Obesity & Type 2 Diabetes

The statistics surrounding the metabolic diseases of obesity and type 2 diabetes are staggering. The International Obesity Task Force estimated that nearly a billion people worldwide are overweight or obese. 1 In the US alone, 70 million Americans are considered obese (BMI >30).

The increase in obesity has had a significant effect on type 2 diabetes, a disease state that carries its own increased risks of stroke, blindness, kidney disease, and heart disease. The encouraging news is that weight loss can contribute significantly to controlling and resolving diabetes. Bypass of the proximal bowel results in the immediate resolution of diabetes in 84% of patients with gastric bypass surgery. However, only one percent of eligible patients choose surgery, a statistic that indicates how most of the population feels about the perceived risks of invasive procedures.

Because of the prevalence of obesity and diabetes and associated vascular complications, preventing even a small proportion of cases would save thousands of lives and billions of dollars in healthcare costs and lost productivity. 2 A non-surgical procedure that enables a healthy BMI and a resolution to diabetes will be key.

1. Coviello J. American Heart Association's Top 10 Research Advances in 2002. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. 2003.18(5):360-368,
2. Bazzano L et al., Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes by Diet and Lifestyle Modification. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 2005. Vol. 24, No. 5, 310-19.