What are the definitions of "overweight" vs. "obese"?
Overweight refers to an excess of body weight compared to set standards. The excess weight may come from muscle, bone, fat and/or body water. Obesity refers specifically to having an abnormally high proportion of body fat. A person can be overweight without being obese, as in the example of a bodybuilder or other athlete who has a lot of muscle. However, many people who are overweight are also obese. A number of methods are used to determine if someone is overweight or obese. Some are based on the relation between height and weight; others are based on measurements of body fat. The most commonly used method today is body mass index (BMI), which is based on height and weight, and it is not gender-specific.
Do I qualify for weight loss surgery?
To be considered morbidly obese, a person's body weight must reach 100 pounds or more over the ideal weight for gender and frame, or a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher. A BMI of 35 or higher in the presence of at least two other significant diseases is also classified by some experts as morbid obesity.
What causes obesity?
Weight gain occurs when we eat more calories than our bodies use up. If the food we eat provides more calories than our bodies need, the excess is converted to fat. Initially, fat cells increase in size. When they can no longer expand, they increase in number. If we lose weight, the size of our fat cells decreases, but the number of cells do not. This is why so many people gain back the weight they have worked so hard to lose. Obesity, however, has many causes, including age, gender, genes, psychological makeup, environmental and cultural factors. Medical conditions, such as hypothyroidism, depression and glandular (hormonal) conditions, also contribute to the disease.
Why choose bariatric surgery?
If you’ve been unable to achieve permanent weight loss through diet and exercise alone, or face significant health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, depression, sleep apnea or osteoarthritis, bariatric surgery may be the right choice for you. Today, there are a number of surgical options available to treat obesity. Most are minimally invasive. And all have shown predictable and positive results.
Is surgery right for me?
When deciding whether or not to have bariatric surgery, you should research all the various options available. Also, consult with a bariatric physician to answer all your questions and confirm that you’re an ideal surgical candidate. The primary goal of bariatric surgery is to live a healthier, happier and longer life, but it’s not an easy way out or a quick fix for obesity. It includes the same risks as other abdominal surgeries and is only one tool to be used for successful weight loss. Adherence to recommended food intake guidelines, frequent exercise and increased activity will help maintain a normal weight after surgery.
What are my treatment options?
We offer the latest weight-loss surgery options available and the medical expertise to perform them safely and effectively. Bariatric surgery options include:
Conventional Gastric Bypass Roux-en-Y (RNY)
Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Roux-en-Y (Lap-RNY)
Gastric Banding
There’s a weight-loss plan that’s perfect for you and our experts will take all the time necessary to help you make the best possible choice. If surgery is not the right option for you, we offer other treatment options to suit your individual needs, including PositiveLite medically managed
weight-loss program.
Isn’t bariatric surgery expensive?
Your insurance policy may cover bariatric surgery if you’ve been diagnosed as morbidly obese by a physician and meet specific pre-surgery guidelines. But every policy is unique, so you’ll need to check your Certificate of Coverage. Our bariatric program can assist you with this process, as well as offer alternative financing options, if needed. But before deciding bariatric surgery is too expensive, consider the average out-of-pocket expense for an obese person is $9,434 per year from failed diets, lost wages, medicine and doctor visits. In the United States alone, obesity ranks as the second leading cause of preventable death.
Is bariatric surgery painful?
Many patients experience only mild discomfort for a few days following bariatric surgery. And most return to their normal daily activities within a couple of weeks after the procedure. But various types of pain control are available. For those who qualify, Lap-RNY gastric bypass surgery uses advanced video monitors and equipment, allowing faster recovery times and less scarring than conventional RNY. Also, gastric banding is a breakthrough weight-loss procedure that requires no cutting, stapling or intestinal rerouting, offering the safest and least invasive obesity surgery available.
Do the benefits of bariatric surgery outweigh the risks?
Obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, asthma and some forms of cancer. Fortunately, recent studies report decreases in mortality after bariatric surgery. Plus, many of the diseases and health conditions associated with obesity simply disappear, including sleep apnea, acid reflux disease, arthritis and incontinence. Weight-loss surgery can also cure Type 2 diabetes, eliminating the dependence on insulin or oral diabetes drugs. But as with any procedure, bariatric surgery has its own risks of complications which should be discussed with your physician. However, those risks can be greatly reduced when the procedure is conducted by a specially trained surgical team in a facility dedicated to bariatric medicine, as well as carefully following instructions before and after surgery.
After surgery, will I be able to eat my favorite foods or feel deprived?
Immediately following bariatric surgery, your eating habits will be altered significantly. By creating a smaller stomach pouch during surgery, you’ll feel fuller sooner and eat less food. And for the first three to four weeks after surgery, you’ll eat or drink a few ounces at a time, allowing the stomach to heal. Once you’ve transitioned to solid foods, you’ll be able to eat more, but not as much as you could before surgery. Eventually, many of your favorite foods will be reincorporated into your diet, just in smaller portions. However, foods high in calories, fat or sugar should be avoided to positively impact the long-term effect of bariatric surgery.
I’ve failed at every diet I tried, how is bariatric surgery different?
You’ve probably heard the myth that if you’ve been a “yo-yo” dieter, it’s impossible to lose weight and keep it off. Or that if you’re lucky enough to lose weight, you’re sentenced to a life of deprivation. But that’s not true. You have the power to make lifelong changes and positive choices that will leave you happier and healthier than ever before. Even if you’ve battled your weight for years, bariatric surgery can help you live the life you’ve always dreamed about. Unlike dieting alone, the right bariatric program will be there to support you throughout the weight-loss process, emotionally and physically. And more importantly, provide the knowledge and resources to help you permanently maintain your new body and lifestyle.
Why choose TEAM:BARIATRICS?
At TEAM:BARIATRICS, our multidisciplinary team of surgeons, physicians, nurses, registered dietitians and personal trainers work together to help you achieve your physical weight-loss goals and provide unsurpassed emotional support throughout your journey. They’ll work with you one-on-one to develop a plan specific to your needs. And once your comprehensive program is completed, you’ll have a new body and lifestyle, and the knowledge and resources to maintain them permanently. You’re wholly unique, and we’ll never treat you as anything else. From our modern facility and on-site fitness center, to our support groups and dedicated weight-loss specialists equipped with the latest research and technology, we provide all the tools you’ll need to live a happier, healthier and more fulfilling life.
