Excess weight gain or obesity is a common problem across the world. The condition is problematic as it is often accompanied by a lot of other health issues which can be severe and life-threatening in some cases. The measure of obesity is the body mass index (BMI) that evaluates your weight concerning your height. A value over 35 indicates obesity that cannot be treated with diet, workouts, and lifestyle changes.
This is where bariatric surgery can help you. The surgery alters the organs of your digestive system to assist weight loss. It either shrinks your stomach to make you eat lesser or manipulate your small intestine to absorb lesser calories. It is performed only when you are not able to lose weight by any other means or keep gaining. Aryan Hospital is one of the best and oldest multi-specialty hospitals in Gurgaon. A team of highly experienced doctors examines and monitors your condition throughout the treatment to ensure the safety and success of the procedure. We are powered with the most recent technologies to achieve maximum accuracy. Our team ensures that you get a pleasant experience and improved life after the treatment.
Guiding Principle to Qualify for Weight Loss Surgery
Bariatric surgery or weight loss surgery is a major procedure. There is no denying that it helps you lose your weight and potentially reduce the risk of health issues related to obesity like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, heart issues, sleep issues, etc. However, it also exposes you to many risks and complications during the procedure. For that reason, you have to meet certain criteria or guidelines to be able to get bariatric surgery. Meticulous examination and extensive screening are conducted before you are declared fit for the operation. Here are some general guidelines you should meet to qualify for the surgery.
- You must give a try to lose weight with exercise and diet and when all efforts fail, only then you are considered for the surgery.
- The evaluation process yields that your BMI is 40 or higher.
- Although your BMI is found between 35 and 40, you are battling with serious weight-related health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure and high risk of heart attacks, etc.
- If your BMI is 35 or more and you are a teenager who has been through puberty, you qualify for the surgery considering the seriousness of the obesity and related issues you have.
Evaluation of Readiness
Despite being the right candidate according to the general guiding principles, you may or may qualify for the surgery. Even if you meet all the general requirements, extensive screening is conducted to evaluate your medical condition and readiness for the operation. The evaluation is done by a team of doctors, psychologists, dieticians, and surgeons. The aim is to weigh the potential associated risks and benefits from the surgery. Only if the benefits are compelling enough, surgery is performed. The team of experts would assess you for the following conditions.
- History related to nutrition and weight
By assessing your eating habits and workout regimes, the team tries to understand your weight patterns and the reasons for the failure of attempts to lose weight. Your stress level and time restrictions are also considered during this estimation.
- Medical Condition
If you are suffering from conditions like heart problems, liver illnesses, nutritional deficiency, clotting issues, kidney stones, etc., the surgery is likely to aggravate these problems and be riskier. The team will assess your smoking, alcohol, sleeping habits along with the medication you take to establish your eligibility for bariatric surgery.
- Psychological Readiness
Mental health issues like anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorder, depression, severe bipolar disorder, etc are huge barriers in the path of weight loss. These factors also lessen the benefits you could draw from bariatric surgery. Your surgery is likely postponed until these conditions are improved to get the maximum out of the procedure. Also, it has been observed that the management of mental health becomes difficult in patients who underwent weight-loss surgery and become worse in some cases. For that reason, your doctors would insist on providing the best possible psychological support during and after the operation.
- Motivation
You cannot achieve the desired results even after the surgery if you are not willing to follow the recommendations and make the necessary lifestyle changes. So, your doctor will assess your enthusiasm to take up the procedure and willingness to accomplish it.
- Age
In the present time, age is not much of an issue. Earlier the weight loss surgery was not considered safe for teenagers and elderly people. However, with the latest developments, it is now performed for the people of all ages provided they conform to other criteria.
Once you are declared eligible for a weight loss surgery, you will be asked to prepare for a few weeks or months. During this period you will have to follow a restrictive diet and supervised exercise routine. Lifestyle changes like quitting alcohol and smoking are also necessary. If you can incorporate all these changes, do not gain weight, and are mentally prepared, you are considered fit and ready for the procedure.