Good candidates for weight loss or bariatric surgery are individuals who are obese or morbidly obese. Most have tried to slim down with diets and/or exercise, but have failed. Not surprisingly, the popularity of bariatric surgery has soared.
For many, weight reduction surgery has been the answer to their obesity dilemma. Unfortunately, weight loss surgery is not for everyone.
For those who need to lose ten, twenty or thirty pounds, it is not the answer. However, for the morbidly obese who have been unsuccessful in other weight reduction efforts, weight reduction surgery can help them achieve a healthy weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Although this surgery is not typically covered by insurance, many insurance plans, including Medicare, pay for weight loss surgery in cases of medical necessity. Additionally, recent advances in the procedure have made it much more reasonable even for private pay.
But not all people who need to lose weight will be considered for the program.
- Diet restrictions are important to the success of the surgery.
- The stomach is reduced in size.
- This assists in weight loss, but to maximize results and minimize complications, patients must restrict their diet.
- Diet restrictions are necessary in the pre and post-surgery stages.
A consultation appointment with a surgeon will determine if you are an eligible candidate.
If so, your surgeon will begin to discuss expectations. Not only will he or she outline what you can expect from surgery, but they will outline what is expected from you.
Doctors take a close look at the whole person when determining if the person is a good candidate for weight loss surgery. If the patient is not willing to do the pre-surgery diet and work, the doctor may not elect to move forward with the procedure. After all, if you couldn’t restrict your diet before, what would be different now?
Part of the pre-process requirements are to challenge the patient and get them started on a new lifestyle change that will have a positive, long-term impact on their ongoing weight loss results and target weight maintenance.
There are other factors the surgeon will consider in determining if the procedure is right for you, such as:
Age – Generally, weight loss surgery can be performed on anyone between the ages of 18 and 60.
Weight – If your weight is double your ideal body weight, you may be a candidate for the procedure.
Medical – There are no medical conditions responsible for the weight gain such as hormonal imbalances, tumors or other diseases, or those diseases have been treated, or are currently being treated.
Commitment – You are committed to changing your habits including eating, lifestyle, diet and exercise–not only immediately, but also into the future
History – You have a history of trying to lose weight and gaining it back, or you have been obese for at least five years with no success at traditional weight loss methods.
Addictions – You have no known or diagnosed addictions to alcohol, drugs or other controlled substances.
If you meet all of the above requirements, you’re probably a good candidate for weight loss surgery.
Fad diets are ineffective and our sedentary lifestyles combined with the proliferation of fast food and processed food has contributed to this epidemic. For some, gastric surgery can be the solution to the problem of morbid obesity.
IMPORTANT: If you fall into the category of people desperately seeking to lose weight, but are not a potential candidate for weight loss surgery, setting up a workout plan can help you reach your goals!
Trying to diet and exercise can be exceptionally difficult as older habits are harder to break, but forming a regimen and sticking to it can have amazing results.
