For many people in the United States, trying to lose weight can feel like a losing battle. Every year, about 45 million Americans go on a diet and spend about $33 billion on weight-loss products. Some people do lose weight and keep it off, but others have little success or lose excess weight only to gain it back. When diets don’t work, weight loss medication or bariatric surgery may be options. In this video, San Diego Health host Susan Taylor talks about medication and surgery for weight loss with Jennie Luna, MD, an endocrinologist and Mark Takata, MD, a bariatric surgeon. Learn more: https://www.scripps.org/7635yt

0:45 - How overweight do you have to be to be considered obese?
1:12 - Why are so many Americans obese?
1:49 - Does obesity put you at risk for?
2:05 - Why doesn't diet and exercise work for everyone?
2:31 - Is there medication to help with diabetes or weight loss?
2:58 - Does the medication speed up your metabolism?
3:18 - How fast can you lose weight on the medications?
3:45 - Are there side effects to the medication?
4:02 - Do you take the medication for life?
4:20 - Do you gain the weight back when you stop taking the medication?
4:50 - Is there anyone that should not take weight loss medication?
5:02 - What is bariatric surgery?
5:31 - What is the recovery time from bariatric surgery?
5:51 - What is the success rate of this surgery?
6:16 - Is there anyone that can not get bariatric surgery?
6:43 - How to decided between weight loss medication or surgery?
7:35 - What happens if you don't get a handle on your weight?