With almost one-third of Americans struggling with obesity, it can be safely said that it has reached epidemic levels almost.
Along with this increase in obesity, a rise in weight loss procedures has also risen. In fact, the number of surgical procedures has increased from 13000 to 200000 from 1998 to 2008.
Yet the question remains: Is weight loss or bariatric surgery safe? Do the benefits outweigh the risks?
But first, the simple definition of bariatric surgery is a number of weight loss procedures that one can undergo in order to reduce their food intake and lose weight in the process. There are three types of surgeries that are usually performed: gastric bypass and banding as well as sleeve gastrectomy.
But in order to qualify for this surgery, one must have a body-mass index of 30 (considered as obese) or above 40 of which the latter suggests severe obesity.
As for the recovery time, it differs from procedure to procedure and in some cases, it could take a patient a number of months to resume daily activity after the surgery.
However, in response to that question, bariatric surgery is considered to be the safest way to lose weight compared to other non-surgical methods available.
There’s only one condition that experts believe is required for patients to stay safe and that is better communication between doctors and obese patients so that the latter are better informed as to the risks that are associated with this type of surgery as well as understand which type of surgery is right for them.