Americans are falling prey to weight gain and obesity. For many, weight loss surgery could be their first opportunity to live a normal life.
The economic impact of overweight and obesity and the health problems they bring with them create a massive drain on the U.S. health care system.The costs of preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services, the value of income lost from decreased productivity, restricted activity, absenteeism, and bed days and the costs of future income lost by premature death are all costs that affect Medicaid, Medicare and our public health programs.In fact, most insurance companies have found that they save money by approving bariatric (weight loss) surgery, which allows their clients to eliminate their obesity related problems altogether, rather than paying the costs of services necessary for those obese and overweight clients to continue as they are.
The Duodenal Switch surgery combines both restrictive and malabsorptive elements and has been proven very effective for the exceptionally obese since it has the best reported percentage of weight loss.In this procedure, the restrictive element is the removal of approximately seventy-five percent of the stomach.The malabsorptive element consists of rearranging the small intestine in order that food is only absorbed in the last 29-39 inches which significantly reduces the amount of fat and calories absorbed.With very little absorption after this surgery, those who have it must maintain a high-protein diet and vitamin and mineral supplementation for the rest of their lives.Although those with the Duodenal Switch don't need to worry about "Dumping Syndrome" after their surgery, they do run a greater risk of suffering from chronic diarrhea.
Vertical Banded Gastroplasty variations are known as Vertically Banded Gastric Partition, Gastric Stapling and the Fobi Pouch.This particular procedure has a particularly high reoperation rate, is less effective than other procedures and is rarely used today.This procedure is mainly restrictive in that a propylene collar is used to create a small pouch in the upper stomach.Overeating can cause the pouch to stretch and weight gain to reoccur.Roughly twenty percent of the people who have this particular procedure do not lose weight.
The Lap Band is the common name for the Adjustable Silicone Gastric Band and is the common form of weight loss surgery in Europe and Australia.Although it has been in use in Europe since 1993, it has only been used in the United States since 2001.This is one of the least invasive forms of weight loss surgery.Similar to Vertical Banded Gastroplasty, the Lap Band procedure requires the placing of a hollow silicon band around the upper part of the stomach (creating a small pouch).The key feature of the Lap Band is that it is adjustable.If you stay full too long, or get hungry too soon after eating, the band can be adjusted without additional surgical procedures.The Lap Band procedure involves placing a reservoir just under the skin which is connected by a tube to the band.In order to adjust the band opening, your surgeon or a nurse practitioner can inject or remove saline from the reservoir and thereby adjust the size of the band opening as needed.Unlike most other procedures, the Lap Band is entirely reversible.The band, tube and reservoir can be removed and the stomach will return to its original form.Individuals who undergo this procedure can expect to lose about forty to fifty percent of their excess weight within approximately two years if they follow the rules for eating and exercise after surgery.
According to the American Society for Bariatric Surgery and the National Institutes of Health, the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is the gold standard for weight loss surgery and the most frequently performed weight loss procedure in the United States.This procedure involves stapling to create a small stomach pouch approximately one half to one ounce in size and stapling shut the remainder of the stomach.The new pouch empties directly into the lower portion of the small intestine, limiting calorie absorption.Weight loss after this procedure can average seventy-seven percent of excess body weight.Long term weight loss maintenance is generally higher with this procedure than with others.Studies have shown that approximately ninety-six percent of certain associated health conditions such as back pain, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, diabetes and depression were either improved or completely resolved.Due to the malabsorptive nature of this procedure, people undergoing this procedure must take additional vitamin and mineral supplements after surgery.
Obesity is killing America.More and more Americans are falling prey to weight gain and eventual obesity.The side effects of obesity are being felt acutely by the Baby Boomer generation where physical ailments such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, angina, congestive heart failure, stroke, gallstones, gout, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, and cancer are taking a massive toll.For those individuals who are morbidly obese and their bodies have become unresponsive to diet and exercise, weight loss surgery may be their only chance for a normal life.In fact, weight loss surgery could be their first opportunity to live a normal life.
