Dan Bessison

And those at the highest weight might benefit from surgery. For most Americans, lifestyle is what was suggested. And I think at that point, we were still early in understanding the biologic basis of weight regulation. And we all eat, we all move, and it seems like we choose those things. And so the obvious first step was to say, maybe people just don't know what to eat.

And if they just thought about it some more and ate less and moved more, that this problem might go away. So that was the first thought. And the surgeon general, had a call to action.

And if they just thought about it some more and ate less and moved more, that this problem might go away. So that was the first thought. And the surgeon general, had a call to action.

And if they just thought about it some more and ate less and moved more, that this problem might go away. So that was the first thought. And the surgeon general, had a call to action.

Based on these numbers rising of obesity, saying, you know, people ought to move more and eat a healthier diet.

Based on these numbers rising of obesity, saying, you know, people ought to move more and eat a healthier diet.

Based on these numbers rising of obesity, saying, you know, people ought to move more and eat a healthier diet.

I think there's a couple ways to look at that. One is, around this same time, there was a study published, the Diabetes Prevention Program. And what they found was that a modest weight loss, a 5% weight loss, could... reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by half. It was a really dramatic study.

I think there's a couple ways to look at that. One is, around this same time, there was a study published, the Diabetes Prevention Program. And what they found was that a modest weight loss, a 5% weight loss, could... reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by half. It was a really dramatic study.

I think there's a couple ways to look at that. One is, around this same time, there was a study published, the Diabetes Prevention Program. And what they found was that a modest weight loss, a 5% weight loss, could... reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by half. It was a really dramatic study.

And so it was really based on that that people said, gosh, this is achievable and it has clear health benefits of 5% weight loss.

And so it was really based on that that people said, gosh, this is achievable and it has clear health benefits of 5% weight loss.

And so it was really based on that that people said, gosh, this is achievable and it has clear health benefits of 5% weight loss.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

It seems like a small change in weight, and yet it had dramatic benefits. I got to tell you, I mean, I see people in clinic, and so I've spent, whatever, 20 years trying to sell the benefits of a 5% weight loss. Most people don't buy it. Most people want more weight loss than that. It's not a weight loss that most people get. see in the mirror or that their friends are going to notice.

It seems like a small change in weight, and yet it had dramatic benefits. I got to tell you, I mean, I see people in clinic, and so I've spent, whatever, 20 years trying to sell the benefits of a 5% weight loss. Most people don't buy it. Most people want more weight loss than that. It's not a weight loss that most people get. see in the mirror or that their friends are going to notice.

It seems like a small change in weight, and yet it had dramatic benefits. I got to tell you, I mean, I see people in clinic, and so I've spent, whatever, 20 years trying to sell the benefits of a 5% weight loss. Most people don't buy it. Most people want more weight loss than that. It's not a weight loss that most people get. see in the mirror or that their friends are going to notice.

But it has clear health benefits and has become a benchmark of what a clinically significant weight loss is. A little bit of weight loss helps.