Weight
Loss Surgery is a Good Way to Lose
Weight
April 04, 2005
For the extremely obese people, the most effective
way to lose weight is by undergoing weight loss surgery.
Though, you should keep in mind that the risks of obesity
surgery are real and serious and this option is
not for all weight loss enthusiasts.
Studies show that Weight loss surgery can help you
lose nearly 44 to 67 pounds as well as help you to keep
it off for up to 10 years, the studies show. Moreover,
this weight loss leads to improvements in diabetes and
reduced risk of stroke and heart disease. This option
should be considered only by severely obese patients
who have a BMI of 40 or greater. But having surgery
is not without its risks. There is a significant morbidity,
and a mortality that goes along with the surgery. Even
though it is low, if there is a 1% death rate attached
to it; it is real.
Moreover, weight loss surgery doesn't work by itself.
After the surgery, patients have to go on -- and, for
the rest of their lives, stay on --- a strict diet and
exercise program. The first thing that all overweight
and obese patients should try is diet and exercise.
But weight loss surgery is not for everybody. It is
for the patient who is willing to make the necessary
lifestyle change to make the surgery successful.
Weight Loss Drugs are also a popular option of those
who want to lose weight fast. But these drugs have a
much more modest effect than surgery -- a weight loss
of about 10 pounds after one year of treatment. And
the long-term health effects of these drugs is unknown,
the studies show. Moreover, these drugs have a lot of
side effects that patients have trouble dealing with,
and none are approved for long-term use. So when patients
stop taking the drugs, they regain weight. So should
patients use them? That depends. If a patient has a
BMI over 40, if they lose 20 to 30 pounds on a diet
and weight loss medications, they will notice some improvement
in their health. But they will not be able to achieve
the same weight loss as they would with weight loss
surgery."
It is faulty perception that weight loss drugs are
magic bullets which will make fat melt. Sadly, that's
not the case. Like surgery, the drugs work only for
patients who follow strict diet and exercise programs.
People need to know they'll have to continue diet and
exercise even if they undergo weight loss treatment.
People need to be aware of the very modest effects of
all weight loss drugs.
It is always better to well-informed about the weight
loss aid you have adopted. Since weight loss drugs are
not cheap drugs, it would be pretty sad if patients
were taking these drugs over the long term, spending
money, not getting any weight loss, and getting side
effects we don't know about yet.
Because of this concern, the American College of Physicians
has issued new obesity treatment guidelines. The guidelines
call for doctors to discuss weight loss surgery with
all patients who have a BMI of 40 or more and who suffer
from weight-related health problems,weight-related health
problems, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or
sleep apnea.
The guidelines strongly suggest that patients first
try a doctor-supervised effort to lose weight with diet
and exercise. Unfortunately, they don't specify how
long a person should try this before moving on to surgery.
The guidelines in a nutshell are: If you're overweight
-- a BMI of 25 to 25.9 -- you need to lose weight. Diet
and exercise are recommended. If you're obese -- a BMI
of 30 to 39.9 -- your health depends on losing weight.
The new guidelines apply to people with a BMI of 30
or more: Your weight loss program should be supervised
by a doctor. If your weight loss program isn't getting
results, you and your doctor may wish to discuss weight
loss drugs. The important facts about these drugs are
that after six to 12 months, you stand to lose up to
11 extra pounds. This may be enough for important health
effects. If your BMI is 40 or more -- and if you have
complications such as high blood pressure, diabetes,
or sleep apnea -- you should discuss weight loss surgery
with your doctor. This does not mean that surgery is
an automatic choice for all patients in this category.
Weight loss surgery carries considerable risk, including
risk of death. Regardless of the weight loss treatment
chosen, diet and exercise remain essential
Source: http://my.webmd.com
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