Which Weight loss Procedure is the Right One for You?

Published on February 21 , 2018 | 4 Minutes to Read

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Obesity if not controlled or cured can be a major health hazard. Obese people are prone to various health problems such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, cancer, sleep apnoea, and type-2 diabetes, among others. When obesity becomes a chronic condition, it is hard to treat with just dieting and exercise. In such instances, physicians recommend weight loss surgery to treat it. However surgery is not for everyone who thinks they are obese, as there are specific criteria a patient needs to meet before having surgery.  There are different types of weight loss surgery for different types of obesity problems, including Gastric Banding in Perth and other cities across Australia. To help determine the right weight loss surgery for you, we discuss the options at hand and the required body mass index (BMI) for each. Read on.

What is BMI?

Bariatric surgery is strictly designed for individuals suffering from obesity with a high body mass index (BMI) or obesity-related comorbid conditions. BMI helps to estimate overall body weight and compare it to accepted standards. For example, a person with a BMI of 40 is categorized as morbidly obese. A person with a BMI less than 40 may still be considered morbidly obese if they have at least one serious co-morbid disease or health condition. The easiest way to calculate BMI is by dividing your weight (in kilograms) by your height (in square metres).

Weight Categorization

• BMI 18.5 – 24.9 : Healthy
• BMI 25 – 29.9 : Overweight
• BMI 30 – 39.9 : Obese
• BMI 40 – 49.9 : Morbidly Obese
• BMI 50 or Higher : Super Obese

Gastric Band (Lap-Band) Surgery

In gastric band surgery, the surgeon places a band around the upper part of the stomach to create a small pouch to hold food. The small upper pouch of the stomach limits food intake, which makes patients feel full even after eating small quantities of food. You can go for gastric band surgery if you fulfil any of the following conditions:

• Minimum BMI 40
• BMI at least 30 but suffer from any serious obesity related comorbid health problems
• 18 years of age or older
• Unsuccessful attempts at non-surgical weight loss treatments
• Absence of any other disease or health problem related to weight gain
• Ready to make lifestyle changes on issues such as eating habits after surgery
• Not an alcohol addict
• Not pregnant

Gastric Bypass

In gastric bypass surgery, the stomach is divided into a smaller upper pouch and larger lower pouch, then the small intestine is rearranged to connect to both. Here is when gastric bypass is the right surgery for you.

BMI 40 or more

BMI of 30 and more, with one or more obesity-related health problems

• At least 18 years of age
• Unsuccessful attempts with non-surgical weight loss treatments
• Incessant weight gain without any health problem
• Able to make changes to eating habits after surgery
• No addiction to alcohol

Sleeve Gastrectomy

In sleeve Gastrectomy surgery, the surgeon removes approx. 75-80 percent of your  stomach, by surgically removing the large portion of the stomach along the great curvature. The surgery is performed laparoscopically and is irreversible. Following are the conditions that qualify you for the sleeve gastrectomy surgery:

• Minimum BMI 40
• BMI of 30-40 with any obesity-related comorbid condition
• Not suitable for gastric bypass due to increased risk factors
• 18-60 years old
• Unsuccessful attempts at non-surgical weight loss treatments
• Incessant weight gain without any health problem
• Able to make changes to eating habits after surgery
• No addiction to alcohol

Wrapping Up

The best way to establish if you are an appropriate candidate for bariatric surgery is knowing your body mass index and whether you are willing to make changes to your eating habits.  Be sure to ask your surgeon about potential risks, benefits, and precautions associated with your specific surgery. Perth Surgical & Bariatrics, with a team who specialize in weight loss surgeries and can guide you through the decision-making process with expert guidance on your choices. Should you wish to learn more about the different procedures, feel free to contact us at 08 6558 1901, or write to us by clicking on the link here. Our team will take it from there.