How Bariatric Surgery Can Help Sufferers of Obesity

Obesity is a serious medical condition wherein excess body fat has accumulated in the body to such an extent that it has become life-threatening. Obese people suffer from reduced life expectancy and adverse health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain kinds of cancer. Obesity has become a global health issue, reaching critical proportions in the United States where 34 percent of adults are considered obese. A sedentary lifestyle, high caloric intake, and genetic susceptibility are among the common causes of obesity. Hence, individuals that consume an unhealthy diet high in fat and sugar, get very little exercise, and are genetically susceptible to weight gain are more likely to become obese. Obesity is a serious condition that not only destroys health and adversely affects quality of life, it also damages self-esteem. For individuals combating obesity, doctors recommend a low calorie diet rich in nutritious food. They also recommend doing aerobic exercises to burn fat. While implementing exercise and a proper diet are known to help obese patients, certain prescription drugs and even surgery are recommended for severely obese individuals for enhanced weight loss. Bariatric surgery is often recommended by doctors for patients on whom diet and exercise have had little effect. A common form of bariatric surgery is the laparoscopic adjustable gastric band procedure. Weight loss is achieved by reducing the size of the patient’s stomach with an implanted Slimband device. The device creates a smaller pouch in the upper portion of the stomach which is connected to the rest of the stomach with an outlet called a stoma. Patients with this implanted device feel nourished on a smaller amount of food. Long-term studies have shown that bariatric surgery has improved long-term weight loss in many patients that have Slimband, enabling them to recover from diabetes, reduce their risk for heart disease, and bring their mortality rate down from 40 to 23 percent. Surgery is performed under anesthesia and is usually done in an hour. Full recovery is expected at six to eight weeks. Many insurance companies cover Slimband Cost bariatric surgery under their med-claim criteria but it is still advisable for patients to consult their insurance companies and review their policies before undergoing the procedure.