Host Bob Lee interviews Jeffrey Monash, MD, a surgeon with Carondelet Surgical Weight Loss Program. 

Monash says if a person is at least 75 pounds overweight and has tried other forms of weight loss unsuccessfully, they may be a potential candidate for surgery or weight loss management.  There are now an estimated 11 million people in the U.S. considered to be 'morbidly obese,' meaning they are 100 pounds or more over their healthy weight. 

Monash says the primary cause of obesity is consuming too many calories while not getting enough physical activity.  He says surgical candidate have their weight, body mass index and medical condition check to determine which program will be the most beneficial. To qualify for the surgery, he says patients must have a body mass index of 40 or more.  He says a BMI of 25 to 29 is considered overweight.  He also says because this surgery is necessitated by health risks to the patient, most insurance plans will cover the costs.