Generally, when people think of weight loss surgery, they think of the drastic weight loss associated with it, as well as the cosmetic benefits – the shrinking waist lines, fitting into skinny jeans and so on. However, it’s the fundamental health benefits attributed to weight loss surgery, if you qualify for it, that make it a compelling option for many. You should only consider weight loss surgery if your efforts to lose weight through diet and exercise have been unsuccessful, your Body Mass Index (BMI) is 35+ or if you have a weight-related health issue like sleep apnea, hypertension or type 2 diabetes. If you do fit the criteria, here are some benefits you can look forward to once you start shedding those pounds.
Reversing Type 2 Diabetes. Obesity is the primary risk factor for type 2 diabetes. A study in the American Journal of Medicine revealed that not only did 82 percent of patients who underwent bariatric surgery reverse their type 2 diabetes diagnosis, but 62 percent also stayed diabetes-free for the two years after they kept the weight off, a major health benefit.
Improving Fertility. Although obese women are not necessarily infertile, the excess weight tends to impact ovulatory functions. Losing weight improves a women’s bodily functions and pregnancy rates frequently improve after weight loss.
Hypertension Improvement. In the United States alone, 75 million people suffer from hypertension, with more fatalities resulting from the illness than from any other cardiovascular disease. Hypertension is an abnormally high level of blood pressure, usually brought on by stress, physical activity or other health-related factors. Bariatric surgery has been shown to improve or eliminate hypertension completely. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association stated that hypertension was eliminated in 61.7 percent of surgery patients and significantly improved in 78.5 percent of patients.
Joint Pain. Every pound of excess weight equals 4 pounds of extra pressure on the knees. So a person who is 10 pounds overweight has 40 pounds of extra pressure on their knees and if a person is 100 pounds overweight, they have 400 pounds of extra pressure to contend with. Excessive weight gain sets the stage for osteoarthritis, the most common joint disorder brought on by the wearing and tearing away of the joints. Excessive weight puts a strain on joints, as well as inflammatory factors associated with weight gain contribute to joint pain as well. Since obesity places a significant amount of pressure on the knees, ankles and hips, weight loss surgery significantly improves joint pain.
You Live Longer. Studies in the Netherlands concluded that obesity can shave off 20 years from a person’s life. Bariatric surgery results in weight loss, and with the proper diet and exercise program, can encourage the patient to lead a healthier lifestyle, thereby increasing their natural life span.
So whether you are considering weight loss surgery for health reasons, cosmetic reasons or both; the benefits are endless. Start your weight loss journey today with IBI Healthcare Institute, and see what bariatric surgery option is right for you.
Sources:
Weight and Joint Pain
Hypertension Causes and Symptoms
Weight Loss Surgery
