Weight is one of the biggest problems that affect people in the developed world. It is one of the main detractors from wellness as it can cause all kinds of terrible, life-limiting diseases. It is often caused by a sedentary lifestyle and a diet that is high in calories, and it is becoming more widespread.
Approximately one third of all Americans are obese, and this is also starting to spread to the Caribbean. It is, of course, already a huge problem (if you’ll pardon the pun!) in the UK.
Studies have shown that once you become obese, dieting and exercise are not going to have much of an effect – they do still help your wellbeing but do not help you lose the weight, long term. In these cases, the only option is really bariatric or weight-loss surgery.
Bariatric surgery can often be really helpful in producing significant weight loss in obese people. The surgery involves reducing the size of the stomach, so that less food can be put into it, or changing the way that the gut is structured in order to absorb less calories as it passes through the body.
Through this powerful weight loss tool, patients can enjoy the health-related benefits that shedding the pounds can bring, such as less chance of having diabetes (or even a reversal of the symptoms) and it can also cure sleep apnoea, lower blood pressure and improve arthritis.
Weight loss surgery is not always the quick fix, however, as it does have side effects and risks. You have to be committed to changing your lifestyle at the same time, rather than just expecting the weight to fall off by itself with no change on your part.