To schedule a consultation for obesity treatment from our Dallas / Fort Worth-area bariatric surgeon, please fill out the fields below.
Dallas:
13601 Preston Road Suite 415-W
Dallas, TX 75240
(214) 506-2660
Fort Worth:
1106 Alston Avenue
Ft Worth, TX 76104
(817) 506-4360
This Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator is a quick and accurate way of determining if you are the ideal weight for your height. Please fill out the fields below and you will receive an instantaneous, confidential result. The following chart indicates the average BMI rating:
Below 18.5 Underweight
18.5 – 25.0 Normal
25.0 – 30.0 Overweight
30.0 – 40.0 Obese
40 and Above Morbidly Obese
Please contact our weight loss surgery physician serving the
DFW area with any questions
you may have.
Morbid obesity is, by definition, a disease. According to the National Institute of Health, obesity has reached epidemic proportions. It often can lead to heart disease, diabetes, and death. Our bariatric surgeon, Gregory Barnes, MD, serving Dallas / Fort Worth, Tarrant County and beyond, provides obesity treatment with a compassionate understanding of the physical and emotional traumas that are created by morbid obesity. Dr. Gregory Barnes will be with you every step of the way as you fight to regain control of your health and rebuild your self-esteem.
There is a difference between simply being overweight and being morbidly obese. Being morbidly obese means being at risk of death because of excess weight. A morbidly obese person is anywhere from 50 to 100 percent above the weight that is considered average or healthy. Whether an individual qualifies as morbidly obese can be determined by measuring that person's body mass index (BMI), which examines the ratio of weight to height. A BMI of 35 or higher classifies you as morbidly obese. Of course, BMI can sometimes be misleading (consider the case of a 260 pound body builder full of muscle, not fat, whose BMI is over 35), but BMI is a criterion that insurance companies use when considering whether a person qualifies for obesity surgery.
Many people experience painful psychological repercussions as a result of obesity. Individuals who are obese can feel ostracized by society and often suffer from depression. The social and economic discrimination that the morbidly obese face is well documented. Even more significant, problems caused by morbid obesity include dangerous, and in some cases life-threatening, health conditions. With this in mind, more people are turning to obesity surgery to begin the process of losing weight and improving their lives. .
Please contact our obesity treatment facility, serving Dallas / Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Arlington, and surrounding areas, for more information.
There are many contributing factors to morbid obesity. Technically, excess weight results from the body's ingestion of more calories than it is burning off. Here are some of the most common reasons for such an imbalance:
Heredity has long been thought to play a major role in obesity, indicating that obesity may be partly the result of a genetic trait carried down through generations. In all times prior to ours, having biological mechanisms to store fat and conserve energy was actually a benefit that helped ensure survival. Our society has changed a lot faster than our biology, and our bodies are not equipped to deal with the large quantities of high fat, high sugar foods available in modern times. Since obesity frequently runs in families, it may also result from environmental factors such as when someone learns poor behavioral and dietary habits from family or friends.
Our bariatric surgeon will evaluate you during your initial consultation for obesity treatment at our facility in Tarrant County, serving the Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex and surrounding areas. Dr. Gregory Barnes can determine which obesity surgery, such as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, gastric sleeve surgery, LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding System, or revision surgery may be the best option for your particular needs.
Physiological conditions can contribute to obesity. Metabolism (the rate at which calories are burned) varies among individuals, some with a very high metabolism and some with a very low one, contributing to that individual being under- or overweight. Certain types of brain damage can disrupt the normal intake of calories as well. If the hypothalamus is damaged, for example, it can skew a person's appetite. In addition, hormone malfunction can play a role in obesity. However, one of the most common physiological contributors to obesity is hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland slows down metabolism and makes it harder for the body to burn calories at a normal rate.
Depression is one of the most frequently cited psychological conditions among obese persons. Whether depression causes obesity or is simply a result of it is often debated. In either case, mild to moderate depression typically improves significantly following weight loss surgery. Any negative psychological state that persists, such as chronic stress, anger, and low self-esteem, can lead to changes in eating habits as well as reduction or cessation of normal exercise routines that lead to weight gain
Environmental and societal factors can play a role in morbid obesity. For example, high fat, high sugar foods are readily available and are often cheaper than healthier alternatives. Fast food drive-thrus and hectic day to day demands can lead to a daily habit that often expands your waistline. Also, it may be easier not to exercise or eat healthy if those around you are not either – this is particularly common among families.
In addition to the above-mentioned , contributors, a weight problem can be initiated by certain medications, such as some antidepressants and steroids.
The cause of morbid obesity can be any one or combination of many factors. The important thing to remember is that there are also many solutions. Surgical obesity treatment for Dallas / Fort Worth, Arlington, and Tarrant County residents can be performed safely and effectively by Dr. Gregory Barnes. He is committed to helping you fight the disease and maintain weight loss in order to improve health and quality of life. Contact our weight loss surgeon to schedule a consultation.