People suffering from extreme obesity often fail to lose weight with diet and exercise alone. A weight loss surgery or bariatric surgery can help them lose weight effectively.
There are numerous evidences that suggest bariatric surgery can reduce death rates in severely obese people.
The odds improve dramatically if they make healthy changes in their eating habits and adopt a healthy lifestyle post-surgery.
What is Bariatric Surgery?
A gastric bypass or any similar weight loss surgery is collectively referred to as bariatric surgery. This involves making changes in the digestive system to boost weight loss. The purpose of this surgery is to either limit the body’s ability to absorb nutrients or limit the quantity of food you can eat.
There are some procedures that restrict both. Bariatric surgery can easily help you achieve weight loss goals provided healthy changes, and regular exercises are included in your daily routine.
Before you undergo weight loss surgery, there are certain things you must keep in mind. Keep reading to learn more about it:
Planning for the Surgery and Getting Help
There is a lot of planning required before you can go in for a surgery. Before the surgery, you will have to undergo many types of tests to ensure that you are fit for bariatric surgery. Your surgeon will also advise you to follow a certain diet to prepare you for the surgery.
You must have friends and relatives to be there for you. You require some time to recover from a weight loss surgery – most patients may take 2-3 weeks, but there are some who may take as long as 6 weeks to recover.
There are many things to take care of when you are recovering from the surgery –household chores, hospitalization, post-doctor visits, and many other routine responsibilities that someone performs on your behalf.
You must have someone trustworthy to stay beside you and help you to adjust with the changes that you begin to implement in your life before and after the surgery.
Physcial and Emotional Challenges
Bariatric surgery makes certain alerations in the digestive system. These changes may be irreversible depending on the type of surgery performed. Undeniably, there are many good changes that you will observe.
The most apparent one is weight loss. You will also feel more energetic, overall good health, and great self-esteem. Despite these encouraging alterations people may experience emotional challenges.
- You will miss food, old habits, stress of surgery, and some post-operative complications. Food is a stress buster for many, and it could also be one of the reasons to why they are obese. A bariatric surgery also means they cannot binge eat, which means they would have to look for alternative solutions to deal with their stress.
- Anxiety and depression after surgery are not uncommon.
- Your stomach is accustomed to consuming carbohydrate-rich foods, sodas, juices, and similar types of junk food. It may take some time to adapt to the sudden change in the type of food and/or the quantity of food provided to it.
- Some may also face health issues like plateaued weight or regaining weight.
- People undergoing weight loss surgery may also experience nutritional deficiencies, low blood sugar, or dehydration.
The key to managing these emotional or physical challenges is to strictly adhere to the diet and lifestyle changes mentioned by your bariatric surgeon.
Bariatric surgery can bring about drastic changes in your life. It can be your way to achieving a healthy and confident life. However, it requires an unwavering commitment to your health. You must be ready to face all challenges that come your way in achieving good health and living a healthy lifestyle after bariatric surgery.
