“I gained about 80 pounds after having a hysterectomy in 1996. I tried every diet I could think of to lose the weight. I was becoming very depressed. I couldn’t sleep well. I was tired all of the time. My energy level was low. I wanted my life back.” Carla Combs - Lost 82 pounds
According to guidelines established by the the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, you may be an appropriate candidate for bariatric surgery if you have a BMI greater than 40 – which usually translates to about 100 pounds or more overweight for men and at least 80 pounds overweight for women. In addition, bariatric surgery may also be appropriate for people with a BMI between 35 and 40 who suffer from chronic or life-threatening complications of their obesity.
Using advanced, surgical techniques, surgeons change the digestive system to promote weight loss by:
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Restriction - Limiting the amount of food a patient can eat and digest, or
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Malabsorption - Causing calories and nutrients to be poorly digested and absorbed.
Bariatric surgery put Rosalie, Lois and Carla back on the road to better health. Each of them acknowleges it wasn’t easy – surgery was just the beginning. But with a reduced body weight and improved health, Rosalie, Lois and Carla have no regrets.
Is bariatric surgery right for you? Consider these questions:
- Do you have a BMI of 35 or more?
- Do you have a body size that interferes with your employment, mobility or social activities?
- Do you have obesity-related health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes or severe sleep apnea?
- Are you determined to lose weight and improve your health?
- Are you unlikely to lose weight with (further) nonsurgical measures?
- Are you well informed about the surgical procedure and the effects of treatment?
- Are you committed to lifelong medical follow-up?
If you can answer yes to most of these questions, a medical evaluation is your next step. For more information about bariatric surgery at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, please contact 1-888-HEALING. (1-888-432-5464).
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