Qualifying
For Weight Loss Surgery
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Obesity can be a life threatening disease and
it affects a quarter of all Americans. The rate of obesity
has increased more than sixty percent in the last ten years
and it is estimated that this rate will continue to
increase. Being overweight contributes to about 300,000
deaths each year and is the second leading cause of death
after smoking. Obesity can cause many health issues such as
joint problems, cancer, arthritis, stokes, sleep apnea,
hypertension and diabetes. Those who are considered morbidly
obese, or those who are 100 pounds or more overweight can
often qualify for weight loss surgery.
For many people, conventional methods of
dieting and exercise do not help when it comes to losing
weight. Many medications fail to help those who are morbidly
obese as well. In addition, those who are overweight may
lose weight, but may have difficulties in sustaining that
weight loss over a long period of time. |
Weight loss surgery is one way that many people
can look to lose the excess weight.
If non-surgical methods have not worked, weight loss
surgery is another option. There are several ways that these weight
loss surgeries are performed. These types of surgeries often allow
those who are very overweight to lose the excess weight over a certain
period of time by restricting food intake. However, this life changing
surgery is not right for everyone. Not everyone is a candidate for the
weight loss surgeries.
Those who are eligible for weight loss surgery must be
eighteen years of age or older. Children are not good candidates
because their bodies are still growing and developing. Another
indication of being a good weight loss candidate is if your body mass
index is forty or greater or if you weigh twice as much as your ideal
weight or are at least 100 pounds overweight. Doctors will carefully
calculate a patient BMI and consider each person’s individual case.
Another reason that a person may be a good candidate for this surgery
is if the person has a history of being overweight.
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Generally, you must be overweight for at
least five years to be considered for this surgery. Those
that gain weight after having a baby or other times in their
life will not be considered.
In addition, a person that wants to have
weight loss surgery needs to have made serious attempts at
losing weight through diet modification and exercise. This
lets doctors know that the person is serious about their
weight and will make the necessary changes after the
surgery. Weight loss surgery is a lifetime commitment and
patients must be willing to make those changes in their
lives. These patients also must be willing to be monitored
by a doctor on a long-term basis to assess the success of
the surgery. Those who are good weight loss surgery
candidates also must be healthy. Patients should not be
suffering from diseases that have caused the weight gain.
Patients also must not drink alcohol after the surgery. This
can lead to serious problems after the weight loss surgery
is performed. |
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