Health Benefits of Weight-Loss Surgery
Making the decision to have any kind of surgery must be a thoughtful, informed process. There are risks that are real. Review them with your doctor as part of your decision-making process.
On the other hand, there are tremendous health benefits related to weight-loss surgery:
Type II diabetes: This one tops the list because it is becoming so prevalent and so lethal.After weight-loss surgery, nearly all patients experience an improvement in control of their diabetes. Diabetes is cured in 80% of patients and dramatically improved in 90% after weight-loss surgery.
Hypertension (high blood pressure): Over 60% of patients with high blood pressure are able to stop medication altogether after weight-loss surgery, whilst nearly 80% have an improvement in their high blood pressure.
Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol and high triglycerides): Many patients seeking treatment have elevated cholesterol or lipids prior to surgery. Lipid profiles are improved in 60-95% of patients after weight-loss surgery.
Sleep apnoea: Many patients have undiagnosed sleep apnoea at their initial evaluation for weight-loss surgery. It’s important to be tested and start treatment prior to surgery to minimize the risk of complications. 68-95% of patients find their sleep apnoea symptoms disappear following weight-loss surgery.
Quality of life: Patients report an improved quality of life and increased activity after weight-loss surgery. Moreover, most patients experience improved social and economic opportunities due to our culture’s societal and moral stances on obesity.
Holding off death: Multiple studies have shown a decrease in the long-term risk of death in obese individuals after weight-loss surgery, mainly due to a reduction in death from cardiovascular disease and cancer. The reduction in risk of death is even greater in those people who have diabetes.
Do the health benefits of weight-loss surgery outweigh the risks? Only you and your doctor can decide. For more information, check in with us as well!
