OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — The bathroom scales continue to be an opponent some Americans can't defeat.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the national obesity rate is increasing, but there are new options for patients.

Many patients seeking answers for obesity choose between prescriptions for GLP-1s or extensive weight loss surgeries. The CDC also reported that the U.S. healthcare system dedicates about $173 billion annually toward fighting obesity, and consumers spend another $33 billion on products to aid their journeys.

Cass County's Bonnie Marshall said she tried everything from diet and exercise to supervised counting calories. None of those worked, and her weight soared past 300 pounds. It's been three years since she called for help.

“I had gone through 20 year

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