subject: Weight Loss Surgery To Treat Obesity [print this page] Obesity is on the rise, especially in children below the age of 10 to 12. Obesity in adults too is fast expanding. It happens mostly due to the intake of food in excess quantities or foods rich in fast and carbohydrates. Obesity causes excess weight around the stomach and the thighs and buttocks which make the person look ill-shaped and suffer many health hazards.
Though the best way to maintain a healthy body and avoid excess weight is exercise and good eating habits, people sometimes feel that this is not enough, they are still prone to putting on excess weight. Such individuals opt for the bariatric or weight loss surgery.
Surgery to lose weight
By this surgery the small intestines and the large intestines of a person undergoes physical changes by which the person can eat only a small quantity but nutritious food each time. The surgery reduces the craving for fatty foods. This surgery is meant for those who are extremely obese. Those who are diabetic, suffering from high blood pressure and cholesterol are advised not to do the surgery.
Undergoing a weight loss surgery is not very simple. The patient has to adapt to the lifestyle after the surgery, especially the eating habits and the exercise that should be undertaken to maintain the body's stability. The surgery is covered under insurance and hence the hesitation of expense can be ruled out.
Two types of surgeries
Weight loss surgeries are of two types, restrictive procedures and restrictive mal-absorptive procedures. The restrictive procedure surgery reduces the size of the stomach and the patient feels satisfied with less consumption of food. By this surgery the patient can eat the food of their choice but the quantity would automatically get limited thus enabling a slim and healthy body.
The other surgery is performed by using an adjustable band around the top of the stomach and this part is filled with saline. In this way the space in the stomach gets smaller and does not allow excess food to accumulate. There is a narrow passage in the stomach that allows a slow digestive process. In this way the person feels full with small quantities of food.
Advantages and disadvantages of the surgery
The advantage of using the band is that it can be removed when it is not required, unlike other surgeries that are performed are permanent. The disadvantage is that the band could slip out of place or the stomach can expand and reduce or increase the space. A reverse surgery should be done to rectify this. Sometimes the band being a foreign body in the system may cause infection resulting in vomiting that could lead to malnutrition in the long run. These symptoms should be checked immediately.
The other risk factors in bariatric surgery include regular checkups are mandatory, nutritional supplements should be maintained meticulously. All insurance companies do not cover all expense related to the surgery and treatment.
Tests that should be taken before the surgery
A complete medical checkup with blood tests and diagnostic tests, X-rays, weight before the surgery and definitely a psychological test is mandatory. One should be able to cope with the weight loss and at the same time maintain a perfect and healthy body. These tests equip the patient to handle health and weight loss issues after the surgery with ease.
Since the weight loss surgeries are quite expensive it is always advisable to try simple exercises first and make up a strong mind to reduce on the consumption of weight causing food. In this way money, time and the body can be perfectly maintained without much hassles.
Questions to ask the weight loss surgeon
Though there are many questions that patients would want to ask their surgeon the main questions in this case are the experience of the surgeon in the kind of surgery that he/she is going to perform. What are the proven results of earlier patients under the surgeon's list and most of all it is necessary to ask if the surgeon is a board certified person. It's the individual's health that the surgeon is attempting to set right, hence these questions and clarifications are mandatory before the surgery.
by: Scott White
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