| The Pros and Cons of Gastric Bypass Surgery
A great percentage of Americans are not only overweight but obese. While dieting and intensive gym workouts may help a person shed some pounds, this is not necessarily the case for folks who have medical obesity and find these options futile.
A treatment that is highly effective for many obese individuals is the gastric bypass surgery. This surgery aims to help an individual lose weight by limiting his or her stomach's capacity to hold in food. The surgery is done by dividing the stomach into two parts, one larger and the other smaller. The upper smaller portion bypasses the larger lower portion and is connected to the smaller intestine. The surgery has a high success rate in terms of weight control, but it pays to consider its pros and cons before deciding to undergo it.
First, the benefits: The smaller stomach pouch that the surgery creates makes for smaller food space. The result is, smaller food intake, fewer calories, therefore lesser weight gain. Controlled weight results to a better self-esteem in the individual who was previously obese.
Gastric bypass surgery does have its drawbacks: Firstly, the costs may not be reasonable for everyone. This type of surgery typically costs anything between $20,000 and $50,000. Plus, there's always the question of whether the patient's medical insurance will cover the costs, part of it, or none at all. Most obese patients are also crippled with several other health problems, so those cause additional costs.
Another disadvantage of gastric bypass surgery is its complications - dumping syndrome and nutrient deficiencies. Some complications can cause further hospitalizations. The good news, though, is that many of these complications are preventable. The success of gastric bypass surgery relies on careful discipline in terms of diet, exercise and lifestyle.
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