Weight loss surgery is an operation that helps reduce the amount of food you eat. Doctors typically reduce the size of the stomach or reroute the digestive tract. You lose weight rapidly after the surgical procedure and must follow strict guidelines established by your physician. The risks and complications involved in weight loss surgery include infections, hernia, blood clots and death. You have to meet certain health criteria to qualify for weight loss surgery.
Suffer from Obesity
You have to be obese for more than five years. Men must be more than 100 pounds overweight and women must be more than 80 pounds overweight to qualify for weight loss surgery. Body mass index, or BMI, is another indicator doctors use to measure obesity. A BMI of 40 or higher or a BMI of 35 with medical conditions related to obesity qualifies you for surgery. BMI calculates your weight in conjunction to height to measure your body's fatness and susceptibility to developing health problems. Talk to your doctor about weight loss surgery if you meet these weight requirements. Your doctor will generally outline the risks and benefits of surgical weight loss. Surgical weight loss candidates are usually between 18 and 60 years old.
Experience Health Problems
Having obesity-related medical conditions qualifies you for weight loss surgery. These conditions include diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, joint problems such as arthritis, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and acid reflux. Your condition often improves after surgery. A study by the National Institutes of Health claims patients improve their blood sugar levels and even reverse type 2 diabetes. Arthritis and joint pain improves after weight loss surgery as well. Doctors will talk to you about the risks and benefits of weight loss surgery for people with health problems.
Unsuccessful Dieting
Failed dieting attempts qualify you for weight loss surgery. Doctors do not consider unsupervised weight loss attempts when they evaluate your medical history. Serious attempts to lose weight include medical supervised weight loss, diet pill prescriptions, diet programs outlined by a dietitian and nutritionist, behavior modification programs and group programs like Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Nutri-System and Overeaters Anonymous. Supervised weight loss indicates that, despite numerous attempts, you have been unable to experience long-term weight loss and that surgery is your final attempt to lose weight permanently. Bring documentation when consulting with your doctor so that he can evaluate all factors before approving you for surgery.
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