Mega Doctor News
EDINBURG, TX— Doctors Hospital at Renaissance Health System (DHR) and DHR Bariatric and Metabolic Institute are proud to sponsor the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Foundation “Walk from Obesity.” Set for December 5, 2015 on the DHR Campus, the mission of the “Walk from Obesity” is to draw national attention to the need for obesity awareness, research, increased patient access and advocacy and education initiatives.
Obesity and diabetes have become America’s number one public health problem – more than half of Americans are overweight and greater than 15 million Americans have severe obesity (defined as being 100 pounds or more overweight). In a Gallup poll released on April 4, 2014, the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metro area ranked as the second most obese area in the United States, with more than 38.3% of its residents overweight[1]. In addition to increased health risks, high rates of obesity lead to increased healthcare costs. One study shows that the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metro area pays more than $400 million in unnecessary healthcare costs each year due to its high obesity rate. If the obesity rate in this area were reduced by 15%, the cost savings could equate to more than $250 million annually.
“[We hope] to make people aware of the possible solutions and preventative measures that are available for obesity,” states Dr. Michael Martinez, an advanced laparoscopic and bariatric surgeon at the DHR Bariatric and Metabolic Institute. “We will highlight the resources available for our local communities, which include the knowledge and expertise of world-class leaders in obesity prevention. But most of all we will continue the process of attempting to address the most serious health care issue facing our population.”
Doctors Hospital at Renaissance’s goal is to decrease the rates of obesity in our community through education, awareness, and public events such as the “Walk from Obesity.” Online registration is now open – visit https://bit.ly/walkfromobesity_rgv to register or for more information.
Through the “Walk from Obesity,” DHR looks forward to engaging with our community to bring awareness to the effects of obesity, while also raising funds to support research and educational efforts. For more information, please call (956) 362-5673 or visit www.rgvweightloss.com.
About the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
The Mission of the ASMBS Foundation is to raise funds for conducting research and education, increasing public and scientific awareness and understanding, and improving access to quality care and treatment of obesity and morbid obesity.
- Raise Funds that directly support critical research and education on obesity, morbid obesity, and metabolic and bariatric surgery.
- Increase Scientific and Public Awareness and Understanding of obesity as a disease and that treatment of obesity and morbid obesity can prevent, improve or resolve many metabolic diseases including type 2 diabetes and other diseases including cancer.
- Improve Access to Quality Care and Treatment for Americans with obesity and morbid obesity by eliminating policy, societal, economic and medical barriers that deny people appropriate treatment and support.
[1] https://www.gallup.com/poll/168230/boulder-colo-residents-least-likely-obese.aspx?ref=image
