Are you ready to make some major changes in your life? If you suffer from obesity, take note that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently announced that morbid obesity is the second leading cause of death that can be prevented in the United States. The epidemic affects both men and women, but women are approximately 200 percent more likely to become morbidly obese than men.
Health Issues on Account of Obesity
There are thousands of health issues that are caused or exacerbated by obesity, including cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, asthma, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, hypertension, infertility, gastric reflux, and more. Obese people are also at greater risk for several types of cancer as well as chronic pain, depression, and incontinence. About $100 billion dollars are spent on health care for obese people in the U.S. each year. This number keeps growing as the years go on.
Impaired Quality of Life
While the health issues related to obesity are numerous, even more people are affected by a diminished quality of life because of severe obesity. Simple things like being able to sit in a regular seat at the movie theater or walk around the mall without being short of breath are unattainable for most people who are obese. You may not be able to chase your kids around the playground or teach them how to play catch due to the condition of your body. Your self-image is also influenced by the way your body looks, and you may be depressed or unable to connect with your partner romantically because of your obesity. You may become reclusive, and feel that your appearance is causing others to judge you even before you speak to them.
What You Can Do
Some patients are able to lose weight with dietary changes and exercise routines, but many others struggle for years and fail to lose weight without help. Obesity can be caused by overeating and lack of exercise, but it also has genetic causes. Weight loss surgery has helped thousands of Americans who have struggled with their weight. Many patients have reported that deciding to undergo weight loss surgery was the best decision they ever made for themselves and their families. The surgery allows you to lose significant amounts of weight comparatively quickly, which will increase your energy level and allow you to do many of the things you used to do before you were obese.
Many patients who have undergone weight loss surgery have lost 50 percent of their body weight or more within the first two years after surgery. The amount of weight each patient loses depends on their starting weight, the type of procedure they had, as well as their diet and exercise routines. Patients who have undergone weight loss surgery often feel like they have been given a second chance at life. They are able to stick to new diet and exercise plans because they are so happy to be able to do many of the things that they have been unable to do because of their weight.
Health Benefits of Weight Loss Surgery
Weight loss surgery is one of the most important steps you can take to improve your health. If you are obese and have weight loss surgery, you are less likely to die within ten years than people who have not had weight loss surgery. Weight loss surgery will help you reverse or eliminate type II diabetes. It has also reduced cholesterol in 60 percent of patients or more. About half of the people who have had weight loss surgery have seen a decrease in their blood pressure and more than 85 percent of patients who had sleep apnea before their surgery saw either marked improvement or total resolution of their condition. Almost every patient also saw an enormous improvement in their mental health after their surgery.
Making the Choice
The benefits of weight loss surgery certainly outweigh the risks for most patients. It may be difficult to commit yourself to weight loss surgery at first review, but almost every patient has found that it was ultimately one of the best choices they could have made for their health and well-being.