Every January, millions of people take the turn of the New Year as a new opportunity to better themselves. Resolutions vary from person to person, from quitting bad habits to getting organized—one of the most common is weight loss.
Anyone who’s ever made a New Year’s resolution knows how hard they can be to keep up throughout the year, especially when it comes to diet and exercise. Many diets plans (fad diets especially) are unsustainable in the long term, and a busy schedule can derail even the most dedicated gym routine.
Don’t fret; bariatric surgery has been proven to be the most effective way to successfully lose weight and keep it off long-term! More than that, it can help tick off many resolutions from a patient’s list.
Bariatric surgery is known for dramatic weight loss, and for good reason! Studies reviewed by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) showed that over 90% of bariatric patients maintained the loss of 50% or more of their target weight.
These procedures change the way the body takes in and processes food, circumventing hormonal issues that cause people to not feel full or gain weight back after dieting. Patients are also able to benefit from eating less without triggering a slow-down in their metabolism because of this change to how their bodies work.
This is why we see so much long-term, successful weight-loss among bariatric patients—and why a procedure is so much more effective than diet and exercise alone. Non-surgical procedures, like gastric balloons, are even available to help people with lower BMIs achieve weight-loss success before they need surgery.
Weight related conditions commonly associated with obesity and overweight can range anywhere from uncomfortable to downright dangerous. People who suffer from obesity have a higher risk of cancer and other comorbidities—type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, and joint pain, just to name a few.
Bariatric surgery has been shown to alleviate the symptoms and side-effects of most of these conditions in many patients. Beyond that, it has even been linked to remission in some patients!
These surgeries, and the weight loss that follows them, give patients an improved quality of life and even helps them live longer
On the topic of longevity, bariatric surgery helps patients lower their risk of death which improves their chance at a longer, healthier life with family and friends. Many leading causes of death—heart disease, cancer, respiratory problems—can stem from conditions which are exacerbated by overweight and obesity.
The ASMBS even reports an 89% greater reduction in mortality among patients who received bariatric surgery when compared to those who did not. Another study found a 90% reduction in death associated with diabetes, and a 50% reduction in death from heart disease.
As with any medical condition, costs associated with weight-related health problems stack up—medications and healthcare costs are high on their own, but that’s only part of getting healthy. In pursuit of healthy weight loss, many people try everything from gym memberships to meal plans to “miracle cures” like diet pills or fad foods.
Bariatric surgery is a one-time expense that can change a patient’s life, and take some of that strain off their wallets! Some insurance companies even cover bariatric surgeries so that patients won’t have to pay for them out-of-pocket.
Feeling inspired to leave behind weight-loss resolutions? Start a health journey in 2018 with University Bariatrics! Our passion is seeing our patients succeed in their goals, providing unmatched care and education, and giving them all the tools they need to live their healthiest lives.
Learn more about bariatric surgery at one of our seminars, or schedule a consultation today!