Traditionally, the recommended ways to combat abnormally high weight or obesity include practices such as dieting, exercising and taking supplements or pills. However, these methods are not always completely effective for everyone, especially for those who are excessively obese. There are various weight loss surgery options available today.
The rationale for considering weight loss surgery options is often simple and clear-cut. If you are severely obese (at least 100 pounds overweight) or if your body mass index (an measure of obesity based on a person’s weight and height) is more than 40, weight loss surgery can help you achieve good results. You should remember, however, that weight loss surgery is not a “cosmetic” procedure to turn you into some smart super model overnight. Instead, its main objective is to make you healthy and reduce the risk of complications that may arise with obesity.
Common Types Of Weight Loss Surgery
Today, different weight loss surgery (also known as bariatric surgery) types are recommended for different people. Your doctor might choose from among the following three common types:
Gastric Bypass: In this method, the size of the stomach is reduced and a section of the small intestine is bypassed which not only limits the amount of food you eat at a time, but also redirects the food to bypass most of the stomach and the first part of the small intestine. This is the most frequently performed weight loss surgery in US, yielding faster and more profound results.
Gastric Restriction (Gastric Banding): The aim, here, is to decrease the amount of food you can eat by closing off a portion of your stomach. This type is considered as relatively safer, simpler and less invasive.
Malabsorptive Surgery: As most of food absorption takes place in the small intestine, the aim of this surgery is to shorten the length of the small intestine. This limits the quantity of food digested or absorbed, causing malabsorption. If you have diabetes or other related underlying disease, your doctor may recommend this type as it also restricts the absorption of nutrients and calories, keeping your glucose within the normal limits.
Through the above-mentioned procedures, you can signficantly lose weight since less food either goes into your stomach or stays in your small intestine long enough to be digested and absorbed.
Benefits Of Weight Loss Surgery
1-Long-term Results: Studies show that you can lose as much as 67% of your excess body weight after the surgery and keep it off for up to 10 years or even more.
2-Reduced Risk Of Complications: According to some credible clinical studies, the resulting weight loss leads to significant improvements in diabetes and also markedly reduces the risk of stroke, disability, sleep apnea and coronary heart disease.
3-Improved Quality Of Life: Surveys indicate that the people who undergo weight loss surgery feel like they have gotten their lives back. They comment that they feel more efficient at work, more out-going and more energetic in life.
In short, weight loss surgery, if considered and recommended, can drastically help you lose your weight quickly and effectively, also bringing numerous other health benefits. It is vital to remember that, as no surgery is risk-free, the decision should be made mutually between you and your doctor where indications and benefits overweigh the risks. Also, a certain diet and exercise program should be followed after the surgery so that the best results will be achieved and maintain .
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