When weight-loss surgery may be the answer
Opting for the procedure can be a lifesaving decision for the morbidly obese
Every new year brings New Year’s resolutions, and for a lot of people that may include making plans to lose weight. For some that might mean making a commitment to go to the gym more often or start a new diet plan.
For those who have not been able to achieve significant weight loss through diet and exercise programs alone, weight-loss surgery may be a consideration.
Weight-loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, is for adults who are morbidly obese with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or greater. The surgery is also for adults with a BMI of 35 or more with two diseases or conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or sleep apnea.
A reliable way to determine whether a person has too much body fat is to calculate the ratio of their weight to their height squared. This ratio is called the body mass index. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute offers an online BMI calculator or simple BMI tables.
Losing weight for many people boils down to eating less and exercising more; however there are other factors that also play a role in obesity including age, genetics, psychological factors, medication and gender.
Findings published in January 2012 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services claimed that more than 35 percent of adults over age 20 were obese, with no significant difference between men and women. However it was a different story in 1999 when the same study showed that 33.4 percent of women were obese and only 27.5 percent of men, which means the prevalence of obesity has increased in men in the past decade.
Men carry more weight around their stomach or belly. Abdominal fat, or visceral fat, is very metabolically active and secretes hormones which lead to inflammation, heart disease and diabetes.
In addition to heart disease and diabetes, excess weight diminishes almost every aspect of health, from reproductive and respiratory function to memory and mood; and for men it also interferes with sexual function. It does this through a variety of pathways, some as straightforward as the mechanical stress of carrying extra pounds and some involving complex changes in hormones and metabolism.
Obesity is a serious disease for both men and women. Obesity decreases the quality and length of life, and increases the risk of some cancers, lung and musculoskeletal disorders and other medical conditions.
The good news, though, is that obesity isn’t necessarily a permanent condition and weight loss can curtail some obesity-related risks; and bariatric or weight-loss surgery can be a lifesaving procedure for those with obesity.
Bariatric surgery is more than a surgical procedure – it’s a life-altering decision. If you or somebody you love is morbidly obese and has been unable to achieve significant weight loss through diet and exercise programs, bariatric surgery may be a smart option for them.
Dr. George Mueller is the medical director of Sharp HealthCare’s weight-loss surgery program.