Resolve to Conquer Obesity in 2019
Have you battled obesity for years, but can’t seem to lose the weight? You’re not alone. Millions of Americans struggle with obesity and obesity-related complications every day. Diet and exercise are not always effective or realistic solutions for those who have fought obesity for a long period of time.
Does this sound familiar? In this new year, perhaps it’s a good time for a new beginning—a fresh start with a new perspective and a new method for taking control of your health. If you have struggled with obesity but have not had success with medically supervised diet programs, bariatric surgery could be the answer.
What Is Bariatric Surgery?
Bariatric surgery (also called weight loss surgery) refers to various surgical procedures that alter the amount of food a person can eat and/or the way the body processes food. Surgeons perform these procedures on the digestive system to help patients lose weight. Dr. Preeti Malladi’s office offers the following minimally-invasive bariatric surgery procedures:
- Gastric bypass–This is the most commonly performed weight loss surgery. During the procedure, the surgeon staples the upper part of the stomach to create a small pouch. The surgeon attaches this pouch to the small intestine, which allows food to bypass the larger part of the stomach.
- Gastric sleeve–The gastric sleeve procedure removes a portion of the stomach, leaving a smaller sleeve-like section behind. This allows the patient to be satisfied with less food and therefore to consume fewer calories.
These procedures are done laparoscopically so they only require a few small incisions. This allow for a much quicker recovery than open surgeries.
Benefits of Weight Loss Surgery
Bariatric surgery can be a first step towards a happier, healthier you. These procedures typically help patients lose a fairly large amount of weight in a relatively short period of time. As bariatric surgery patients lose weight, they look better, feel better, and find that their chronic health conditions improve. Weight loss precipitated by bariatric surgery can help improve or even resolve the following obesity related conditions:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Depression
- Joint pain
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Asthma
- Infertility or difficulty becoming pregnant
- Metabolic syndrome
- Gallbladder disease
- Pregnancy complications
Other benefits to weight loss surgery include significant improvements to self-esteem, mobility, social interactions, and sexual function.
The Importance of Lifestyle Change
Bariatric surgery is not a magic solution to resolve obesity. Significant lifestyle changes must be made after surgery in order to ensure success. Most weight loss surgeons recommend these (or similar) changes:
- Establish a regular exercise routine, at least 30 minutes per day.
- Eat a nutritious diet high in fruits, vegetables, and lean protein.
- Avoid fatty, fried, salty, sugary, and processed foods.
Candidacy Requirements
Bariatric surgery is not right option for everyone, and you must meet certain criteria to be a candidate. However, if you are obese or have obesity-related complications, chances are good that you will be approved for surgery.
You could be a candidate for bariatric surgery if you meet any of these requirements:
- Body Mass Index (BMI) of over 40.
- BMI of 35 or more and severe obesity-related health conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
- 100 lbs. or more over your ideal body weight.
- Failure to achieve a healthy body weight for long periods, despite interventions such as medically supervised dieting.
Are you unsure what your BMI is? Dr. Malladi’s website includes a BMI calculator on the lower right-hand side of most pages. Review Dr. Malladi’s requirements to be a candidate for bariatric surgery and calculate your BMI now.
Are you ready to begin your 2019 weight loss journey? Contact Dr. Malladi’s office today to discuss your bariatric surgery options in Dallas, Texas.
