Losing weight requires unyielding physical and mental effort, determination, goal orientation, and consistency. The end results ensue after several months of exercising weight training, and healthy lifestyle. But, in reality, many do not have the patience to wait that long. Those who can afford resort to weight loss machines advertised on home television shopping channel for instant results, but most of these devices are a total hoax. Another option they select is weight loss surgery, which will be our main focus in this article.
Yes, those who have a total BMI or Body Mass Index of 30 and above may resort to weight loss surgery. To know your BMI, get your weight in pounds divided by your height in inches squared. Or more for accurate result, go to your fitness instructor or physician and have it checked, because there are devices that can easily determine the BMI of an individual. Those ranging 30 and above are considered obese and morbidly obese.
The Food and Drug Administration of the United States has approved two weight loss surgeries: the Lap-Band (laparoscopic surgery) and the Realize Adjustable Gastric Band by Ethicon Endo-Surgery Inc. Both utilize the same procedure of implanting an adjustable silicon-based gastric band in a person’s upper stomach. The band will narrow the opening of the stomach to control food intake and how fast the food passes through the lower stomach. This technique makes a person feel full quickly. In case the patient is uncomfortable with how tight the gastric band is, there is an access port on the skin that is connected to a tube into the gastric band, where saline can be removed by the surgeon to adjust the band. Vice versa, if the band is too loose, the surgeon may inject more saline to reduce the opening. Sounds simple, right? But before deciding to undergo this procedure, you should know first how do you qualify for weight loss surgery.
Last February 2011, the FDA announced its latest patient criteria for the weight loss surgery. Individuals aged 18 and above, with a BMI of 30 and above may undergo Lap-Band and Realize Adjustable Gastric Band, provided that they have an obesity related health condition and have never done the natural dieting and exercising weight loss techniques. If you are physically fit and do not have complications dangerous for dieting and exercising, the surgery is not recommended for you. Why? Because if you are healthy enough to lose weight naturally, why spend $15000 to $20000 for a surgery? It will be a waste of money and your God-given physical capabilities. Only the obese patients with heart diseases, high blood pressure, apnea, and type 2 diabetes may truly benefit from the weight loss surgery.
So, although the procedure is 100% safe and effective, think twice first before shelling out a huge amount of money.