Beyond Weight Loss: Understanding Bariatric Surgery and Its Life-changing Benefits

Bariatric surgery a trending term known for weight loss surgery, is becoming increasingly popular for achieving significant and long-term weight loss and improving overall health and well-being. In fact, according to recent statistics, 1.9 billion adults are overweight, and obesity has been considered the common reason for death, with over 2.8 million death globally. While bariatric surgery may seem like a drastic measure, it has been shown to have life-changing benefits for those who are struggling with obesity and related health conditions. This blog post will dive deeper into bariatric surgery and its life-changing benefits.

What is Bariatric Surgery?

Bariatric surgery is a surgical procedure that aims to achieve significant weight loss and improve overall health in individuals who are severely overweight or obese. Bariatric and weight loss surgeries are usually recommended for people suffering from morbid obesity or who have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher with one or more coexisting medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or sleep apnea.

Different types of bariatric surgery options are available, each with its unique benefit and considerations. The most common type of bariatric surgeries are:

Gastric Bypass Surgery - This surgery involves dividing the stomach into a small upper pouch and a larger lower pouch, then routing the small intestine to connect to the upper pouch.
Sleeve Gastrectomy - This method of weight loss involves removing a portion of the stomach to create a smaller, banana-shaped stomach that can hold less food.
Adjustable Gastric Banding - This procedure involves placing an inflatable band around the stomach's upper part, creating a small pouch above the band.
Biliopancreatic Diversion with duodenal switch - This surgery involves removing a large portion of the stomach and rerouting the small intestine to the remaining stomach pouch.

All the above procedures either limit the amount of food consumed or the number of calories the body can absorb.

Benefits of Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surgery offers several benefits for individuals who are struggling with obesity and related health conditions. Here are some of the benefits of bariatric obesity surgery:

Weight Loss: Bariatric surgery is highly effective in achieving significant weight loss, which can help reduce the risk of obesity-related health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea.
Improvement in co-morbid conditions: Bariatric surgery has been shown to improve or even resolve several co-morbid conditions associated with obesity, such as diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea and joint pain.
Increased quality of life: Losing weight and improving overall health can positively impact an individual's quality of life. Bariatric surgery can boost energy levels, improve mobility, and increase self-confidence.
Long-term weight management: Unlike other weight loss methods, bariatric surgery has been shown to result in long-term weight loss and weight management.
Reduced mortality risk: Studies have shown that bariatric surgery can reduce mortality risk in several obese individuals.
Potential for improved mental health: Obesity can harm mental health, and bariatric surgery has been shown to improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression.

While bariatric weight loss surgery is not a magic solution and requires a significant commitment to lifestyle changes and follow-up care, it can have life-changing benefits for individuals who are struggling with obesity and related health condition.

Risks and complications associated with bariatric surgery

While bariatric surgery offers several benefits, here are some of the potential risks and complications associated with it:

Infections are a common risk carried with any surgery.
During surgeries, there exists a risk of excessive bleeding.
The occurrence of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) is most common in the legs, i.e. the blood clots forming in the vein after the surgery.
Gastric Bypass surgery may cause dumping syndrome, i.e., the symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and dizziness while the food moves too quickly through the stomach into the small intestine.
Bariatric surgery causes rapid weight loss with can increase the risk of gallstones.
Difficulty in the absorption of nutrients after bariatric surgery leads to a potential deficiency of vitamins and minerals.

Pre- and post-operative considerations and requirements

Before undergoing bariatric obesity surgery, patients are required to undergo a comprehensive medical evaluation to determine their eligibility for the procedure. This may include a psychological evaluation, nutritional counselling and medical testing.

After the surgery, patients are required to follow a strict diet and exercise program and may also need to take vitamin and mineral supplements to prevent nutritional deficiencies. Regular follow-up appointments with the bariatric surgeon and a multidisciplinary team are also necessary to monitor progress and address potential complications.

Conclusion

Bariatric surgery is a powerful tool in the fight against obesity and its associated health risks. It can provide a new lease on life for individuals who have struggled with weight management for years, offering significant benefits such as weight loss, improved health and a better quality of life. If you or someone you know is struggling with obesity and related health conditions, you must reach out to the department of obesity and related to exploring the possibilities. Don't wait to take control of your health-reach out today and discover the life-changing benefits of bariatric surgery.

Dr. Vikas Singhal Senior Consultant