Weight Loss Surgery Questions - Do I Really Need Surgery?

Are you considering surgery for weight loss purposes? If so, I want you to stop what you're doing and ask yourself the following question regarding bariatric weight-loss surgery:

Do I really need surgery in order to lose weight? Is it truly the only option for me?

This should be the first question you answer before pursuing any other aspect of weight loss surgery, such as finding a surgeon or lining up your finances. After all, this is surgery we are talking about here. So before you can decide if weight loss surgery is right for you, it's important to exhaust your non-surgical options for weight loss.

This is especially important if you undergo a weight loss procedure as severe as the gastric bypass. Unlike newer forms of weight loss surgery (such as gastric banding), the gastric bypass permanently alters your digestive system. That's right ... the surgeon will physically alter your stomach as well as your intestines as part of it. That's a serious form of surgery, and it comes with significant risks and potential complications. So it's important to exhaust your non-surgical options for weight loss before resorting to surgery.

"Resorting" is the opportune word here. You should only choose weight loss surgery as a last resort, and only in cases of severe obesity.

Surgery for Weight Loss and the "Quick Fix" Nation

Sometimes I look at the before-and-after photos on the websites of weight loss surgeons, and I am shocked by the types of patients who undergo this type of surgery. Many of them are merely overweight, but very few are morbidly obesity. Weight loss surgery should be reserved for patients who are morbidly obese, not for people who are merely overweight. Many of the "before" pictures show people who could have reached their target weight through regular exercise and healthy eating. But they opt for a risky surgery instead? This baffles me.

It also seems to me that many weight loss surgeons have loosened and expanded their definitions of what makes a "qualified" patient for bariatric surgery. There was a time when such surgeries were reserved for the morbidly obese -- a clinical term describing people who will literally die from their obesity, if left unchecked. But lately, it seems a lot of surgeons will operate on anyone who can afford the surgery and sign the medical waivers. This is a disturbing trend, to say the least. But I guess it's just a sign of the times and the "quick fix" mentality many people have these days.

Exhaust Your Natural Options Before Using Bariatric Surgery

Some people will make a half-hearted attempt to lose weight through proper nutrition and exercise, and then give up in frustration. Don't make this same mistake. Before turning to surgery for weight loss, you should make a serious effort to lose weight naturally (through better nutrition and exercise). It takes time and effort, but it should always be your first attempt. By addressing your nutrition and lack of exercise, you are correcting the actual source of the weight problem ... not just the symptom.

* You may republish this article on your own website or blog, as long as you credit the author and keep the active hyperlinks below. Copyright 2007, Brandon Cornett.

21 Questions on Weight Loss Surgery
This article is part of a longer series of weight loss surgery questions that potential patients should ask before choosing surgery. For more on this subject, read our 21 questions about surgery for weight loss by visiting http://www.bariatriclearningcenter.com