Over 40% of adults in the U.S. suffer from obesity or excess weight. And
nearly 1% of people have severe obesity. Excess fat in the body might
be behind diseases like Type 2 diabetes, heart problems, or stroke. Sometimes
lifestyle changes such as diet or exercise help prevent diseases like
these. But not always.
Bariatric surgery helps people lose weight by changing the structure of
the stomach and intestines. Learning about the expenses of bariatric surgery
helps patients plan with confidence. This procedure reduces a patient’s
premature death risks by 30 to 50%. This weight loss surgery is expensive.
However, it can eliminate many additional costs arising from being overweight.
Is This Really For Me?
The National Institute of Health (NIH) considers you a good candidate for surgery:
If you have tried and failed with dieting.
If your Body Mass Index (BMI) is 40 or greater.
If you have a BMI of 35 or greater and have serious health conditions associated
with your obesity, such as diabetes, hypertension, depression, heart disease,
sleep apnea.
If you are more than 100 lbs. over "ideal" weight.
*Adapted from NIH Consensus Development Conference Panel. Gastrointestinal
surgery for severe obesity. Ann Intern Med 1991; 115:956-61.
Continue Reading
