The number of individuals struggling with obesity has skyrocketed in our country over the past few decades. Excess weight is not only a vanity-related concern; health conditions or complications that are exacerbated by morbid obesity have reached a critical point.
Obesity has been linked to higher rates of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, sleep disorders, high cholesterol, and hypertension. Research based on long-term studies even points to the correlation between obesity and increased mortality. The New England Journal of Medicine published a Swedish study several years ago that estimated the life expectancy of severely obese individuals is reduced by 5 to 20 years.
At B+A Medical, is to provide quality weight loss surgery to individuals who experience co-morbidities and are therefore at a higher risk for premature death. If you would like to schedule an appointment with our bariatric surgeons, please contact us today.
Surgical Weight Loss
Weight loss is the most effective way to reduce or eliminate the risk factors of obesity. When individuals are unable to lose excess weight through diet and exercise, surgical intervention becomes a practical consideration – and for some candidates, even a medical necessity.
Modern advances in bariatric medicine have led to minimally invasive, effective weight loss surgery that can help a patient lose most or all of his or her excess weight. Our Cedar Park surgeons, serving Austin, offer two laparoscopic weight loss surgery options. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery restricts the functioning capacity of the stomach, decreasing the amount of food that the patient can consume.
The digestive tract is rerouted to limit the absorption of calories. A sleeve gastrectomy, or gastric sleeve, reduces the capacity of the stomach without modifying the digestive tract. After surgery, the stomach only holds a few ounces of food, so patients feel full much sooner than they did prior to surgery.
Post-Surgical Lifestyle Changes
Any type of obesity surgery must be supplemented by a sincere commitment to healthy diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes. Patients who follow a sensible diet, regularly exercise, and seek out emotional support after their gastric bypass or gastric sleeve procedure see tremendous results and—as research shows—add years to their lifetime. Patients who underwent weight loss surgery showed a marked reduction in their overall mortality, according to the Swedish study referenced above.
Speak to Our Austin-Area Weight Loss Surgeons
If you are interested in learning more about obesity surgery, contact our office. Our team would be happy to register you for a free bariatric seminar, which we hold monthly to familiarize surgical candidates with our practice and the procedures we offer.
