"The Science of Obesity" TV documentary

In May 2008, National Geographic Channel aired a special called "The Science of Obesity". Clips from it are available on Youtube, Hulu, and other sites, but I don't see any DVD availability, unfortunately. I saved it on my DVR and re-watched it again this morning.

It explores a few different reasons that people may become obese, following cases specifically--one subject who had become morbidly obese from overeating over a long period of time and who ultimately underwent gastric bypass surgery, and one subject who has a rare hormonal disease called Cushing's Syndrome, caused by tiny tumors on the pituitary gland. The second subject was particularly compelling, as she had always been thin and athletic, weighing about 130 pounds, and suddenly her weight just skyrocketed to over 300 pounds without explanation. An endocrinologist has to diagnose Cushing's, and it is extremely rare. The second subject also underwent a surgical procedure, but hers was to remove the tumors.

I really recommend this show, simply because it is a scientific discussion that brings up topics regarding obesity that are not often discussed, such as how internal organs, digestion, and the body's movement are affected by obesity. In all my research and years of medical issues and testing, I had never heard of Cushing's syndrome. Rare as this syndrome is, it is something people at least be aware of. It can be present in children as well as adults.

The statistics given by this TV special for gastric-bypass surgery were that the mortality rate for gastric bypass-related complications were 1 in 100, much less dire than the ones I remembered hearing a while back and wrote about yesterday. Also according to this show, it takes about two years to lose 100% of excess weight post-op, and up to 20% of patients regain some of the weight they have lost. It was the only weight-loss surgery discussed; WLS was not really the focus of the show. I appreciated the way the information was presented. It didn't pretend obesity couldn't be serious or problematic, but it didn't promote body hatred and shame either--one of the featured subjects simply said he wanted to feel better, enjoy his life, and hopefully be around longer. However accurate the show may be, I feel that shows like this are beneficial, simply because they raise some awareness and promote discussion.