When is a Good Time to Consider Medical Weight Loss?
January 18, 2010 by guestpost
Filed under Weight Loss
The idea of medical weight loss is becoming more and more popular these days. Although bariatric surgery procedures like the lap band and gastric bypass still definitely carry some risk, they are safer than ever before. Should you be considering a medical weight loss procedure?
If you are not obese, meaning you are not at least 20 percent over your height-appropriate body weight, the answer is usually no. If you need to take off that last five or ten pounds to look the way you want to look, surgery is probably not the answer. In general, medical weight loss procedures are for people who are severely overweight and facing potentially fatal health issues due to their weight.
The U.S. National Institutes of Health suggest that bariatric surgery is indicated for those individuals whose BMI is 40 or greater, or 35 or greater with existing health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. The BMI, or Body Mass Index, is a measure of healthy body weight determined by dividing your weight times 703 by your height in inches squared. A healthy BMI is between about 18 and 25, while a BMI between 25 to 30 is overweight, 30 to 35 is obese, 35-40 is severely obese and over 40 is morbidly obese.
In many cases, especially with modern techniques, medical weight loss has proven successful. Patients are often able to keep weight off and even report being less hungry than in their previous condition. Conditions related to obesity such as diabetes or high blood pressure often disappears or become much more manageable. While there can be complications, they are usually minor for most patients. However, even after such a procedure, it’s important for the patient to be educated about healthy eating and exercising, as these will be necessary to maintain a state of good health.
While medical weight loss surgeries are definitely not for everyone, they are also not as scary or dangerous as they once were. Everyone from celebrities to former athletes have tried and often succeeded with medical weight loss, and for those who are suffering with dangerous levels of obesity, these procedures can provide a new lease on life. If you have reached the point where your weight is out of control and you feel you are in grave physical and/or psychological danger, do the research and seriously consider a medical weight loss procedure from a qualified professional.
