At times, weight loss can be extremely difficult, and nobody should feel bad about or blame themselves for this. Sometimes, simple diet and exercise don’t help people, and that can be for a number of reasons … some of them involving hormonal or genetic factors that are virtually impossible to change. Other times, people simply don’t have lifestyles that can afford the time and energy that need to be put in to serious weight loss; again, there’s no shame in this. Fortunately, there is an alternative found in weight loss surgery.
Weight Loss Surgery Is Not “Cheating”
Many balk at the idea of weight loss surgery not because they’re concerned about the procedures involved or the cost, but because bariatric surgery has been stigmatized. We live in a world where celebrities keep things like gastric bypass procedures a secret and act as if it is something to be ashamed of. Again, weight loss through anything but surgery is impossible. Weight loss is not a competition … it’s about one’s health, and if the only way an individual can be healthy physically and emotionally is through weight loss surgery, they have absolutely nothing to be ashamed about. Choosing whether or not have bariatric surgery is personal.
What Is Gastric Bypass Surgery?
Gastric bypass is one of the most commonly known bariatric procedures. It involves bariatric surgeons dividing the stomach into a smaller “pouch” and a larger “pouch”. The small intestine is rearranged and connects these two pouches, with the result hopefully being that the individual eats less and loses a substantial amount of weight. Although widely given to morbidly obese individuals, it has also been chosen as an option for people with type 2 diabetes, hypertension, or sleep apnea.
What Is A Gastric Sleeve?
A gastric sleeve is a safe procedure that, similarly to gastric bypass, often results in a large amount of weight lost. The gastric sleeve procedure requires removing a big portion of the patient’s stomach, creating a sort of sleeve with medical staples. The procedure is irreversible, and like gastric bypass, creates a smaller stomach and allows people to feel full faster after eating less.
What Is A Gastric Lap Band?
Unlike gastric bypass and a gastric sleeve, the lap band is actually adjustable. The lap band is silicone, placed around the top of the stomach. It slows the rate at which the patient eats, and thus they end up eating less. Again, the lap band is adjustable … but only for patients with a BMI between 30 and 40 and can only be used after other weight loss methods have been attempted. Nonetheless, it is a great option, just like the other above procedures. Weight loss is possible for everyone; you just have to find the right strategy for you.
