In the world of weight loss, there have always been many people who are eager to find a faster and easier fix. Diet and exercise are the first steps that are recommended by doctors, with weight loss pills usually being the next step. However, for many people, these steps may not be enough and they may turn to more serious means of support, such as a weight loss surgery. There are several different types of weight loss surgery, with the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass being the most common.
Many people will try a new diet plan, both those that are doctor recommended and those suggested by friends and family or even dangerous trendy, fad diets. They may start off strong and lose a few pounds, but will eventually falter and end up back to their old habits, which means gaining back the weight that they already lost and then some. In the first few weeks of most diet plans, the weight that is being lost is typically water weight because it takes some time to both stimulate a sluggish metabolism back to life and to start burning the deeper, fat layers of the body. The body must go through a number of processes to burn this layer, so it takes some time to kick the process into higher gear.
The more weight that you have to lose, the longer it may take to start seeing any real results, which may lead to disappointment. Unrealistic expectations may play a large role in the ending of many diets. People see so-called miracle diets in magazines that promise immediate 20 pound weight loss simply by eliminating carbs or by not eating fruits. They say things like, “Take this pill and you will lose fifty pounds without diet or exercise! Drink this concoction and you will be at your goal weight in the morning, losing weight while you sleep! And, of course, the “magic” berry that can make you into a supermodel in a matter of thirty days without effort!” We all know that they are not true, but the fact is that these trendy diets offer dieters false hope.
The truth is that weight loss is a very serious and very arduous journey that will be filled with temptations and missteps along the way. We need to understand the mental as well as the physical aspects of this journey, and we need to understand how very serious obesity can be. For many people, weight loss surgery, a very serious and dangerous surgery, can be an important last resort. It is crucial that anyone who is considering a weight loss surgery have a support system in place so that they can rely on them when stress or temptation gets too hard to handle. It is also important that, along with a new way of eating and thinking about food, they have an exercise plan in mind.
Prevalence of Obesity in the United States
In the United States alone, about 67% of all men and 62% of all women are overweight (having a BMI over 25), with well over 30% of both genders being classified as obese (having a BMI over 30) (Source: Carlson, 2008) Health hazards of obesity include arthritis, cardiovascular disease including both heart attack and stroke, diabetes, hypertension and some cancers. Life expectancy for the obese person is far lower than their normal weight counterparts – you are more likely to die from any of these diseases or others if you are overweight or obese than if you are not. Some cosmetic surgeries are not done on those who are classified as obese until they have lost some of their weight because the risk is considered to be too high. In fact, some of the gastric bypass surgeries are not done on those who are extremely obese because of the increased risk they present both during the actual surgery and during the recovery period.
Guidelines for Surgery
For the Roux-en Y gastric bypass surgery, the guidelines include:
– BMI of 40 or higher
– A secondary and life-threatening condition associated with the weight
– Obese for more than five years
– No ongoing alcohol problems
– Not being treated for depression or a major psychiatric disorder
– Between the ages of 18 and 65
Other surgery types can be considered, including the sleeve gastrectomy, which is used for those who have extreme BMIs and are not considered to be appropriate for the usual surgery types. After these patients have lost enough weight, they are typically brought in for a second surgery which will convert them to the conventional gastric bypass surgery types; however, that is not always the case, and some lose enough weight to no longer need the second surgery at all.
Weight Loss Surgery Success, a Case Study
Marissa, age 32, is getting ready for her weight loss surgery. Her BMI is 36, but she has a number of health problems directly related to her weight, including high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. After having a full physical and psychological examination, she is deemed a good candidate for the surgery and has been scheduled in six months. During that time, Marissa will be learning about good nutrition, including how she will be eating once the surgery has been completed. She is also working on finding a support partner to support her in her weight loss efforts and to exercise with.
After her surgery, Marissa is stuck with an all-liquid diet, ingesting about three ounces at a time. She leaves the hospital with her directions for after care and starts on the long road to better health. One of the changes that she is making is adding a protein supplement to her daily intake. She chooses Profect because it is the right size, gives her more protein than other supplements of comparable size and comes in a variety of flavors that she actually enjoys. For each serving of Profect, Marissa gets 25 grams of protein, 100 calories and 100% of the day’s vitamin C. She can also use the other sizes, which she does when she is home. While she does not need to do so, she could mix her Profect serving with another beverage. (Her support partner, Diane, does this).
As is typical after a weight loss surgery, Marissa’s weight is coming off fairly quickly and she loses a large portion of her weight in the first year and a half. She is no longer shopping in the specialty stores and is no longer facing an early grave because of her weight. She finds that she is no longer winded after walking up and down steps and she does not have all of the aches and pains that she has been plagued with all of her adult life. Renewed energy has allowed Marissa to take part in a number of events, including a 5K walk for charity where she met another supporter, Doug. They will be married in the fall.
Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein supplements for cancer patients. You can learn more at Protica Research – Copyright