Weight Loss Surgery, Are You A Candidate?

     Weight loss surgery is growing as a popular alternative in managing morbid obesity. The surgical procedure involves the restriction of the stomach to hold very little food at a time as well as re-arrangement of small intestines to reduce the amount of calorie absorption into the body.

Though most surgical options to lose weight severe your digestive system they are increasingly being used on people who are in immediate health danger yet they are unable to lose weight by the convential diet and exercises.

Obesity has been classified as a multifactorial disease. It is a condition of excessive accumulation of fat, exceeding the body skeleton and physical standards. In particular morbid obesity according to USA's Metropolitan Life Insurance Company's height and weight tables is being 100 pounds or 100% above ideal body weight. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 20% above ideal body weight is the point where excess body fat starts becoming a health risk.

With weight loss surgery one has both drastic and dramatic results. One can lose 40-60% of their initial weight within two years. But in spite this convincing results, weight loss surgery is not for everyone.

Like other surgical operations, surgery to lose weight also has its inherent risks. And as such your physician will have to weight the risk of surgery against the risks you are facing for being overweight. If the risk of obesity is higher they then may recommend surgery.

To qualify you will have to be severely obese. Technically this means you should have a BMI above 40. (BMI or Body Mass Index is a calculation that uses your weight and height to estimate the amount of body fat) This is particularly important because at such a high BMI you face on ever present risk of developing obesity related diseases e.g. Cardio Vascular Diseases, hypertension, diabetes sleep apnea and more.

Infact most insurance companies will not cover your weight loss surgery expenses, unless you can explicitly show that all else has failed.

You also need to show that you have a lifestyle commitment to the new anticipated lifestyle after surgery. The surgery is literally life, changing. Not only will you drop pounds by the numbers but you will never eat the same. You will also not afford to lead a physically in active lifestyle. If one is unable to maintain the after surgery lifestyle it is possible to regain weight.

Finally you should show realistic expectations. Most centers will walk you through the process of the procedure and prepare you adequately for the life after. This makes sure you understand exactly what you are getting yourself into.

With all these conditions met the surgeon will then look at procedural risk and determine if its safe to go ahead.

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