Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported that that 30 percent of American adults (20 and older) — more than 60 million people — are obese. Obese is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30. Being obese increases the risk of many health conditions. Fortunately, achieving significant weight loss can decrease a person’s odds of developing one or more of these conditions.

Bariatric surgery is one of the clinically studied weight loss options available to obese individuals. However, bariatric treatment is not for everyone; each of these weight loss surgery procedures involves some risks and some significant lifestyle changes. Educating yourself regarding the types, benefits, and potential complications of the various bariatric surgery methods will help you make an informed decision about this serious weight loss alternative.

What is Bariatric Surgery?

Bariatric surgery is the general term used to refer to a number of weight loss surgery procedures. The term " bariatric" is derived from the Greek word "barys," meaning "heavy" and the Latin word "iatria," which means "relating to medical treatment" — and that's exactly what bariatric surgery is – a treatment for weight problems, not a cure. Bariatric surgery procedures are major gastrointestinal operations that typically reduce the amount of food the stomach can hold. Some types of bariatric treatment also involve rearranging the small intestine to reduce the calories the bodies can absorb, resulting in relatively quick weight loss.

Bariatric weight loss surgery such as gastric bypass surgery or LAP-BAND® surgery forces patients to drastically reduce the amount of food they consume, permanently. In fact, most gastric procedures reduce the stomach's holding capacity from about 2 quarts to 2 ounces. Patients may become very sick if they overeat. There are also other possible complications to bariatric treatment. A qualified bariatric surgeon can tell you more - find such a surgeon with DocShop.

Bariatric Treatment for Obese Individuals

Many people who are severely overweight have not been able to control their weight despite sincere, long-lasting, and strenuous efforts to do so. Morbid obesity oftentimes causes severe health complications, limits activities, affects self-esteem, and reduces one’s lifespan. Bariatric surgery attempts to address these issues at the source. A bariatric treatment is an attempt to permanently reduce the patient's ability to overeat.

A Permanent and Quick Weight Loss Treatment

One of the major advantages of the different bariatric procedures is that they result in quick weight loss compared to less invasive weight loss options. When the stomach is reduced to the point that a patient cannot consume more food than he or she really needs, and/or the amount of food the body will now absorb is limited, the excess weight starts to fall away at a dramatic rate.

Locate a Bariatric Surgeon near You

If you are an obese man, woman, or teen and you feel that you might be an appropriate candidate for bariatric weight loss surgery, it’s imperative that you find a qualified and experienced bariatric surgeon. DocShop makes finding such a professional an easy and rewarding experience.