Is Weight Loss Surgery My Right Choice?
April 6, 2008 by Terry
Filed under Weight Loss Surgery
The decision to have or not to have weight loss surgery aka bariatric surgery is a very personal decision and one of the most serious and life changing decisions any of us will ever make. The decision to have weight loss surgery has taken me years to make and while it need not take that long I would encourage you not to make this decision in haste.
While bariatric surgey is a method of weight loss and weight control it is not the only method. Having bariatric surgery is not the same as cosmetic surgery to make you look more attractive. Bariatric surgery being lap band, gastric bypass or another method should never be your first choice.
Some people have very good success at controlling their weight long term through exercise and diet while others do not. This is our body and our life and therefore the choic of how we treat it are ours. While we may make decisions in consultation with family members, medical professionals and others we must be strong enough to make the final decision on our own.
The following information is from WIN a U.S government agency that in cooperation with health organization and medical professionals provides up to date information on weight loss.
How does surgery promote weight loss?
Bariatric surgery produces weight loss by restricting food intake and, in some cases, interfering with nutrition through malabsorption. Patients who undergo bariatric surgery must also commit to a lifetime of healthy eating and regular physical activity. These healthy habits help ensure that the weight loss from surgery is successfully maintained.
What are the surgical options?
There are four types of operations that are commonly offered in the United States: adjustable gastric band (AGB), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), gastric sleeve (GS), and biliopancreatic bypass with a duodenal switch (BPD). Each has its own benefits and risks. To select the option that is best for you, you and your physician will consider that operation’s benefits and risks along with many other factors, including BMI, eating behaviors, obesity-related health conditions, and previous operations.
Is weight loss surgery for you?
Bariatric surgery may be the next step for people who remain severely obese after trying nonsurgical approaches, especially if they have an obesity-related disease. Surgery to produce weight loss is a serious undertaking. Anyone thinking about undergoing this type of operation should understand what it involves. Answers to the following questions may help you decide whether weight-loss surgery is right for you.
Are you:
- Unlikely to lose weight or keep it off over the long-term with nonsurgical measures?
- Well informed about the surgical procedure and the effects of treatment?
- Determined to lose weight and improve your health?
- Aware of how your life may change after the operation (adjustment to the side effects of the operation, including the need to chew food well and inability to eat large meals)?
- Aware of the potential risk for serious complications, dietary restrictions, and occasional failures?
- Committed to lifelong healthy eating and physical activity habits, medical follow-up, and vitamin/mineral supplementation?
Remember: There are no guarantees for any method, including surgery, to produce and maintain weight loss. Success is possible only with maximum cooperation and commitment to behavioral change and medical follow-up-and this cooperation and commitment must be carried out for the rest of your life.
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