Are You Eligible For Bariatric Surgery?
If you are someone who is severely overweight and cannot seem to find a solution through diet and exercise, you may have toyed with the idea of getting bariatric surgery. It's important to know that not everyone who wants it is automatically eligible. Here's what you should know about gastric bypass surgery and other procedures, and whether they are right for you.
First of all, anyone who is struggling with their weight should always try to lose extra pounds through the tried and true combination of diet and exercise. There is no magic pill or elixir or bariatric surgery that can compensate for good old common sense.
The vast majority of overweight and even obese people can lose weight by restricting their calorie intake, getting regular cardiovascular exercise, and making meaningful and lasting lifestyle changes. However, for those who have tried for years to lose significant amounts of weight and failed, bariatric surgery of some kind may be just the answer they've been looking for.
Good doctors who are experienced in bariatric procedures know that people should not make a surgical decision lightly; the doctor will therefore require that prospective patients undergo a series of tests and counseling sessions before any course of action is agreed upon. There are stringent physical thresholds of obesity that must be met before surgery is considered as an option:
-- A person must have a BMI (Body Mass Index) of at least 40. Since the usual indicator of obesity is a BMI of 30, the patient should be considered morbidly obese.
-- However, if a person has additional problems linked to his weight such as heart disease, sleep apnea, diabetes or high cholesterol, the acceptable BMI is 35-40.
A patient should have a long history of failure with conventional weight loss methods. A bariatric procedure really should be considered a last resort: after all it is surgery, and that brings with it some inherent risks. However, with modern techniques the death rate for those who choose bariatric options is less than 1 %.
There are risks of later complications, just as there are with any surgeries, but if a person is diligent in following all post-op directions and attends all of his or her follow ups with the doctor, there is a minimal chance of problems.
People should take the time to really consult with the doctor about what type of procedure may be best for his or her own situation: that should be on the agenda during counseling sessions. Although a doctor may specialize in a certain type of surgery, patients should be aware that not all types are right for everyone.
First of all, anyone who is struggling with their weight should always try to lose extra pounds through the tried and true combination of diet and exercise. There is no magic pill or elixir or bariatric surgery that can compensate for good old common sense.
The vast majority of overweight and even obese people can lose weight by restricting their calorie intake, getting regular cardiovascular exercise, and making meaningful and lasting lifestyle changes. However, for those who have tried for years to lose significant amounts of weight and failed, bariatric surgery of some kind may be just the answer they've been looking for.
Good doctors who are experienced in bariatric procedures know that people should not make a surgical decision lightly; the doctor will therefore require that prospective patients undergo a series of tests and counseling sessions before any course of action is agreed upon. There are stringent physical thresholds of obesity that must be met before surgery is considered as an option:
-- A person must have a BMI (Body Mass Index) of at least 40. Since the usual indicator of obesity is a BMI of 30, the patient should be considered morbidly obese.
-- However, if a person has additional problems linked to his weight such as heart disease, sleep apnea, diabetes or high cholesterol, the acceptable BMI is 35-40.
A patient should have a long history of failure with conventional weight loss methods. A bariatric procedure really should be considered a last resort: after all it is surgery, and that brings with it some inherent risks. However, with modern techniques the death rate for those who choose bariatric options is less than 1 %.
There are risks of later complications, just as there are with any surgeries, but if a person is diligent in following all post-op directions and attends all of his or her follow ups with the doctor, there is a minimal chance of problems.
People should take the time to really consult with the doctor about what type of procedure may be best for his or her own situation: that should be on the agenda during counseling sessions. Although a doctor may specialize in a certain type of surgery, patients should be aware that not all types are right for everyone.