Throughout the Free Fitness Tips blog I have frequently stated that weight loss ultimately comes down to two things; Diet and Exercise. By eating healthier foods, eating smaller meals more frequently and regularly participating in cardiovascular exercise & weight training you are well on your way to long term weight loss success. However, for many people this is not enough for them. They want to lose weight quickly without putting the effort in. For those people weight loss surgeries such as gastric bypass surgery might be the answer. In this article I will further discuss the viability of gastric bypass surgery as a weight loss option.
Gastric bypass surgery is one of the most popular types of weight loss surgery available. It divides the stomach into a small upper pouch and a much larger lower pouch and then re-arranges the small intestine to allow both patches to stay connected to it. There are a number of different types of gastric bypass surgery but all of them reduce your stomach’s volume and therefore suppress your appetite. To qualify for surgeries such as this you generally must; be 100 pounds overweight, have a history of morbid obesity (usually more than 3 years), have failed to lose weight in the past as a part of a formalised weight loss program or have a medical condition which is directly affected by your extra weight. For full clarification you should consult your doctor or a qualified medical practitioner.
There are a number of health benefits associated with gastric bypass surgery. It is believed to reduce high blood pressure in more than 70% of patients, reverse type 2 diabetes in 90% of patients and relieve lower back pain in almost all patients. Mortality rates are also believed to be reduced in morbidly obese gastric bypass surgery patients. However, there are also a number of complications associated with this type of surgery. Whilst the surgery is being performed you are at risk of blood clots, infection, hemorrhage (internal bleeding), ulcers and more.
So what is my opinion on gastric bypass surgery? Personally, I think it should be a last resort. As I have already stated, in most cases you are only eligible for this type of surgery if you are severely overweight. Ideally, you should take control of your weight BEFORE it gets to this level. If you start to notice that your bodyweight is increasing consistently then take responsibility and do something about it. Start looking at your lifestyle and identify whether you are getting enough exercise or if you are eating the right foods. If not then take the necessary action and keep it up until you get back down to your ideal weight. Even if you have the surgery you will still have to stick to a healthy diet and a good exercise plan to keep the weight off. Surely, it makes more sense to do this from the beginning and avoid the complications of surgery? Obviously, there will be times when this surgery is absolutely necessary but if you are currently in a position to avoid this surgery by making positive lifestyle choices then this would be my recommended option.
What do you guys think? Is there anyone who has had gastric bypass surgery with a different opinion? Does anyone feel that the benefits of gastric bypass surgery outweigh the drawbacks? Whatever your thoughts are on the matter I would love to read your comments.
Please note this article is for information only and not a substitute for medical advice. As I have already mentioned you should consult your doctor before considering surgery of any kind. They will be able to provide you with qualified advice on whether surgery is the best option for you.