Making the Choice Between Dieting and Weight Loss Surgery

Posted by Dr. Nick Nicholson on May 29th, 2015

Making a final choice about moving forward with weight loss surgery or continuing to battle it out with diets is not easy. After all, some bariatric surgical procedures can leave the body permanently altered. Although they have been proven highly effective and quite safe, it just makes sense to carefully consider all the options before diving into a surgical answer to obesity.

Here are some points to consider when it’s time to make the choice between another diet and a surgical solution:

• The severity of obesity – Weight loss surgery is generally not recommended for people who are slightly overweight. It is considered a potential solution for those who are obese or are considered morbidly obese. If the situation involves a few extra pounds, surgery isn’t a good option. If the body is carrying around a lot of extra weight, surgery might be the answer.
• Exhaustion of all other efforts – Jumping immediately to weight loss surgery as a solution is not recommended. That means people should be 100 percent sure all other measures have been fully exhausted. This includes healthy weight-loss plans and exercise programs that are physician supervised.
• Overall health status – Weight loss surgery can be an important choice to make for people who have pressing medical concerns, such as uncontrolled diabetes, heart disease or liver issues. Research has also shown that weight loss surgery can help those with asthma and joint problems.
• Doctor recommendations – Before deciding one way or another, it’s important to sit down with a bariatric surgeon and completely explore all the options. A surgeon will likely recommend takin the time to understand the different procedures available while being able to offer distinct insights based on the unique case in question.

Dieting and exercise can be powerful weight loss tools. For some people, however, they simply do not provide the desired results. Weight loss surgery can deliver the needed boost to ensure pounds lost stay off. To find out more, consult with a licensed physician about weight loss concerns.

About Author

One of the most experienced weight loss surgeons in the country – Dr. Nick Nicholson – along with a full staff of surgeons, nurses and other experienced clinicians, help patients reverse obesity with LAP-BAND, Gastric Bypass, Sleeve Gastrectomy and Revisions.