Friday, July 24, 2015

Bariatric Surgery And The Fight Against Obesity

By Phyllis Schroeder


Obesity is a condition in which there is an accumulation of excess fat in the body, to the extent where it may significantly affect the health and day to day activities of the individual. It can lead to increased health problems and even reduced life expectancy. This means that obese individuals may encounter higher possibilities of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, etc.

As per National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 2010, there are 2 out of 3 adult individuals in the country that are revealed to be obese. This was also categorized by the American Medical Association in 2013 as a chronic condition. Doctors know that some people cannot remove the excess fats with diet and more exercise, so the best choice for them is to go through surgery when all other methods have been futile. New Jersey bariatric surgery recommends that this operation should only be done for patients whose BMI reaches 35 up to 40 without any comorbidities or a BMI of 30 up to 35 for those who have comorbidities.

Historically, a large weight was highly regarded as a symbol of wealth and fertility, and it still holds true in other parts of the world. Much of the modern world stigmatizes it though. Aside from being regarded as a chronic disease, in 2014, the European Court of Justice ruled morbid obesity as a disability due to reasons that if it prevents the individual from engaging fully in his professional life, the employer should see it as a disability and that firing him on such grounds is discriminatory.

Weight gain results from energy imbalance or when the amount of calorie intake is greater than the amount used or burned through bodily activities. Factors like genes, eating habits, culture, geography, moods, lifestyle, and income can lead to energy imbalance and weight gain. Solutions however are more focused on eliminating excess food consumption and increasing physical activity.

Some people become obese due to a combination of factors such as genetic predisposition and an unhealthy lifestyle. An effective way to reducing excess weight is through bariatric surgery and is common in Englewood, NJ. For patients who have done everything they can to get rid of the excess fat, this solution would be the safest, fastest, and most painless way.

Surgery is still a very serious decision though. Patients need to be educated about the operation itself, its risks and benefits, and the treatment effects. They also have to be made aware of the changes they need to adjust to right after the operation.

The surgical procedure itself is done by reducing the size of the stomach with a detachable gastric band or a Lap Band. Another method is the gastric bypass or the removal of an area of the stomach. Or the doctor can reroute the small intestines to a small stomach pouch called Laparoscopic Roux en Y.

Producing and maintaining weight loss has no definite practice. After an operation, some patients would feel that they still have not reached their desired goals, while some regained over time. The amount regained may vary widely depending on the level of obesity and the kind of surgery.

Success is achievable if the affected individuals commit to a life of healthy living. They need to prioritize their health by eating right, doing proper exercises, and routinely do a medical checkup all their lives. They can certainly depend on their healthcare experts to assist them into adjusting to the changes so the transformation would be more rewarding and lasting.




About the Author:



0 comments:

Post a Comment