Losing weight has many benefits beyond a trimmer waistline. You aren’t just going to lose weight, but improve your health many other ways. Let’s take a look at some of the most important benefits:
1. Fights Diabetes Risk
Evidence has been presented for quite some time now that weight loss surgery patients can lower their risk of developing diabetes. Even more powerful is the research that shows people who already have type 2 diabetes will often see a reversal in their condition, becoming symptom-free. This means many weight loss patients with diabetes can either reduce or eliminate the medications they take altogether.2. Improves Heart Health
Recent research has found a potential link between weight loss surgery and improved conditions for people who have heart health problems. A study presented at this year’s annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery stated that bariatric surgery not only reduces the risk for heart attack in the short-term, but over the long haul as well.
“The obese patient has substantially more cardiac risk factors, and that risk is improved after bariatric surgery across the board, regardless of individual cardiac risk factors,” says researcher John Morton, MD, MPH, director of bariatric surgery at Stanford Hospitals & Clinics at Stanford University.
3. Lowers Cholesterol
While high cholesterol can be a problem for people of all weight levels, it can be a particularly dangerous problem for those of us who struggle with our weight.
A study presented at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery stated that within six months of gastric bypass surgery, almost all the patients with high cholesterol had normal blood cholesterol levels and 91 percent of patients who were on lipid-lowering medications before the surgery were able to cease using them. When they checked back six years after the surgery, the patients were all still off medication.
4. Lower Blood Pressure
High blood pressure can be a silent killer. Often, a person won’t know they have it until having a heart attack. If you have high blood pressure, it may be resolved if you undergo a bariatric procedure. A clinical review of bariatric surgery data found that a significant amount of patients who undergo a bariatric surgery procedure experienced complete resolution of their high blood pressure.
5. Live Longer, Happier Life
We save the best for last. Everyone wants to live happily for many years to come. That is very achievable for people who undergo weight loss surgery. According to WebMD, about 95 percent of people who have weight loss surgery performed report an improved quality of life after their procedure. If you are at a healthier weight, it’s only logical that you will likely run a lower risk for obesity-related conditions. If you are lowering your risk for disease, there’s a good chance you will live a longer, healthier and therefore happier life.