Why Weight Loss Surgery?

Obesity is a challenging problem to overcome as anyone that has tried to lose weight knows. There are many health risks associated with obesity yet there are not many effective treatments for obesity.The benefits of bariatric surgery, including its success rate, are typically greater than those of other weight loss methods. 

Most individuals who are obese have tried several approaches for weight loss including fad diets, commercial diets, exercise programs, behavioral modification, diet pills and injections, and medically supervised weight management programs. Very few patients tend to be successful with these measures losing on average 20-30 pounds and often regaining the all the weight, and sometimes more, once they stop their program.

For the person trying to lose 100lbs or more there is no easy solution. Weight loss surgery combined with lifestyle modification has been proven to be very effective not only to achieve weight loss but also to maintain the weight loss over the long term.

More importantly, weight loss surgery has been shown to reverse many of the health conditions, such as diabetes and sleep apnea, associated with obesity and results in better health and improved quality of life.

In considering weight loss surgery, it is important to consider the status of one’s current health and the possibility of developing new health problems or even complications of condition such as diabetes, sleep apnea and heart disease. One should also consider the ongoing need for medications, the cost of these medications over a lifetime, and the lifestyle restrictions. One should then consider the benefits of bariatrics surgery and the impact on quality of life.

Benefits of Bariatrics Surgery

Bariatrics surgery provides a tool that allows patients to achieve healthier weight and improvement in their medical conditions. Patients generally achieve the most significant weight loss in the first 1-2 years after surgery. Patients have the potential to lose all of their excess weight depending on the associated lifestyle changes.

Many health conditions resolve or improve significantly after weight loss surgery. Some of these include:

• Diabetes mellitus, type 2
• Hypertension
• High cholesterol
• Sleep apnea
• GERD (reflux disease, heartburn)
• Arthritis

Other benefits include:

• Less hospitalization for medical illnesses
• Less need for medications
• Better mobility
• Better mood
• Better quality of life