Since I began practicing bariatric surgery 15 years ago, I have met hundreds if not thousands of frustrated people who could not lose weight — or keep the weight off — following traditional diet and exercise programs. Their struggle may have been lifelong, started after high school or having children.
To finally rid themselves of an unpleasant term called ‘morbid obesity,’ many people in this situation will turn to bariatric weight loss surgery as a surgical treatment for the chronic disease of obesity.
To qualify, you need a BMI greater than 40, or a BMI of 35 if your health is compromised by a weight-related health issue, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or sleep apnea (check your BMI).
There are several pre-surgical tests a new patient will undergo to assure their physical and mental health is safe for weight loss surgery and the sustained lifestyle changes it demands.
The most popular operations are the gastric sleeve (VSG) and gastric bypass. If you’d like to learn more about a surgical weight loss solution, ask your primary care doctor to recommend a board-certified, highly experienced bariatric surgeon who can offer several surgical solutions.
If you have tried all the diets and exercise plans and are still dissatisfied with your weight, or living a compromised quality of life due to obesity-related medical problems, weight loss surgery may be the solution that allows you to quickly and safely lose the excess weight.
What are your thoughts on bariatric surgery? Post your questions or comments below.