Weight Loss Surgery and Other Medical Solutions to Reduce Obesity!

Health professionals always highly recommend that to beat obesity, most people first try to achieve weight loss through weight loss strategies, such as diet and exercise programs.

However, if they feel this is in the best health interests of their patients, in some instances they will perform weight loss surgery, known as Bariatric surgery.

But as with any surgery, it comes with associated risks and therefore it’s not a recommended solution for everyone.

In order to qualify for weight loss surgery most people must be suffering from sever obesity or have obesity with serious medical conditions. Doctors will usually have patients attempt to lose weight through natural means, such as weight loss diets and exercise, or by using drug therapy before agreeing to surgery.

But you must also understand that surgery is not a “fix all” method for weight loss. A lifelong commitment to change your eating and exercise habits is needed, otherwise it will only be a matter of time before you revert back to your unhealthy eating habits and begin to become obese yet again.

However, if you are considering surgery, here is a broad outline of two types of weight loss or obesity surgery that are most commonly carried out… Restrictive and Malabsorptive.

Restrictive Surgery (Gastric Bypass)

Restrictive surgery means just what it sounds like… it restricts food intake by making the stomach smaller. Gastric bypass is the most common type of restrictive surgery. In gastric bypass, the stomach is stapled to create a tiny pouch that can only hold about one ounce of food. The small intestine is then cut and part of it is sewed directly onto the pouch.

This procedure directs food from the small pouch directly into the second section of the small intestine instead of going through the entire stomach, or the first section of the small intestine, and this limits the number of calories absorbed by the body.

Most people who have gastric bypass lose around half of their excess weight, and many patients maintain this weight loss for 10 years or more.

As successful as it may be, this procedure is not free of risk. Approximately one in 200 people die from the procedure and people who have the surgery may experience side effects such as iron and B-12 deficiency, gallstones, and bleeding ulcers. Also, since the stomach is so small, eating too much can cause vomiting or severe pain.

Malabsorptive Surgery

Malabosorptive surgery is less common than restrictive surgery due to the risks involved. This surgery limits the amount of calories and nutrients the body absorbs, causing an increased risk of malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies.

Drug Therapy

Drug therapy is available for people with a BMI of 30 or over with NO medical conditions, or for people with a BMI of over 27 with two or more obesity-related conditions. Like surgery, drugs do not the place of a regular weight loss diet and exercise program.

With regards to other medical solutions, there are three most commonly prescribed FDA-approved weight loss medications. They are Orlistat, Sibutramine, and Phentermine.

Orlistat is a fat-blocker. It blocks about 30 percent of dietary fat from being absorbed in the body and the undigested fat is removed from the body in bowel movements. Patients usually take one capsule three times a day with each meal. Side effects include oily bowel movements, stomach pain, increased number of bowel movements and irregular menstrual periods.

You can find more detailed information on Orlistat here!

Sibutramine is an appetite suppressant. People normally take it once a day with or without food. It is approved for long-term use, but be aware that it can be habit-forming. Side effects include headache, constipation, insomnia, mood changes and stomach pain.

You can find more detailed information on Sibutranine here!

Phentermine is also an appetite suppressant. People usually take it as one single dose in the morning or three times a day, 30 minutes before meals. Phentermine is not prescribed for long-term use and is usually only prescribed for three to six weeks as it can be habit-forming. Side effects of phentermine include dry mouth, unpleasant taste, diarrhoea, constipation and vomiting.

You can find more detailed information on Phentermine here!