Obesity is one of the greatest health problems of our time, beginning to transcend barriers of race, class, and even country to becoming a growing health crisis. On top of the correlation between obesity and a variety of different health problems, it also creates a financial crisis in the healthcare industry that can lead to all kinds of other problems down the road.
One of the best ways to try and combat obesity is not letting it stick by eating well and maintaining an exercise routine. But the fact is that this is not the reality for everyone.
Bariatric surgery has become a potential way to help those with extreme obesity achieve normalcy — but it’s not for everyone.
Who Needs This Operation
Bariatric surgery causes weight loss indirectly, although it is a fairly dramatic procedure. This class of surgery reduces the amount of food the stomach can hold. There are some that are different choice to choose from:
Gastric Bypass:
This procedure is a typical practice of weight loss surgery, and is performed in two main procedures. First, a small stomach pouch is made by dividing it from the rest of the stomach. Then, the first part of the small intestine is divided.
The lower end of the small intestine that has been cleaved is removed and connected to the small gastric pouch that was finished earlier. Finally, the upper portion of the small intestine where it splits open attaches to the remainder of the intestine further down.
This is done so that stomach acid and digestive enzymes from the portion released will mix with the food. By changing the path food takes, gastric bypass surgery alters gut hormones, which trigger feelings of fullness.
Sleeve Gastrectomy:
This procedure actually removes most of the stomach in an instant, rather than simply changing the way of eating. This has a similar effect to gastric bypass, but is not reversible, and there is the potential for long-term vitamin deficiencies.
There are other options as well, including gastric bands and biliopancreatic diversion with a duodenal switch. These all differ in terms of impact, duration of recovery and other factors, but they all work towards the same goal, drastically changing how the body processes food with the goal of weight loss.
Only those who really need it should consider this option. In general, there is three main characteristics which people should have before even thinking about bariatric surgery.
- Have a BMI ≥ 40, or be more than 100 pounds overweight.
- Have a BMI ≥35 and at least one or more obesity-related co-morbidities. These include type II diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea and other respiratory disorders, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, osteoarthritis, lipid disorders, digestive disorders, or heart disease.
- Inability to achieve healthy weight loss sustained for a period of time with previous weight loss efforts. This generally needs to include serious exercise and dieting without results, not trying for a short time and giving up. A nutritionist is a great asset here to make sure you are taking the right path.
Weigh Your Options
Bariatric surgery is notable because it is not an instant fix for those who are obese, nor is it for every person who is obese. Not only do you want to find a skilled and experienced surgeon, you’ll also be working closely with your healthcare team to monitor your diet, exercise and general health after your surgery.
Some things you may need to consider that you might not think about at first are mental health problems. Studies have shown a higher suicide rate in people who have had weight loss surgery, which doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have it. What you want is a careful evaluation of your history and progress, especially if you have had mental health problems in the past.
It is also important to note that while this may help you lose weight, you will need to pay extra attention to your health in certain other areas after surgery. For example, a smaller stomach means a smaller diet, meaning you have to work extra hard to get all the nutrients you need in those smaller portions.
This is the reason why many people need to be added vitamins after bariatric surgery to help meet those needs.
Overall, bariatric surgery can be effective, but it is a dramatic solution to a dramatic health problem. This requires research and respect for the recovery process, to see proper results and avoid potential complications.
