One common misconception when it comes to the morbidly obese is that they did it to themselves and if they didn't want to be overweight they wouldn't be. While this is nice in theory it isn't always true in practice. There are certain medical conditions that can result in a person being unable to control the weigh they gain. There are also environmental issues that can affect the weight of a person as well. It's ironic that in many cases alcoholics and drug addicts are treated and viewed with greater compassion than someone who is obese.
The surgery itself is major surgery and not an option that should be taken lightly and without a great deal of thought. Most people find that weight loss surgery involves a major change in lifestyle before and after as well as an entirely new way of eating that is a lifelong commitment. Because of the life altering changes that result from this surgery it is recommended that those receiving the surgery have a BMI that is greater than 40. This means that it is recommended for men who are greater than 100 pounds overweight and women who overweight by 80 or more pounds.
You should carefully weigh the benefits and the risks of a surgery such as this before deciding that this is the course of action you need to take. The risks are great with this surgery and should not be overlooked in desperation to shed the weight you've wanted to shed for so long. Nutritional deficiencies occur in almost 20% of those who have received this sort of surgery as the result of insufficient nutrients. This can lead to osteoporosis and other conditions as you age. Complications can result from the surgery itself. You can have lifelong issues when consuming too much or the wrong sorts of foods, and there are some who achieve their goals only to find that the weight comes back in time. As with anything in life there are no guarantees when it comes to weight loss surgery.
In order to determine whether or not this surgery will be beneficial to you, you may want to ask yourself the following questions.
Is my weight significantly hampering day-to-day activities? Is my weight causing other secondary conditions that may be harmful to my health? Is my weight something I honestly feel I can take control of on my own? Can I commit to the lifelong consequences and follow up that will be required?
The problem with most people who find the need to resort to weight loss surgery is that they cannot take control of their bodies back. The odds of a good candidate for weight loss surgery losing the weight of his or her own design are very slim as he or she has most likely tried and failed every diet in the books.
Only you can determine whether or not weight loss surgery is a viable option for your weight loss needs. If you decide that this is something you are interested in learning more about, be sure to discuss the possible consequences thoroughly with your physician.
Weight loss surgery is no quick and easy fix. It's the procedure of last resort for people who are very overweight (morbidly obese), and is only done after other methods of weight reduction have proved ineffective.
The first step to finding out if you're a suitable candidate is to calculate your body mass index (BMI). You do this by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in metres. Then divide the resulting number by your height once more. Optimum weight ranges from around 18 to 25. Obese runs from 30-40 and morbidly obese from 40-50.
Generally, if your BMI is above 30 and you've been unable to loss weight via diet or exercise, you should consider weight loss surgery. This is especially so it there are serious health complications resulting from your excess weight.
After decided you're a suitable candidate for weight loss surgery, you should now understand the procedure. Weight loss surgery is of two main types - restrictive and restrictive/malabsorptive.
Restrictive weight loss surgery works by restricting the amount of food that enters your digestive system by reducing the size of the stomach. The main method for doing this is with 'banding' in which a band is applied around the top part of the stomach. Thus the 'pouch' formed by the constriction fills quickly and the stomach sends a message to the brain announcing that it's full. Lap band is the most popular procedure of this type.
Lap band surgery involves constricting you stomach by attaching an adjustable gastric binding in the form of a silicone ring. This is connected to an access port by a length of fine tube. The access port is located under the surface of your skin at the top of your abdomen and allows your doctor to adjust the size of the silicon ring until it's optimal for you.
The lap band procedure involves laparaoscopic (keyhole) surgery. The surgeon operates through small openings in the abdomen so it's relatively noninvasive. No radical surgery is carried out on the digestive organs and the actual process of digestion is not affected.
Restrictive/malabsorptive is involved. The most common procedure is the gastric bypass operation. A pouch is formed at the top part of the stomach. Meanwhile the small intestine is cut and a section attached to this new pouch. Following this procedure, the flow of food bypasses most of the stomach and the duodenum completely. This massively reduces the volume of nutrients absorbed.
Gastric bypass can be a highly effective operation with a reduction of 80 per cent of excess weight in the first year. However, it is major surgery with attendant risks and complications.
Obesity brings with it a litany of ills and dangers such as diabetes and high blood pressure, not to mention a low quality of life. So the benefits of normalising your weight are enormous. Not only are there tremendous health benefits but also you can choose the clothes you want, you can get behind the wheel of a car again, and the boost to your self-esteem is life-changing. Weight loss surgery can truly makeover your physical, social and emotional wellbeing.
If you've decided weight loss surgery could be for you, the next step is to consult with a surgeon. He will determine if you're a suitable candidate. This will depend on your motivation as well as your physical condition. Make sure you find a surgeon that specializes in bariatrics (obesity cure). This way you'll get the expert advice you need before undertaking this important procedure.
Both Li Ming Wong & Marcus Landauer are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Li Ming Wong has sinced written about articles on various topics from Search Engine Marketing, Abdominal and Blogging. Lose 9 lbs. in 11 days with our . Stop fearing premature death, get your. Li Ming Wong's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.
Marcus Landauer has sinced written about articles on various topics from Breast Enlargements, Cosmetic Surgery and Gastric Bypass. Marcus Landauer is an expert consultant with over 12 years experience in and. Marcus Landauer's top article generates over 18100 views. to your Favourites.