It is no secret that there is a rise in rates of overweight and obese Americans today, and any number of both causes and solutions have been proposed over the years, with some popular diet coming and going. Any combination of eating better, more exertion in daily life, and certain surgical procedures can promote a desired loss of weight through various means. Which options are best for a person may depend on health and intended weight loss goals, and medical professionals can oversee the weight loss program to make sure that it is both effective and safe.
Obesity and Its Effects
A person’s body mass index, or BMI, is a starting point to determine if a person has a healthy weight or not. Often, a BMI of 25 to 30 is considered overweight by most doctors, and numbers above that qualify as obesity. Speaking generally about obesity rates, some one in three adult Americans today is considered obese, and another qualification for this condition is if a person weights 20% or more above what is considered the normal weight for a person’s height. Often, adult Americans do try to take responsibility for their bodies and attempt weight loss. At a given time, around 54% of American adults are trying to lose weight, but often, they fail and cite a lack of discipline as the reason. Obesity can also cause joint pain, and this can contribute to how 59% of chronic pain sufferers reporting an impact on quality of life due to the pain.
What can be done? If a person does not opt for surgery such as gastric bypass or lap band surgery, a physician can determine a safe, effective new diet and workout regimen for the patient and take into account age, sex, previous surgeries, heart condition, and more. A person, especially one with complicated health, may run into risks attempting a major diet and exercise overhaul alone, so consulting one’s personal physician first is the safest route to take. Exercise can range from anything like simple aerobics and swimming to sports like soccer or basketball all the way to practicing martial arts like kickboxing or Muay Thai, which can work out the whole body and teach new skills at the same time. If the patient does not desire rigorous exercise or cannot safely do so, surgery may be the best option.
Weight Loss Surgery Options and More
Arthritis pain, risk of stroke and heart attack, and more are real dangers that obese adults may face, along with possible future surgery like hip replacement surgery to deal with obesity’s effects, so sometimes, a surgical procedure will be under taken to lose weight fast. Liposuction is one route to take, and another, less invasive method is lap band surgery.
What is lap band surgery? According to Sutter Health, lap band surgery involves placing a lap band, hence the name, around the tube leading to the stomach to restrict food intake. Another device, called a port, is placed under the abdominal skin, and it acts as an interface with the lap band, since a tuber connects that band to the port, allowing doctors to adjust the band in the future. Only small incisions are needed for lap band surgery. Once the lap band is ready, it will reduce food intake into the stomach while also making the patient feel full after only a limited serving of solid food, thus reducing calories consumed and promoting weight loss. Usually, small, protein heavy meals are recommended while minimizing carbs and eliminating high calorie drinks such as fruit juice and shakes.
As opposed to gastric bypass, no stapling or cutting of the stomach is needed for lap band surgery, and the intestines are free to digest and absorb the same amount of food as always. Also, lap band surgery only lasts about an hour and is much less complicated than gastric bypass, and if needed, the lap band can be removed again. Lap band surgery may not cause weight loss as fast as gastric bypass can, but the surgery itself is simpler and faster to undergo. Also, the patient’s commitment to exercise and new diets can also affect the weight loss program, making the exact weight loss speed variable.