San Diego Health

A startling stat: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 42 percent of adults and nearly 20 percent of children are obese—that’s around 115 million people. Weight loss medication and/or bariatric surgery may be options for some of those whose health is at risk due to their weight and lifestyle. In this episode of San Diego Health, host Susan Taylor and guests Scripps Clinic endocrinologist Jennie Luna, MD, and Scripps Clinic bariatric surgeon Mark Takata, MD, discuss the genetic and societal causes of obesity, why diet and exercise just aren’t enough for some people, and how weight loss medication and bariatric surgery work to help people lose weight when other methods are ineffective. Dr. Luna and Dr. Takata also outline the health risks that come with obesity.