Weight Loss Surgery

Weight loss surgery has become a topic of great interest these days as more and more people look for an effective weight loss solution. Obesity has reached epidemic proportions, affecting one-third of all American adults and an increasing amount of children and teens. Long-term studies show the procedures cause significant long-term loss of weight, recovery from diabetes, improvement in cardiovascular risk factors, and a reduction in mortality over 20%. The U.S. National Institutes of Health recommends bariatric surgery for obese people with a body mass index of at least 40. A bariatric surgery person with BMI 35 and serious coexisting medical conditions such as diabetes is an option. Surgery should be considered as a treatment option for patients with a BMI of 40 kg/m2 or greater who instituted but failed an adequate exercise and diet who present with obesity-related comorbid conditions, such as hypertension, impaired glucose tolerance, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and obstructive sleep apnea. Patients should visit high-volume centers with surgeons experienced in bariatric surgery.