Surgical Weight Loss: Key Points

Return to Index Step 1: Understanding Morbid Obesity Step 2: The Health Risks of Obesity Step 3: Treatment Overview Step 4: How Weight Loss Surgery Might Help Step 5: Gastric Bypass Surgery Step 6: Vertical Banded Gastroplasty Step 7: Laparoscopic Adjustable Banding System Step 8: Post-Surgical Nutrition Step 9: Post-Surgical Exercise Step 10: Post-Surgical Lifestyle Changes Key Points Glossary

*Close Menu*

Morbid obesity is NOT a sign of weakness, laziness, or gluttony. It is a serious medical condition with serious medical consequences.

Roughly 65 percent of all Americans are overweight, 25 percent are obese, and 4 percent are morbidly obese. Morbid obesity means that you are severely overweight, usually by at least 100 pounds with excessive amounts of body fat. Know your Body Mass Index (BMI). This is an estimate of how much you should weigh based on your height.

Being morbidly obese puts you at very high risk for a host of serious medical problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and many others.

The main goal when dieting is to learn new, healthy ways of eating and make them a part of your everyday routine. If you drop pounds slowly and steadily, you are more likely to keep them off. DO NOT use over-the-counter or herbal weight loss preparations without the knowledge and consent of your healthcare provider.

Exercise is a key component to any healthy lifestyle. Exercise can help you lose weight more quickly.

Despite their best efforts, some people aren't able to lose weight through diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes alone.

If you are morbidly obese and other methods (like self-driven and commercial diet programs) have not worked, consult a structured weight loss program. These use a team of qualified professionals (physicians, nutritionists, exercise trainers, and counselors) to provide care.

Medication or surgery may be considered if you are morbidly obese and other methods have not worked. There are very specific criteria to determine if you are a candidate for weight loss surgery.

Weight loss surgery modifies the size of your stomach. This will decrease the amount of food you can eat, allow you to feel much faster than usual, and possibly prevent the normal absorption of fat calories.

There are risks and complications associated with the surgery.

Talk to your physician, the health care professionals at a structured weight-loss program, and a weight-loss surgeon to determine if you are a candidate for surgery. Also discuss whether the benefits outweigh the risks for you, and which type of surgery would be best for you.

After surgery, lifestyle changes are still ABSOLUTELY necessary to bring down your weight, keep it off, and help prevent complications related to the surgery.

Review Date: October 15, 2004
Reviewed By: Jacqueline A. Hart, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Boston, MA, and Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, M.D.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.