Weight Loss Surgery
Obesity has become a growing problem in the United States. Today, more than one-half of adults are classified as being overweight or obese. The rate of obesity is even higher in certain populations, especially in women of lower socioeconomic levels and members of some ethnic groups.
Obesity is not just a problem of overeating, but today is recognized as a chronic disease with complex causes. Morbid obesity is defined as being 100 pounds or more above your ideal body weight. Obesity is determined by calculating an individual?s body mass index (BMI). This is a ratio of height and weight.
Candidates for surgery are people whose BMI = 40 or higher, and those whose BMI = 35 or higher who have serious diseases related to obesity.
Use the following calculator to determine BMI:
It is important to understand that weight loss surgery is not a cure for morbid obesity, but is a way to control the disease. Surgeons at The Nebraska Medical Center perform two different procedures for bariatric surgery, the Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass, and Gastric Banding bypass. Most of these procedures are performed laparoscopically, based on patient?s individual issues.
Being obese can seriously affect health and life span. It is associated with many medical conditions such as elevated cholesterol levels, elevated blood pressure and diabetes mellitus to name a few. Many seek to improve their self-image. Our society's attitude about overweight individuals leads some to attempt weight reduction.
Several approaches to weight loss and control can be tried. Dietary change is the most commonly used weight loss strategy, being tried by 75-80% of people trying to lose weight. Short term success for these methods is common, but long term effectiveness and safety is less successful. Certain drugs have been tried. New ones are coming out all the time. The safety and effectiveness of these drugs is yet unclear. Exercise will improve ones overall health as well as weight loss success.
A combination of dietary and exercise therapy, reinforced by behavior modification, will lead to the greatest success in maintaining and achieving short-term weight loss and maintaining it in the long term. However, more than 1/3 of people drop out of weight loss programs and only 10% maintain weight loss after two years. Successful programs are those that can be adhered to long enough to reach the goal and maintain that goal. Morbid obesity is treated by surgery because of the proven ineffectiveness of the medical and dietary weight loss methods for people with a body mass index of 40 or more. The variations in weight that are caused by repeated attempts at conservative treatment (yo-yo dieting) can be damaging. It is important to remember that surgery for morbid obesity is not a "quick" fix. It will require behavior modification on your part. Surgery will get you started in that direction. Lack of patient compliance is one of the common reasons for failure of surgery.
Make an Appointment
Call: 800.922.0000
