World Obesity Day is being observed on Saturday, March 4, with the awareness theme of “Changing Perceptions: Let’s Talk about Obesity.”
World Obesity Day was established in 2015 as an annual campaign with the goal of stimulating and supporting practical actions that will help people achieve and maintain a healthy weight and reverse the global obesity crisis.
Obesity is on the rise globally, with 1 billion people predicted to be living with the disease by 2030, according to WorldObesity.org. Untreated, obesity is responsible for a significant proportion of disorders and high risk conditions including heart disease, diabetes, liver disease and many types of cancer.
“Obesity is a disease and an epidemic,” according to Michael Simpson, MD, an obesity medicine physician with Community Care Network, Inc. and Community Healthcare System’s Healthy 4 Life program.
The Healthy 4 Life Advanced Weight Loss Center helps patients navigate a journey to a healthier body weight through either surgical or non-surgical options. While bariatric surgery is an option for some, others may be better suited for weight-loss medications and dietary recommendations. A nutrition plan focused on caloric restriction and an optimized intake of protein, carbohydrates and fat also is helpful for weight loss.
Healthy 4 Life is a nationally accredited bariatric center and does much more than promote weight loss. For patients who have obesity-associated conditions, successful weight loss can positively impact those conditions as well. Bariatric patients who have type 2 diabetes, hypertension or obstructive sleep apnea may experience improvement and remission of these conditions.
“The Healthy 4 Life Advanced Weight Loss Center has an established reputation for producing the best possible outcomes for patients undergoing weight loss procedures,” Simpson said.
If you are looking for more information about surgical or medical weight loss solutions, free educational seminars are offered in-person at Community Hospital, in Munster, and St. Mary Medical Center, in Hobart, or online.
Upcoming dates, times and locations are as follows:
- 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 1, April 5 or May 3, Community Hospital Medical Office Building, Healthy4Life Classroom, Suite 402, 801 MacArthur Blvd., Munster
- 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 8, April 12 or May 10, St. Mary Medical Center, West Entrance, Boardroom, 1500 S. Lake Park Ave., Hobart
- 6:30 pm Wednesday, March 15, April 19 or May 17, virtual sessions. Registration required to obtain instructions, link and password.
- Prerecorded seminars also offered to watch at your convenience at COMHS.org/OVERIT.
For more information, visit COMHS.org/OVERIT or call 219-836-3477.
