Bariatric surgery, such as Lap-Band and other brands, would not be immediately available. Instead, JPS plans to phase the surgery in after selected patients enrolled in the network’s low-cost health plan, Connection, go through counseling on diet and nutrition. But by offering the operation, JPS hopes to reduce the cost of treating diabetes, heart and liver issues associated with obesity.

Charles Ridley is one third the man he used to be. He's lost 500 pounds and, as a result, has gained his life back, he says.

For as long as he can remember, he was always overweight. Diet after diet, his weight was like a yo-yo. When he was a kid he was picked on so badly he left the public school system at age 13. He never finished high school.

People's clothing may be a little snug these days and they may not be happy with their appearance, but those are minor issues, says University of Calgary researcher Raylene Reimer. The obesity epidemic is bigger than anyone realizes, she says, and its full effect remains to be seen.

One sister bikes, one walks on trails and one works out on a treadmill. All of them are now living healthier lives after undergoing bariatric weight-loss surgery at Silver Cross Hospital in July.

Together, the three sisters have already lost more than 300 pounds.

As the national obesity rate soars, and Jan. 1 has come and gone, gyms are full of people trying to lose weight, and diet centers have registered countless new clients.

How many people will actually lose weight and be successful? Sadly, not many. Which means when Jan. 1, 2010 rolls around you can bet the top New Year’s resolution on most peoples’ lists will be to lose weight. Again.

It’s not a lost cause. People do lose weight. People do get healthy.

As the end of the year approaches, some people start to think about possible New Year's resolutions. Among some of them is wanting to lose weight.

Some people claim they simply cannot do this on their own. They tried everything and nothing works for them, and they are looking to weight loss surgery as being the solution.