Weight Loss Surgery – Part 2 - Health Plus Digest

Clients considering a weight loss surgical procedure should be morbidly obese. That means that a client should be at least 100 pounds over the ideal body weight. Weight loss surgery should not be considered for people who have less than 100 pounds to lose. There can also be underlying medical problems associated with obesity such as diabetes, swelling or pain that will not disqualify a client, but rather improve their qualifications for a weight loss surgery.

Clients should have been actively attempting weight loss for five or more years with a body mass index of 40 or greater. You should be able to demonstrate to your doctor that you have not been able to lose weight by other more conventional methods. Your doctor may ask that you make another attempt to lose weight using other methods for six months while keeping a calendar or diary to record your efforts.

Clients will want to check with their insurance company for coverage since most companies do not cover weight loss surgery. With this knowledge, the client can negotiate a preset rate with the hospital and doctor before the procedure to keep the client cost down.

Prior to any weight loss surgical procedure the doctor will be very clear about the potential risks and complications. They may also ask you to undergo a quick examination by a psychiatrist to be certain that you are mentally stable to withstand the stressors and make the changes necessary to your lifestyle and behavior following the surgery.

These surgical procedures can be an option for people who have been morbidly obese for more than five years and have had little to no success using other methods to lose weight. Although the success rate can be high the client must also be prepared to make the necessary lifestyle and nutrition habit changes to lose weight.

Following surgery weight loss occurs the same way it does with any other program – you eat less than you burn. With surgery you have the added advantage of decreased hunger pangs and feeling full faster. It does not, however, remove food cravings or your relationship with food. Those issues must also be addressed to make this program a success.