Pros And Cons Of Weight Loss Surgery

Weight loss surgery is getting press of late, and not just from people questioning why people who are severely overweight might need surgery.  Now, we’re talking about it as a treatment for teenagers.This article will consider the appropriateness of surgery for all patients.

First, there’s the amount of time and size of the task at hand.  Clearly, there are plenty of diets and weight loss programs around that offer to tell you how to get a flat stomach fast, and various exercise programs to go with them.You can take a look at supplements, which can help you improve your metabolism.It’s certainly POSSIBLE to lose weight with diet and exercise, but it takes time and it’s tough if you have a lot to lose.  If you’re one of those with a great deal of weight to lose, or if you need to do it fast, weight loss surgery might be right for you.

To qualify for bypass surgery, you must be classified as “morbidly obese” — at least 100 pounds overweight if male, and 80 pounds if female, and your BMI must be 40 or over.30 may be high enough depending on other factors.  If you are highly  overweight, your condition is a killer that can increase the impact of heart disease and diabetes.  If other methods aren’t working for you, surgery is definitely better than living with the condition.

You can lose weight with surgery even if other methods don’t work..  For those who don’t konw, it limits your food intake by literally making your stomach smaller, and controlling the amount you can digest.You don’t get to slack off after gastric bypass–you still have to eat well and work out afterwards to maintain the new you..  This has worked for many people that had a high degree of weight to lose, so no doubt it can work for you also.

Be aware that just like other medical procedures, weight loss surgery exposes you to complications and side effects that include hernias, infections and blood clotting.  If you decide to give the surgery more consideration, your first step is to consult a doctor.  We also recommend that you find others who’ve undergone the procedure, and find out how it went for them.  You can use internet discussion forums in order to do this research anonymously.Your doctor should advise you about whether this is the right thing for you, but if you consider that along with the experiences of others, you might find that you can lose weight even if it’s a lot!

Your body will thank you.

JP Wynn also recommends consideration of an intensive 25 day workout plan by Joel Marion called the Xtreme Fat Loss Diet.

July 16, 2010  Tags: Gastric Bypass, how to get a flat stomach fast, weight loss surgery  Posted in: Gastric Bypass  Comments Closed

What To Expect During And After Your Gastric Bypass

What To Expect During And After Your Gastric Bypass
by Helpnets.com

Most of us know that we could do with losing a bit of weight in order that we can look and feel better. But for people who are very overweight losing weight is an essential action to prevent major health problems. Exercise and a healthy diet are the best ways to do this. But for some people it just doesn’t work. For these people surgery is an option. A gastric bypass is one surgery option.

There is no doubt that there are huge and significant benefits to having gastric surgery, otherwise known as bariatric surgery. Studies have shown that life expectancy increases dramatically for surgery patients and the chances of getting diabetes, heart disease and certain types of cancer is significantly reduced.

Before any bariatric surgery there are certain criteria that have to be in place. A potential patient must have tried a healthy diet, a correct exercise regime and weight loss medication before surgery can be considered. An individual must have a body mass index of 40 or over, or 35 and over if there are other health concerns present to be eligible for surgery.

The actual operation is done under a general anesthetic meaning that the patient will be completely unaware of what is going on during the surgery. The surgeon will divide the stomach in two and rearrange the small intestine so that the stomachs capacity for food is reduced by at least 90%. The operation takes between 1 and 3 hours.

After surgery it is important that the patient is advised on their diet. For the first two days the patient should only sip at clear liquids as the stomach has changed completely in size and shape and needs time to heal. After a few days pureed food is introduced. It is vital that the individual sticks to a high protein and fiber diet with a low sugar and fat intake.

As with any surgery there are risks. Although the majority of people have no problems following surgery there are some people who suffer from a condition called dumping. This occurs when too much sugar is consumed and can lead to an individual feeling anxious and suffering from a very rapid heart beat. It is also possible that further surgery may be required if there have been any complications during the initial surgery.

It is vitally important that the patient makes drastic lifestyle and diet changes after surgery to ensure that weight is lost and stays lost. It can be extremely difficult for the first month or so for the patient. Previous to the operation food may have played a large part in a persons life and to change this attitude can be difficult. In the long term however the benefits to a persons health are worth any sacrifices a person has to make.

Copyright 2010 – Helpnets.com

June 22, 2010  Tags: Gastric Bypass  Posted in: Gastric Bypass  Comments Closed

Gastric Bypass Surgery How It Works

Gastric Bypass Surgery – How It Works
By Craig Thompson

Gastric bypass surgery makes your stomach smaller. This causes you to feel full with less food so you consume fewer calories. The procedure also bypasses part of your small intestine, so fewer calories are actually absorbed into your system. Fewer calories will ultimately lead to weight loss.

When you eat food, it passes through the esophagus and enters into the stomach, where gastric acids soften the food and begin to dissolve it. Next, this semi-liquid mixture enters into the small intestine, where most of the calories and essential nutrients are absorbed by your body. Finally, whatever is left passes into the large intestine and eventually through the colon as it is expelled from the body. Gastric bypass surgery restructures the stomach and intestinal system, resulting in intentional malabsorption and limiting the patient’s ability to eat large quantities of food.

Common Gastric Bypass Procedures

The most common gastric bypass surgery is a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. The surgeon will create a small pouch at the top of the stomach using surgical staples. Next, he will connect this smaller pouch directly to the middle of the small intestine (called the jejunum). This causes the food to bypass the lower part of the stomach and the first part of the small intestine (called the duodenum).

Historically, the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass was does as an open procedure, which means the surgeon makes a large incision in the outer stomach wall to access the abdominal cavity. Today, the laparoscopic procedure is more common for those who qualify. This method is performed by making up to five small incisions in the outer stomach wall and using extremely small instruments and a tiny camera to guide them.

Risks and Benefits of Gastric Bypass Surgery

Typically, the surgery requires a two to six day hospital stay, depending on which procedure you have done. Usually, you can return to normal activities within three to five weeks. The type of work you do may require a longer convalescence period.

Some of the benefits of gastric bypass surgery are: · Most people lose between 60% and 80% of their excess weight over a two to three year period. · The majority of patients manage to keep at least 50% of their excess weight off permanently. · Other obesity-related health problems, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, are often minimized or eliminated.

There are also several serious risks with gastric bypass surgery, such as: · Peritonitis, a severe infection caused by a leak from the stomach into the abdominal cavity from a ruptured staple or stitch. · The possibility of a blood clot breaking away from the surgical area and getting caught in the lung (called a pulmonary embolism).

However, recent studies indicate that only about 2% to 3% of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass patients die within 90 days of the procedure. (Source: “Gastric Bypass – Let the Morbidly Obese Beware”, by Neil Osterweil, Senior Associate Editor, MedPage Today.) Common Side Effects of Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass surgery can also cause several less serious short- and long-term side effects, such as:

· Dumping syndrome, which can occur when food moves too quickly through the small intestine. This disorder causes nausea, weakness, sweating, faintness, and possibly diarrhea soon after eating and is generally caused by eating highly refined foods, like sugars.

· Developing gallstones or a nutritional deficiency, such as anemia or osteoporosis.

· The connection between the stomach and the intestines can narrow, causing nausea and vomiting after eating.

· Patients can develop stomach ulcers or a hernia.

· The bypassed part of the stomach can enlarge, causing bloating and hiccups.

Of course, any surgery has some risks associated with it. That is why it is essential that you consider all of the benefits and risks associated with gastric bypass surgery and talk them over with your doctor and perhaps even a mental health professional.

Craig Thompson, better known as “Big T,” a former sumo wrestler who used to tip the scales at 400 pounds has since reinvented himself as a singer and bandleader. As one of the earliest to have Gastric Bypass Surgery, in 1997.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Craig_Thompson

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June 20, 2010  Tags: Gastric Bypass  Posted in: Gastric Bypass  Comments Closed

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