Weight Loss

What they don't tell you about Weight Loss Surgery

Achieving a healthy lifestyle and a good figure is important to all of us. Many people struggle to maintain both and often as we get older, our life becomes busier and more stressful our weight builds and we struggle to shed excess pounds. But beyond the usual miracle diets, what other options are available?

weight loss surgery (also known as obesity, bariatric surgery or lap band surgery) is obviously rather controversial. If someone is double their ideal weight they are classified as obese, though being obese is not only a health risk but also a social and psychological issue which is becoming increasingly prevalent in many western and developing countries. However, it must be said that there is a difference between being merely over-weight and being obese.

Increasingly more people are turning to weight loss surgery as a way to improve their physical fitness, prevent future health problems and extend their life span. New procedures and advances in medical technology have also contributed greatly in preventing complications and reducing the discomfort associated with such medical procedures.

Surgery can help people to lose weight after other methods have failed. It is not a treatment for people who are slightly over weight or mildly obese. If you believe that weight loss surgery could benefit you, and you have exhausted all other options then you should consider taking the next step and arrange an in-depth discussion with a qualified consultant or weight loss specialist.

ABOUT WEIGHT LOSS & OBESITY

The human body requires the consumption of food which it then converts into energy. This source of energy (expressed in calories) is then used as fuel for physical activity such as walking and swimming, as well as all the natural physical and chemical processes which make up everyday life such as breathing and blood circulation.

The digestive system breaks down the food into small particles which contain the energy and these are in turn absorbed into the bloodstream. The energy containing particles are then carried round the body and used to feed the muscles, tissues and other organs.

Successfully regulating food intake so that it matches your bodily requirements can be a complex process which involves the brain, nervous system and hormones. Other factors including the intake of high calorie foods and low levels of physical activity also have a big impact on weight gain.

Put simply, weight gain and weight loss are directly related to the balance between energy used as fuel and calories consumed to provide fuel. When more calories are eaten than are required for fuel energy, then the surplus calories are converted into fat and stored, causing body weight to rise. For obese people the normal response to having a meal – a reduction in appetite – goes wrong, and they continue to eat.

Conversely, if the body gets less food than it needs, then it is forced to use its store of fat for energy and body weight is reduced. Thus, the human body has evolved to be able to cope with variations in the supply of food. Although, for most people in developed countries there are rarely any shortages and it is relatively easy to gain weight without eating abnormally.

For example, having an excess of calories (energy) equivalent to one can of soft drink (about 140 calories) everyday of the year would equate to 7kg in weight gain. Weight loss surgery changes the digestive system so that fewer calories reach the bloodstream. This shortage of deficit in calories forces the body to use stores of fat that have built up over the years and thus causes weight reduction.

Research has shown that for extreme cases of obesity (also known as morbid obesity), bariatric surgery works better than other methods of weight loss such as medication, diet plans and lifestyle changes.

Despite the hostility towards weight loss surgery from certain quarters, including some doctors, it is recognized as an appropriate treatment for people who are morbidly obese by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

You may find it useful to contact a support group to learn about other peoples experiences with weight loss surgery. Ask your hospital to put you in contact with one of these groups in your local area or please visit this resource for weight loss surgery.