Modern medicine and technology are advancing seemingly on a daily basis, with new inventions and breakthroughs making headlines all the time. Hospitals often are the beneficiaries of such work, and Central Jersey's health-care centers are no exception.

As part of The Telegraph's continuing Tighten Your Belt initiative, here are some inspiring stories of five Middle Georgians who each lost more than 100 pounds.

The number of back surgeries in the United States is skyrocketing, driving up health care costs and perhaps even endangering lives and livelihoods when more appropriate treatments can be safer and more effective.