Obesity causes an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and even cancer. This is a worrisome condition and linked to many other negative health outcomes. Obese people may consider various options to lose excess weight and achieve a healthier lifestyle. If you are overweight and struggling to lose weight from a long time, you should give a serious thought about bariatric surgery as this procedure has proved as one of the best weight loss options. There are many ways of managing weight, but this is better from a long-term health perspective. Having operated thousands of patients for weight loss, I have seen phenomenal success stories over the years and I can confidently say that bariatric surgery is a highly effective option for people with BMI (Body Mass Index) over 32. If you can commit yourself to a healthy lifestyle and eating habits, no one can stop you from achieving your long-term success.
But are diet & exercise enough for drastic weight loss or do you need a weight loss surgery?
Making positive changes in diet and lifestyle, increasing physical activities helps in losing weight but there is a certain limit of losing weight through these methods. People in the overweight category with a BMI of less than 30 can consider dieting and exercising techniques to get effective weight loss results. However, your actual weight loss will vary according to your current weight, physical activity level, nutrition choices, and portion sizes. If you need to lose more than 20 pounds of weight and are looking for miraculous weight loss results, bariatric surgery is the right option. Typically, a candidate is qualified for bariatric surgery if:
- BMI (Body Mass Index) is greater than 35, or have an excess weight of more than 100 pounds
- Have a BMI of 32 or greater, and have any obesity-related disorder like heart disease, type-2 diabetes
Many individuals also consider one or a combination of the weight loss procedures, depending upon the weight loss goals, choices, and suitability. Here are some important considerations related to diet and exercise versus weight loss surgery.
Diet and Exercise
A healthy diet and physical exercise are an essential part of a healthy lifestyle, whether you opt for weight loss surgery or not. Apart from weight loss, it reduces your risks of many other health conditions. A well-balanced diet also increases energy levels and improves heart and bone health. Even post-weight loss surgery, the patients need to switch to a healthier diet and exercise habits. While a healthy lifestyle provides eclectic benefits, but diet and exercise rarely produce substantial weight loss results. It is difficult to have noticeable weight loss results no matter how well-regimented routine you have followed. Moreover, health conditions like lipedema, hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome can make weight loss even more difficult through diet and exercise alone.
Bariatric Surgery
Weight loss surgery is effective for people who have tried a variety of diet and exercises but still have an unhealthy weight. It is especially recommended for people who are at high-risk obesity as bariatric surgery has proven weight loss results. The purpose of this procedure is to reduce the hunger and the food intake so that the patients feel sated in a lesser amount of food and lose weight. You get easier control over hunger and feel fuller very quickly, which naturally leads to weight loss. After undergoing weight loss surgery, the patients also need to make positive changes to their diet and lifestyle habits to sustain the results.
Still, have questions about weight loss and bariatric surgery? Read FAQs or you can connect with me for more details.
Author Bio:
Dr. Mohit Bhandari is a renowned Indian bariatric surgeon best known for his work in Laparoscopic and Robot-assisted surgery. He is the Director, Founder and Chief Surgeon of bariatric surgery at Mohak Bariatrics and Robotics, a bariatric surgery center founded in Indore, Madhya Pradesh (India) and Director at Enliten. He is credited with performing more than 12,000 bariatric surgeries in India, Germany, Belgium, China, Australia, etc. He has a passion for teaching and has trained more than 500 bariatrics surgeons globally. He created a world record by performing 53 bariatric surgeries in thirteen hours and got his name registered in the Guinness Book of World Records.
