dimanche 5 mai 2013

The Benefits And Risks Of A Weight Reduction Surgery

By Cherry Mercer


Obesity can be described as a chronic health problem resulting from excess fats that exceed the physical needs of the body. Weight reduction surgery, which is also referred to as bariatric surgery, can help obese patients achieve long-term fat reduction goals and general well-being. However, making a decision to undergo the procedure can be difficult considering the permanent lifestyle changes after the operation.

The purpose of bariatric operation is to prevent, eliminate or cure diseases related to morbid obesity. Remember, that the operation is only a tool and not a cosmetic procedure. With the help of health experts, your family and support groups you can gain numerous health benefits. Before making the decision to undergo the procedure, it is important to first know its potential benefits and risks.

One of the simplest benefits of bariatric surgeries is the reduction of excessive fats. With gastric bypass surgery, around 61% of excessive fats are lost while with gastric banding surgery, about 47% of excessive weight is lost. Losing such excessive weight helps greatly in reducing by comorbidities that include many health complications like, diabetes, hypertension, colon cancer etc.

Around 60% of patients with high blood pressure are able to stop medication after a fat reduction operation. Still, another 80% of such patients report an overall improvement in their high blood condition. The procedure is also reported to resolve the problem of type 2 diabetes with 77% of the patients being able to stop medication.

Still, bariatric operations have also helped people suffering from undiagnosed sleep apnea to the point that they need less or no medicine at all. 65% to 95% of sleep apnea patients who undergo the procedure have the problem resolved. This goes a long in helping improve the quality of their lives and reduce the risk of developing additional health complications.

Like in any major operation, there are complications that can result from bariatric surgeries. These complications may result from the surgery or any other health issues the patient had before. It is important for obesity patients to be aware of these risks before making a decision to go for the operation. Some potential risks include infection through incision, excessive bleeding, bowel blockage or tear and even need for further operation.

Bariatric operations are also known to cause nutritional deficiencies due to the lack of proper absorption of valuable nutrients in the body. For example, calcium and iron cannot be effectively absorbed as food bypasses the duodenum and jejunum. Lack of vitamin B12 can also cause anemia in menstruating women. After the surgery, patients are advised to eat only as per the instructions of the doctor.

Other less serious risks that may result from a weight reduction surgery include stomach or small intestine ulcers. There is also the dumping syndrome, which may lead to diarrhea, sweating, palpitations, lightheadedness and cramps. For the restrictive only operation, vomiting is also expected especially when the stomach is overstretched with food that has not been well chewed. Even though restrictive operations lead to reduction of excessive fats in almost all patients, they are less effective than a combination of restrictive and malabsorptive operations.




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