Why should we be treating obesity as a disease? Answers from a Professional

Obesity continues to be a growing problem in the United States. And with almost half of all patients on Medicare benefits, or those with a BMI over the score of 40, considered obese, it will cause increasing healthcare costs with time. Patients over the age of 65 with severe obesity are likely to double by the year 2030. The United States healthcare system spends over $500 billion each year to help individuals with obesity and other coexisting conditions that are often related, such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

Dr. Alexander Shapsis is a Board-Certified gastroenterologist at EndoSlim Clinic of Atlantic Gastroenterology who believes that conditions like obesity should be treated as a disease. Dr. Shapsis offers guidance and solutions for patients who have experienced significant weight gain that impacts their overall health and wellness in Brooklyn, New York.

Is obesity a disease?

The AMA, American Medical Association began classifying obesity as a disease ten years ago in 2013. However, the United States government and benefits such as Medicare still do not provide near as much coverage and treatment options for obesity as they do for coexisting conditions that can be paired with those in the higher weight range.

Some of the treatments that are not covered by insurance include:

• Nutritional and dietary counseling
• Virtual weight loss programs
• Anti-obesity medications
• Bariatric surgeries

While these treatments are both time-consuming and expensive, they can be a solution to reducing the risk of other conditions often linked to high BMI. Currently, Medicare is failing by not treating obesity as a medical condition and disease. Over time, this will be one of the largest healthcare crises that can have dangerous implications if the condition is not treated as the disease that it is.

Talk to a professional about obesity and weight management options!

At EndoSlim Clinic, part of Atlantic Gastroenterology, Dr. Alexander Shapsis and his team of professionals can help patients in and around Brooklyn, New York, with many conditions that impact their health. This includes obesity, which can be treated and managed with the help of a medical professional.

Our Board-Certified gastroenterologist encourages new patients struggling with their weight to consider the benefits of working with a trained, skilled professional.

Call 718 521-2840 to request an appointment at Atlantic Gastroenterology. We have two office locations, including our Court Street and Ocean Parkway offices, and are accepting new patients.