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Fitness Clinic Overview Obesity: A Disease Obesity is emerging as a health epidemic around the world. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity is rapidly spreading across all regions and demographic groups. An estimated 97 million adults in the United States are overweight or obese. That figure represents more than 50% of the American adult population. Of this group, 11 million adults suffer from severe obesity. Obesity is an excess of total body fat, which results from caloric intake that exceeds energy usage. A measurement used to assess health risks of obesity is Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is calculated by dividing body weight (lbs.) by height in inches squared (in2) and multiplying that amount by 704.5. The metric calculation for BMI is kg/m2. Click here for more information on BMI and to calculate your BMI. The American Obesity Association reports that obese individuals have a 50-100% increased risk of death as compared to normal weight individuals, with 300,000 to 587,000 deaths each year. This substantial increase in health risks has made obesity the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Morbid Obesity The National Institutes of Health report that morbid obesity may considerably reduce life expectancy and is associated with an increased risk of developing conditions or diseases such as:
The Fitness Clinic has a team of physicians, dieticians, nurses, a psychologist and a physical therapist. Each new Fitness patient receives an in-depth medical and nutritional evaluation to assess the causes of abnormal weight gain and uncover health risks or medical problems caused by the excess weight. A treadmill test is performed to assess cardiovascular conditioning. Laboratory tests are done to rule out thyroid disease, abnormal blood lipids, fatty liver, vitamin D deficiency, insulin resistance, and other conditions as necessary. The Fitness team recognizes the role emotional stress plays in the development of overweight, so psychological evaluation and referral is available as needed. Non-Surgical Treatment The ACH Fitness Clinic provides a family-centered behavior treatment program tailored to the individual needs of each patient. Self-monitoring, goal-setting, and other special skills are taught to families to help them achieve permanent, healthy lifestyle change. Education regarding nutrition, physical activity, changing behavior, and other special topics are an essential part of their follow-up visits. Every effort will be made to provide telephone counseling as needed. Specific treatment for the co-morbid diseases of overweight is provided, including dietary guidelines for high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, vitamin deficiencies, and pre-diabetes. Chronic disease prevention is an important part of Fitness Clinic care and families are taught how to lower their risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. The majority of patients will require long-term follow-up for the overweight condition, lasting up to two years or more. Most patients are seen in the Pediatric Fitness Clinic every 3 months, or more frequently if necessary. Surgical Treatment Over the years, weight-loss surgery has proven to be a successful method for the treatment of morbid obesity.1 Surgical options have continued to evolve and Arkansas Children's Hospital is pleased to be able to offer patients the LAP-BAND® System surgery. This procedure is the safest, least traumatic and only adjustable and reversible obesity surgery available in the United States. The LAP-BAND System provides a unique tool that can help you achieve and maintain significant weight loss, improve your health, and enhance your quality of life.
1. SAGES/ASBS Guidelines for Laparoscopic and Conventional Surgical Treatment of Morbid Obesity. American Society for Bariatric Surgery. http://asbs.org/html/guidelines.html 
Arkansas Children's Hospital, 1 Children’s Way, Little Rock, AR 72202-3591, (501) 364-1100 or TDD (501) 364-1184
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