Advanced Weight Solutions Health Benefits of Weight Loss
There's Hope for A Better Life
Okay. Here's the truth: When you're very overweight, each and every day you're putting yourself at risk for the problems that come with obesity. You've heard of some of the problems—you may even already have them: type II diabetes, high blood pressure, pain in your joints, and/or sleep apnea, to name a few. The health issues associated with obesity —also called co-morbidities—can double your risk of an early death, compared to non-obese people.
The good news is it's been proven that if you undergo a surgical solution for obesity you will also be addressing these other health problems. In other cases, type II diabetes has totally resolved itself within days of the surgery. In time, most—if not all—of your health issues will improve, as well.
Alexian Brothers Advanced Weight Solutions can show you how you can reduce your weight and improve your chances to enjoy a longer life with much improved health.
Health issues associated with obesity:
Type II Diabetes
Type II diabetes is a disorder where the body produces insulin, but resists it. The body needs insulin to control blood sugar. Unfortunately, obese people develop a resistance to insulin. While type II diabetes may occur regardless of someone's age, gender, or body mass, the disease tends to be more severe in the obese.
How does bariatric surgery improve type II diabetes?
There has been significant evidence revealing that patients who undergo gastric bypass lower their insulin resistance, reduce their blood pressure, as well as the amount of fats in their blood. In a landmark study, some patients saw the complete resolution of diabetes within days following gastric bypass surgery, even before significant weight loss was achieved.
In a remarkable result, many gastric bypass surgery patients with type II diabetes have demonstrated little or no need for continuing medication.
High Blood Pressure/Heart Disease
What are these two illnesses?
Simply stated, when you carry excess body weight, it keeps the heart from working properly. The result can be high blood pressure, which can lead to stroke and can cause heart and kidney damage. While high blood pressure may occur regardless of someone's age, gender, or body mass, it tends to be more severe in the obese.
How does bariatric surgery improve high blood pressure?
Bariatric surgery reduces excess body weight over time, which reduces heart strain and blood pressure. When you lose weight, change your diet and exercise habits, you may experience improvement in blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems. Even a weight loss of 10 percent can lower blood pressure significantly.
What success have patients experienced through bariatric surgery?
A study of 500 patients showed a 92 percent resolution of hypertension.
Dyslipidemia/High Cholesterol
Dyslipidemia is a disorder of the lipids, or fats within the blood. A common form of dyslipidemia is high cholesterol, too much of certain fats in the blood. When these fats build up inside artery walls, harmful scar tissue causes thickening and hardening in the walls. This is called atherosclerosis.
How does bariatric surgery improve dyslipidemia?
More than 93 percent of patients who underwent gastric bypass surgery experienced a significant reduction in total cholesterol levels.
Osteoarthritis of Weight-Bearing Joints
Osteoarthritis is caused by the wear-and-tear on a joint that leads to the breaking down of the joint's cartilage. When a person is severely overweight, the excess body weight wears particularly on the knees and hips. Bones and muscles of the back are also strained, causing disk problems, pain, and decreased flexibility.
How does bariatric surgery improve osteoarthritis?
As the patient loses weight, less weight is placed on joints and the strain on joints is reduced. Bariatric surgery reduces body weight over time and has proven effective in treating osteoarthritis.
What success have patients experienced through bariatric surgery?
A recent study of 500 patients showed a 90 percent resolution of arthritis among surgical patients.
Depression
Depression is an illness involving the body, mood, and thoughts. Depression affects every aspect of a persons life—the diet, sleeping patterns, self-esteem, and one's general outlook.
How does bariatric surgery improve depression?
Emotional health and physical health are inseparable. As one's lifestyle improves, and becomes healthier, depression can be resolved. Weight loss and counseling can be very helpful in improving depression.
What success have patients found through bariatric surgery?
Bariatric surgery patients report experiencing improved social interactions, psychological well-being, employment opportunities, and economic conditions. Pre-surgical psychological screening can help prepare you for the changes that come with surgery, weight loss, and in setting realistic goals and expectations
Sleep Apnea/Respiratory Problems
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when a person's breathing suddenly stops when soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep. The greater your excess body weight, the greater the amount of fat pressing down on your chest and lungs. When you are morbidly obese, you are likely to have a greater buildup of fat deposits in the tongue and neck.
Breathing difficulties and shortness of breath with activity are some of the most common symptoms of the overweight patient. Some patients are misdiagnosed as having asthma and receive unnecessary medications that do not alleviate the problem and can even be detrimental to your health.
Weight loss surgery alleviates these sometimes disabling symptoms, and dramatically improves respiratory function.
How does bariatric surgery improve sleep apnea?
Bariatric surgery reduces the body's excess weight including the fat in the tongue and neck. Weight reduction is essential treatment for people with sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea was resolved in 85.7 percent of patients who had gastric bypass surgery.
Many people suffering from sleep apnea go undiagnosed. If you are obese and feel tired and fall asleep during the day, talk to your physician about sleep apnea.
Gastroesophageal Reflux (GERD)
What is it?
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease is injury to the esophagus caused by chronic exposure to stomach acid. Excess body weight weakens the valve at the top of the stomach, allowing acid to escape into the esophagus. This escape is known as gastroesophageal reflux. Though heartburn is often associated with this disease, GERD, or acid reflux, is a serious disease that can cause esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus, and esophageal cancer.
A five- to 10-year follow-up study that included 16,191 participants showed that there is a relationship between obesity, nighttime acid reflux and habitual snoring, and the onset of asthma and respiratory symptoms in adults. Another patient study found that people who suffer from acid reflux had experienced a worsening of symptoms as their weight increased.
How does bariatric surgery improve GERD?
Bariatric surgery improves acid reflux by reducing the pressure on the valve at the top of the stomach, and by reducing the amount of stomach acid produced.
What success have patients found through bariatric surgery?
A study of 500 patients showed complete resolution of acid reflux in 98 percent of patients. One study revealed that all participants who had gastric bypass surgery reported an improvement in or no symptoms of GERD.
Urinary Stress Incontinence
Morbidly obese women are at risk factor for urinary stress incontinence —a condition where it becomes difficult to control one's urine. A large, heavy abdomen and relaxation of the pelvic muscles due to morbid obesity may cause the valve on the urinary bladder to weaken or leak when coughing, sneezing, or laughing.
How does bariatric surgery improve Urinary Stress Incontinence?
Bariatric surgery has been found to improve urinary stress incontinence when less weight is on the bladder.
What success have patients found through bariatric surgery?
A 2000 study of 500 patients showed 97 percent resolution of urinary stress incontinence in patients after gastric bypass surgery.
Asthma and Pulmonary Conditions
Breathing difficulties and shortness of breath with activity are some of the most common symptoms of the overweight patient. Some patients are misdiagnosed as having asthma and receive unnecessary medications that do not alleviate the problem and can even be detrimental to your health.
How does bariatric surgery improve asthma?
Weight loss surgery alleviates these sometimes disabling symptoms, and dramatically improves respriatory function.
Reproductive Health
Reproductive health issues, such as infertility, menstrual irregularities, abnormal flow, and additional pain during menstruation can all be associated with morbid obesity. Fertility issues include: possible miscarriage, reduced success with fertility treatments, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is an endocrine disorder in women of childbearing age that can cause infertility and other reproductive health conditions.
How does bariatric surgery improve reproductive health?
Weight loss surgery has been found to improve some of the conditions that interfere with pregnancy, such as PCOS and high blood pressure. It is not uncommon for surgeons to request that their female bariatric patients avoid pregnancy during the first year after surgery. It is vital to be aware of fertility changes after surgery so that you don't become pregnant too soon.
What success have patients found through bariatric surgery?
A recent study of women following gastric bypass surgery showed improvement of multiple clinical problems related to infertility and PCOS. All women had normal menstrual cycles after about three months following surgery.
