Diet or Weight Loss Surgery?

When you are overweight, every day can feel like a challenge. It is something that always hangs over you - something that you know you need to address but it never feels like the right time or you feel beaten down because nothing that you have tried in the past has worked. With the new year coming our way, many people will once again be making their resolutions to lose weight and get healthy. And you once again will be trying to figure out your next move. Do you start a new diet? One of the many trends that is enjoying popularity at the moment? Will this diet be the one that finally allows you to break through your physical and mental obstacles and lose the weight that you are desperate to lose? Or will it wind up being just another thing that you tried and were unable to finish?

Then there is weight loss surgery - a topic that may have been brought up to you by your doctor or something that you have been considering independently with the intention of checking into with your physician. Would weight loss surgery be the tool that finally puts you in control of your body weight? Or is it too extreme of an option to choose at this point?

If you’re really considering whether or not you’re a candidate for weight loss surgery and whether it makes more or less sense than starting a new diet, then consider the following:

      Your BMI. While your doctor will ultimately determine if your weight and overall health supports your candidacy for surgery, weight loss surgery can be an option for those with a BMI of 35 or higher.

      The length of time you have been overweight. The longer that you carry extra weight, the more at risk you become of developing obesity-related conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, and even cancer. Weight loss surgery may be an appropriate choice to immediately begin to manage or prevent conditions that can ultimately be life-threatening.

      How many diets you’ve tried. If you’ve never really given dieting a committed effort, then it may be worth really making a commitment to stick to a program to shed the weight. If you have tried multiple diets over the years without success, then it may be time to consider surgery.

Weight losssurgery is certainly not for everyone. Only you and your doctor can determine if a weight loss procedure is right for you. But if diet and exercise alone has not allowed you to see the desired results, it may be worth a conversation about what weight loss surgery can offer you.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Exploring Lifestyle Changes to Support Weight Loss

Image
Weight loss surgery is an effective way to help people achieve their weight loss goals. While the surgery itself can be a powerful tool in helping people to lose weight, it is important to remember that it is only one part of a successful weight loss plan. To maximize the benefits of weight loss surgery, lifestyle changes are essential for long-term success. After having weight loss surgery, making lifestyle changes can help ensure that you reach and maintain your desired results.   The first step in making lifestyle changes after having weight loss surgery is to follow the post-operative instructions provided by your surgeon. Your doctor may provide specific instructions for your recovery period, such as phased dietary restrictions and activity level guidelines. Depending on the type of procedure you had, there may also be additional guidelines that you need to follow. It is important to follow these instructions closely to ensure a healthy recovery and successful long-term resu...
Read more

Gastric Bypass or Gastric Sleeve - Which One is Better?

Image
Bariatric surgery offers options for many people who may have otherwise continued to struggle with obesity. Each option offers something specific depending on your lifestyle, your health, and your weight loss goals. Two choices are “gastric bypass” and “gastric sleeve”. These procedures are similar but have their own set of benefits and risks. Regardless of which operation you choose to go with, following your pre-op and post diet is important for safe and successful results.  Both procedures are effective in helping to prevent these obesity-related conditions: High blood pressure   Diabetes   Sleep apnea   High cholesterol When selecting the operation that’s right for you, it can be helpful to go over the similarities and variations between the two types of bariatric surgeries.  How Gastric Bypass and Gastric Sleeve Surgery Compare Patients who undergo gastric bypass will typically stay one night in the hospital . Sleeve gastrectomy is usually an outp...
Read more

COVID-19 Risks Motivating More People to Have Weight Loss Surgery

Image
Since the pandemic started almost two years ago, multiple studies have shown that two main risk factors for poor Covid-19 outcomes are advanced age and obesity. While age is not a changeable risk factor, obesity is. Studies have established obesity as a major risk factor for developing serious illness from an infection of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Obesity weakens the immune system, creates a chronic inflammatory state, and increases risk for cardiovascular disease, blood clots, and lung conditions. All of these conditions can complicate COVID-19. Our team at the Nicholson Clinic is available to help you enhance your survival rate and minimize COVID-19 risks, as well as other weight related illnesses, through weight loss surgery. How does bariatric surgery help weight loss? Bariatric surgery procedures promote weight loss in one of three ways: Restriction, or limiting the amount of food you can eat before feeling full by reducing the size of the stomach.   M...
Read more