Are you considering weight loss surgery? How do you know if a bariatric procedure is right for you? Weight loss surgery is a serious operation with benefits and risks. Patients must meet a set of criteria to qualify for weight loss surgery. The surgeons at WeightWise will consider your health history and health goals when discussing surgical options with you.
How Weight Loss Surgery Works
Surgeons consider patients’ health history and goals when evaluating the potential benefits and risks of weight loss surgery.
WeightWise performs several types of weight loss surgery including gastric bypass, gastric sleeve and gastric band. Each procedure alters a patient’s stomach, making it smaller. After weight loss surgery, smaller amounts of food are consumed. However, your long term weight loss success is mostly dependent on your behaviors. The permanent lifestyle changes you make to your diet and physical activity are vital to reaching individual goals. WeightWise has a team of dietitians, exercise physiologists, and psychologist to ensure you understand those changes necessary to reach your weight loss goals.
What Are the Medical Guidelines
Prospective patients are evaluated to determine if they are good candidates for the procedure. Doctors look for the following:
- A patient who is morbidly obese. A body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher is considered morbidly obese.
- A BMI of 35 to 39, which is obese, coupled with serious obesity-related health problems. Type 2 diabetes, severe sleep apnea and high blood pressure are diseases associated with being obese.
- Repeated unsuccessful efforts to lose weight by dieting and exercising.
Looking Beyond BMI
Doctors consider more than a patient’s BMI and health problems. A group of doctors, counselors and dietitians may evaluate a prospective patient. They seek to determine if the potential benefits of surgery outweigh the possible risks. Here are some of the factors healthcare professionals consider:
- Medical history: Some health conditions complicate surgery. For instance certain types of liver disease, heart problems, kidney stones or nutritional deficiencies may preclude surgery. A physical exam and lab work will test for conditions that could rule out surgery.
- Weight history: A patient’s previous weight loss attempts will be considered. Patients must be willing and able to change their diet and lifestyle.
- Psychological history: Some types of mental health disorders or conditions can make weight loss surgery more difficult. Patients with an eating disorder, substance abuse problem or depression may need to be treated before being considered for surgery.
- Motivation: Success after surgery requires motivation. Weight loss after surgery is gradual and requires that patients adhere to a strict diet and regular exercise program.
- Age: Doctors will consider the age of prospective patients. Risks from surgery increase as people get older. People younger than 18 are not generally considered for weight loss surgery because they have not yet developed the maturity to undergo the procedure.
If you believe weight loss surgery can help you, learn more by attending one of our free seminars.
