In our society, those who are extremely overweight face many problems that most of us are not even aware of. The health problems that come with obesity lead to frequent doctor visits for a variety of ailments. Diabetes and osteoarthritis are just two of the many problems that become much more pronounced for the obese. The financial problems of keeping up with these disorders can take a serious toll on your financial health as well. In extreme cases, it is sometimes necessary to consider weight loss surgery as a solution to the problem.
To determine your suitability for weight loss surgery there are a number of factors to consider. If you have tried and failed at numerous diets and you are over the age of 18 the next step is to measure your body mass index or BMI. There are many free BMI calculators on the web. You will put in your height and weight to apply a formula that automatically calculates your BMI. If your BMI is over 40 you might be a good candidate for surgery.
The field of Bariatrics is a branch of medicine that focuses on obesity and its attendant related medical problems. Weight loss surgery or Bariatric surgery encompasses a wide range of surgical procedures that deal with obesity. All of these techniques include making physical changes to the digestive system to greatly limit the amount of food that can be eaten and absorbed by the body. In general, these techniques frequently involve reducing the length of the small intestine and banding the stomach to reduce intake and make the patient feel satisfied faster.
Keep in mind that your weight loss surgeon will ultimately decide if weight loss surgery is right for you and individual factors will play a big part of the decision. Your general health, specific ailments you may have as well as your commitment to keeping the weight off after surgery will also play a role in determining if surgery is recommended. Keep in mind that some of these surgical procedures are irreversible so careful screening of the patient is important.
Weight loss surgery is intended for those who are severely overweight and who really cannot afford to lose weight slowly because of the damage the extra weight is doing to their bodies. The surgery can result in an immediate improvement in many obesity related conditions and in outright remission of others. The rapid and sustainable weight loss that follows surgery can result in relief from the symptoms of diabetes and hypertension as well as improved cardiac and lung functioning.
The first step is the most important step: that is to take some time to find out all about the various types of weight loss surgeries to get a feel for what’s involved. That way when you find a qualified surgeon you will make maximum use of your time in asking him the questions you need to be prepared for a successful surgery and a healthy recovery.
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