We all know that obesity is bad for our health, but new research has revealed that gastric bands and gastric balloons can help half the risk of heart attacks.
A study at the University of Warwick has revealed that a combination of high blood pressure, high blood sugar and obesity, can lead to metabolic syndrome and double the risk of a heart attack.
By removing just one of these three conditions, obesity surgery – such as gastric bands and gastric balloons – can half the risk of having a heart attack.
Because weight loss procedures also promote sensible long-term eating habits, they can also alleviate other health problems relating to high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.
Weight loss message gradually getting through
However, it looks as though the message about the harmful effects of obesity is finally getting through!
Although 1.5 million children and 25 million adults in the UK are currently overweight or obese, new figures released by the University of Oxford show that child obesity seems to be leveling off.
The number of obese girls is predicted to fall by four per cent by 2020 and the number of obese boys to drop by seven per cent by the same year.
A spokesman for obesity surgery experts Why Go Abroad said: “It’s great news that more people seem to understand how damaging obesity can be to your health – and more importantly are acting on that knowledge.
“We do not carry out weight loss surgery on anyone under the age of eighteen, so unfortunately we do not offer anything, as yet, for childhood obesity.
“However, we are seeing the number of adults opting for gastric band and gastric balloon procedures definitely increasingly. This is turn will hopefully have a positive effect on their children as they lose weight and become more educated about food.”
