Benefits of Choosing Bariatric Surgery

For many people, obesity is a lifelong struggle. There are many schools of thought about how best to lose weight and keep it off, and by the time people begin to consider surgery, many of these options have typically been exhausted. The good news? There are many benefits to choosing bariatric surgery.

Bariatric surgery decreases a person’s stomach capacity, making it necessary to take in less food. People who have had bariatric surgery must eat small meals, eating slowly and taking care to chew their food carefully. They feel full more quickly, and this makes it much easier to lose weight. Weight loss is obviously the purpose of bariatric surgery, and thus the primary benefit. However, the kind of extreme, sustained weight loss made possible by bariatric surgery provides many additional benefits.

• Bariatric surgery can improve even chronic health conditions. Recent research indicates that bariatric surgery can cause long-term remission of type 2 diabetes, allowing patients to live lives free from insulin and other medications. After surgery, cardiovascular health improves, sleep apnea is improved, and many other medical conditions are alleviated, including metabolic syndrome, complications of pregnancy, and gallbladder disease.
• After bariatric surgery, people report less pain. Excess weight leads to joint pain, which impedes the ability to exercise, which leads to more excess weight. It’s a frustrating cycle, but weight loss after bariatric surgery relieves the stress on joints to such a degree that people are often able to stop taking pain medications.
• Bariatric surgery can enhance fertility. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that impairs fertility and is often associated with obesity. Further, obese women are less likely to become pregnant spontaneously, and more likely to experience complications during pregnancy. Bariatric surgery and the ensuing weight loss have a positive effect on fertility, with numerous studies indicating a dramatic rise in the rate of fertility.
• People who have had bariatric surgery often experience psychological benefits in addition to the physical. The overall quality of life is enhanced, with people who have undergone the surgery reporting better mobility, self-esteem, social interactions, and sexual function. There’s also research to indicate that bariatric surgery can alleviate anxiety and depression.

 
If it’s time for you to make a lifelong lifestyle shift, Garden State Bariatrics can help. An MBSAQIP accredited bariatric practice, we provide surgical and ongoing medical care to help patients reach their surgical, nutritional and lifelong goals. Passionate about our work and committed to our patients’ success, we will do everything possible to assist you in living your best life.