Benefits of Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery
You have probably seen the statistics about excess weight and diabetes in the United States. The results are shocking and represent one of the significant health concerns of modern times. Today over a third of American adults suffer from obesity, and it is estimated that upwards of 50% of adults will have type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes by 2050.
Excess weight is the most common cause of diabetes and many other diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, and even certain forms of cancer. The solution requires losing that weight safely and effectively. Unfortunately, patients who see success with many do-it-yourself or fad diet and exercise programs revert to their previous ways and sometimes gain even more. The causes for this failure are many, including the addictiveness of food, sugar, emotional and lifestyle problems, stress, and the natural wiring of our minds and bodies that, after a time, create a new “set point” that essentially tricks our bodies into believing that we should be this new weight.
The benefits of weight loss and bariatric surgery cannot be overstated. Just some of these many benefits include:
- Improvement or elimination of many obesity-related diseases, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD, and obstructive sleep apnea
- Improvement of cardiovascular issues and lowered risks of heart attack and stroke, leading killers of both men and women in the United States
- Lowered risk of certain cancers, including breast and prostate
- Improvement in appearance can lead to greater self-worth and a lower risk of depressive disorders. Social and work opportunities may also be enhanced
- Improvement in hormonal imbalances caused by obesity may, in many cases, assist with fertility issues that can affect obese women
- Lower costs (of food, medications, doctor, and hospital visits) and increased productivity for the individual patient, US employers, and the US economy as a whole
Weight loss surgery also comes with the general risks of any surgical procedure, with some additional risks specific to bariatric surgery and others unique to the patient’s system. These risks will be detailed both at your consultation and on different pages of this website that discuss approaches.
The primary responsibility of our practices is to ensure that the weight loss method you ultimately decide to embark upon is as safe and effective as possible for your situation. The procedure’s risks must be outweighed by the benefits that you may derive from having the procedure performed.