[LISTEN] Bariatric Surgery

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Ten years ago, the reality show "The Biggest Loser" debuted on American television. It still airs, letting viewers follow along as overweight contestants compete to win a cash prize by losing the most pounds over the course of the series. Even with the professional exercise and nutritional support these contestants receive, we get to witness how gruelingly difficult it can be to shed a great amount of weight.

Dr. Michael Bilof of Garden State Bariatric and Wellness Center says accomplishing that is flat-out impossible for most people who are morbidly obese - that is, 100 pounds over their ideal weight and suffering related health issues such as diabetes or high blood pressure. He's co-director of the bariatric program at Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Burlington County, New Jersey, and says, "For someone who is 100 pounds overweight, the chances of that person losing the weight and keeping it off is 5 percent: one in twenty patients will do that successfully."

For obese patients who are appropriate candidates for it, Bariatric Surgery is a way to win the Battle of the Bulge and significantly reduce the health problems caused or complicated by extreme overweight.

KYW's Rasa Kaye talks with Dr. Bilof about how these weight loss surgery procedures work, how they can relieve symptoms or in some cases completely resolve certain diseases, and why Deborah Heart and Lung Center is offering Bariatric Surgery to its patients.

To learn more, visit Deborah.org »