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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obesity is an epidemic in the United States. Recent estimates suggest that more than 35 percent of Americans suffer from chronic obesity. Complications common to morbid obesity are numerous, they include heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke and some forms of cancer. The morbidly obese will spend more money on health care, and more time dealing with health-related issues, compared to individuals who are not overweight, according to the CDC. While losing weight and keeping it off is often difficult for most people, there are effective medical procedures that help morbidly obese individuals lose excess weight. One of the most effective procedures is bariatric surgery. The CDC states that bariatric surgery is currently the only successful method for morbidly obese individuals to lose significant amounts of weight. The advantages of undergoing bariatric surgery are numerous. Most importantly, morbidly obese individuals will experience dramatic weight loss. In fact, the average weight loss for people who have undergone gastric bypass surgery is 61 percent of their pre-surgery weight, and the average weight loss for people who have undergone gastric band surgery is 47 percent of their pre-surgery weight. Additionally, these patients most often significantly improve, or recover from obesity-related diseases, particularly Type 2 diabetes, arthritis, sleep apnea and high blood pressure. Most individuals who undergo bariatric surgery report a higher quality of life due to their weight loss. Because bariatric surgery is minimally invasive, the time required for recovery and healing is not extensive. The potential side effects associated with bariatric surgery can be unpleasant; patients sometimes report nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. There are several types of bariatric surgeries available to patients who meet the criteria, including Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Surgery, Gastric Sleeving Surgery, Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band and Laparoscopic Duodenal Switch Surgery. Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Surgery involves surgeons sectioning off parts of the stomach with staples, which creates a smaller stomach pouch. This surgery results in patients quickly feeling full when eating, which reduces the amount of food that they ingest during meals. During Gastric Sleeving Surgery, the surgeon permanently reduces the patient's stomach size by approximately 85 percent. During Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band surgery, a silicone band placed around the stomach limits the patient's food intake. Afterward, when eating, patients often report feeling satisfied more quickly. The band is adjustable so food intake can be further limited or increased depending on the needs of the patient. Finally, a Laparoscopic Duodenal Switch Surgery combines the Sleeve Surgery with a biliopancreatic diversion. This surgery balances the patient's hormones to lessen their feelings of hunger. All of these procedures have high success rates. After undergoing weight loss surgery, patients will require eating behavior modification to attain their target weight, and to maintain that weight once it is achieved. Patients who have their procedures performed at centers that specialize in bariatric surgery will not only experience the surgery, but they will also learn new eating behaviors, and receive emotional support. Patients will learn information related to healthy food choices, portion control, and necessary post-surgical vitamin supplements. Because emotional support is critical as patients undergo extreme weight loss, quality bariatric surgery centers will provide this service as part of the patient's ongoing follow-up regimen. Morbidly obese people may wish to deal with obesity by undergoing weight loss surgery at a specialized center.
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