How to Use Surgery to Treat Obesity

Those who use surgery to treat obesity must have a BMI (body mass index) greater than 40. A BMI greater than 35 with other related health issues, such as diabetes or arthritis, will also qualify an individual. Surgery is typically only used to cause significant weight loss. If you are looking to lose 10 or 20 pounds, you should try other alternatives. Any operation can be quite risky and should only be done with complete physician approval.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Medical physical
• Physician
• Calcium and iron supplements

Use Surgery to Treat Obesity

1. Decide which surgery is best for you. There are restrictive surgeries, such as stomach stapling and gastric binding. These methods form a small pouch above the stomach, allowing you to eat until the small pouch is full and then digest it as normal. Restrictive methods help you feel full faster. Roux-en Y gastric methods actually make the stomach smaller. This forces you to eat less. It also restricts your food from flowing into certain parts of the small intestine.
2. Discuss the risks with your doctor. Choosing to treat obesity with an operation should be a last resort after all other options have been exhausted. Weight loss surgery is very risky and can lead to a quite difficult lifestyle.
3. Change your diet. After the surgery, you will only be allowed to eat and drink in small amounts. In some cases, patients must eat pureed food for several weeks.
4. Eat slowly and chew your food well. Many people will vomit and suffer severe stomach pain if they do not adhere to the dietary requirements after their operations.
5. Use vitamins. Low calcium and iron deficiency are common side effects. Bones become weaker and you may develop anemia. Taking the appropriate supplemental vitamins is recommended.
6. Drink plenty of water. Water washes out toxins and impurities from the body. It is important to drink at least 8 to 10 glasses per day.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that you may still be overweight after the surgery. Weight loss will come with your new eating habits.
• Using a weight loss operation to treat obesity requires a tremendous lifestyle change.
• Be aware of the risks involved.
• Don't expect miracles. Weight loss will not happen overnight.
• Never decide on surgery before all other attempts at weight loss have been exhausted.
• Do not deviate from post-surgery instructions.
• You must adjust your eating habits after your obesity surgery or you may get extremely ill.