Candidates for Weight Loss Surgery

Who is Not a Good Candidate for Weight Loss Surgery

When diet and exercise fails to help a person lose the extra weight, weight loss surgery is often considered. This is not a quick fix and it is not an easy weight loss plan. Weight loss surgery takes time to heal, it can be expensive and it requires a complete change in diet, exercise and attitudes. There are many people who are good candidates for this type of surgery; however, there are just as many people who should not consider weight loss surgery.

Weight loss surgery requires that a person make a complete change in their attitudes and behaviors.

Having the surgery alone will not result in drastic weight loss. A person who has had the surgery must learn how to eat and what foods to eat. In addition, exercise is critical after having this surgery. Doctors that perform these types of surgery generally ask their patients to exercise at least thirty minutes a day five days a week. Those having this surgery must also learn to prepare their healthy foods and learn listen to their body when they are full.

People who cannot commit to these drastic lifestyle changes or do wish to change their habits are not considered good weight loss surgery candidates.

In addition, patients who are not considered morbidly obese are not good candidates for weight loss surgery. General guidelines states that patients should be at least 100 pounds overweight or rate a 40 or above on the body mass index rating before being considered for this type of surgery. Sometimes, those who weigh 80 pounds or more will be considered if they suffer from obesity related illnesses.

Weight loss surgery is not right for people who suffer from certain diseases and illnesses.

A person who has experienced an injury at the surgery site, such as a gastric perforation cannot have weight loss surgery.

Also those with cirrhosis of the liver and portal hypertension are not good candidate. Women who are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant should not consider weight loss surgery as an option for losing weight. This can be dangerous because there are less calories and nutrients absorbed by the body following surgery. Those who have the Lap-Band procedure can consider pregnancy after one year following their weight loss surgery.

Who is a Good Candidate for Weight Loss Surgery?

There is more to being a good candidate for weight loss surgery than being overweight. There are guidelines set to determine the degrees of obesity and a good surgical candidate must meet these guidelines. Candidates for weight loss surgery also must not be under the age of 18 and should be in healthy condition. These guidelines are adhered to so that patients experience optimal results following their surgery.

Weight loss surgery is a good way for those who are obese to shed the extra weight.

These types of surgeries give patients gradual results, often taking at least a year to see the difference. For many, weight lose surgeries are a last resort when all other diet and exercise methods have been tried and failed. It is important for health care professionals to stick to the guidelines for weight loss surgery patients.

Patients that qualify for weight loss surgery should rate as morbidly obese on the mass body index.

This index takes a person’s weight and height into consideration and finds what the person’s ideal body what is before surgery. Those who measure 40 or more on the mass body index are generally good candidates for the surgery. Sometimes, doctors will perform the surgery on these who are considered severely obese, or rates 35 to 39.9 on the index, if the person is exhibiting obesity related illnesses.

Good candidates for the weight loss surgery must also be over the age of 18.

Those who are younger are not ready to have a drastic surgery for weight loss. Children’s bodies are still changing and developing. Obese children should try other methods of weight loss.

Another characteristic of a good weight loss surgery candidate is a person who has been obese for at least five years and has tried other forms of weight loss without success.

Those who have been overweight for less than five years may be experiencing temporary weight gain due to lifestyle changes, stress or depression. Patients should also have tried other methods of weight loss without success. Doctors want to make certain that people are not turning to weight loss without trying to control their weight through diet changes and daily exercise. Weight loss surgery requires a complete lifestyle change, so a potential surgery patient should be ready to make this kind of commitment. In addition, weight loss surgery patients should not drink alcohol on a regular basis. This can hamper weight loss attempts and lead to problems with the digestive system following surgery.

Obesity can cause health problems such as hypertension type 2 diabetes, strokes, sleep apnea, and joint problems over a long period of time. A good weight loss surgery patient should be relatively healthy and not suffer from life-threatening diseases or illnesses. This is to ensure that they get the best medical care as possible. Lastly, weight loss surgery patients should not be pregnant and should not be planning on getting pregnant. With some weight loss surgeries, it is not recommended to become pregnant at all after the surgery. With the Lap-Band, a patient should wait 12 to 18 months after the surgery before considering pregnancy.

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