Monday, May 14, 2012
Region faces high rates of obesity, made worse by long commutes
There are an estimated 175,000 overweight or obese adults
living in the greater Norwich area.
Even more staggering, these individuals pay an average of 41% more in
medical bills each year compared to those who are not overweight or obese.
In a 2010 community health needs assessment survey conducted
by Holleran, an independent consulting firm, Backus Hospital identified obesity
as one of seven health priority areas.
Although obesity is one of the most preventable causes of
chronic disease, a recent study by the American Journal for Preventive Medicine
found that obesity can be compounded for those who travel long commutes or
regularly sit in traffic.
In fact, 21% of individuals who travel 11 to 15 miles a day
are obese and this number jumps to 25% for those who commute 16 to 20 miles a
day.
To help the communities of southeastern Connecticut deal
with and reduce rates of obesity, Backus is continuing to reinforce and expand
the Backus Weight Loss Center. Participants
of the program have access to a wide range of healthcare professionals and
services including:
• Nutritional counseling
• Support groups
• Psychological counseling
• Bariatric surgery
Since 2010, 100 Lap-Band procedures have been performed at
Backus. To be eligible for this
surgical procedure patients must:
• Be at least 100 pounds overweight
• Have a body mass index (BMI) of 30
• Suffering from one or more severe obesity-related health
issues
• Be at least 18 years of age
• Have been overweight for more than five years
• Be prepared to attend regular follow-up sessions and make
lifestyle changes
If you or someone you know is struggling with obesity and
its negative health effects, contact your primary care physician. For more information about the Backus
Weight Loss Center, visit www.backushospital.org/weightloss
or call 860-425-8740.
Mark Tousignant, MD, is the Medical
Director of the Backus Weight Loss
Center. This column should not replace the advice of your
healthcare provider. If you want to comment on this column or
others, visit the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs or e-mail Dr. Tousignant or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org
# posted by ----------------- @ 11:15 PM 
