Bariatric Surgeon Dr. Kuldeep Singh and Pediatrician Dr. Ashanti Woods Featured on WBAL-TV11 Obesity Series "Weight of the Nation"

There is an epidemic in the U.S. that affects four in 10 Americans and significantly raises the risk of early death. It's largely preventable, but it's also complex.

In a special multi-part series on WBAL-TV11 News, reporter Mindy Basara addressed various aspects of the obesity epidemic, including interviews with Kuldeep Singh, M.D., FACS, MBA, FASMBS, a top weight loss surgeon, and Director of The Maryland Bariatric Center at Mercy, and Ashanti Woods, M.D., FAAP, a specialist in General Pediatrics at Mercy Family Care Physicians.

According to medical experts, to have obesity means you have a body mass index over 30. For example, that would be an adult who is 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighs more than 203 pounds. About 9% of the U.S. population has severe obesity with a BMI of over 40, which is a 5-foot-9-inch tall person who weighs more than 271 pounds.

"This started about 40 years ago. Before that, obesity was there, but not in this proportion. And slowly, almost every state has an obesity rate above 15% to 20%," said Dr. Singh.

One estimate by Harvard University predicts that if the current rate continues, half of all Americans will be obese by 2030.

The current rates are highest for people of color: 49.9% of Black adults and 45.6% of Hispanic adults are obese. More than 41.4% of white adults and 16.1% of Asian adults are obese.

When it comes to children, Hispanics have the highest obesity rate at 26.2%, followed by 24.8% of Blacks, 16.6% of whites and 9% of Asian children -- and that concerns pediatricians.

"The fact that we're seeing these trends, it's incumbent upon physicians, coaches, teachers and parents to call it out and say, 'Hey, let's get active,'" said Dr. Woods.

There are enormous consequences in terms of shortened lifespans and billions of dollars in medical costs when it comes to the obesity epidemic. And the extra weight people are carrying doesn't have to be significant for a person of average height to have an impact.

"Thirty pounds overweight will give you 30% higher chances of dying from all causes compared to someone 30 pounds less," Dr. Singh said.

According to Dr. Singh, being overweight or having obesity puts a person at greater risk of developing 13 different types of cancers - including breast, ovarian, colon and prostate, just to name a few. The chance a person will die of that cancer is also greater.

Research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that obesity-related medical care costs in the U.S. reached $173 billion a year in 2019 - that is about 9% of the U.S. domestic gross product.

"Diabetes alone takes out $1 of every $4 spent on health care," Dr. Singh said, adding he cannot emphasize enough the benefit of losing even moderate amounts of weight.

"Thirty pounds means no diabetes, no blood pressure, no cholesterol, no sleep apnea, no aching joints, no reflux," Dr. Singh said.

But the question remains, how did this epidemic happen in the first place?

"It's the million-dollar question. We have changed," Dr. Singh said.

Factors like big plates, big portions and big advertising have helped contribute to the obesity epidemic.

"We eat when we're sad, we eat when we're happy, and we eat when we have nothing to do. Our whole culture is circled around it. I mean, how many food channels on TV do we have?," Dr. Singh said.

While people are eating more processed foods more often, they are also much less active.

"Now, we don't even go to the grocery store, we just order it. What is next? Somebody's going to put food in our mouth? That would be awesome, right? You don't have to do anything, just chew," Dr. Singh said.

Some of the solutions that have shown success include monetary incentives for food stamp recipients to purchase fruits and vegetables, as well as taxing sugary beverages like soda and creating more green space for recreation.

Treatment for people with obesity - including groundbreaking medications that are nearly as effective as bariatric surgery - aren't often prescribed.

Bariatric surgery has been the gold standard for treatment, but most people with obesity aren't heavy enough to qualify for it.

"Surgery has been traditionally the best way of losing weight and keeping it off," Dr. Singh said, but now there are pharmaceutical treatments that are showing tremendous promise. "It's a very exciting time," he added.

Last year, the Food and Drug Administration approved Wegovy, or semaglutide, for weight loss. The FDA is also in the process of approving Mounjaro, or tirzepatide, for weight loss. Both drugs were initially used to treat diabetes, but they have also been found to suppress appetite.

"The weight loss with these medications is about 20% to 25% - pretty close to the surgery - and they are very safe. So, I think it's revolutionary," Dr. Singh said.

Significantly more patients qualify for this treatment than they do for surgery.

"Someone with a body mass index of 28 or above or somebody who has diabetes can qualify. That's more than 98% of people with obesity. So, it's not a small fraction," Dr. Singh explained.

Dr. Kuldeep Singh is a Board Certified general surgeon, Fellowship trained in Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery and Bariatric Surgery with extensive experience in Gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y) surgery, Laparoscopic gastric sleeve surgery, and Revision bariatric surgery.

Dr. Ashanti Woods routinely serves as a pediatric medical consultant for a variety of children's medical and lifestyle topics for local television stations, newspapers, national magazines, blogs and blog talk radio. He has received numerous awards for his outstanding medical care including "Top Doctor" in the General Pediatrics category - Baltimore magazine, The G. Bowers Mansdorfer Award for Primary Care (Mercy Medical Center) and the Primary Care Pediatrician Award (University of Maryland Ambulatory Center).

View Part 1 of Weight of the Nation

View Part 2 of Weight of the Nation

View Part 3 of Weight of the Nation

View Part 4 of Weight of the Nation

View Part 5 of Weight of the Nation