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The
term bariatric surgery refers to the surgical
treatment for obesity control. Most non-surgical
weight loss programs are based on some form
of food combination diets, behavioral modification
and regular exercise programs. Unfortunately,
less than 5% of patients on non-surgical
weight reduction programs looses a significant
amount and keeps those pounds off in the
long run. More than 90% of these patients
gain back the weight within a year. Morbidly
obese patients have an even bigger struggle
keeping the pounds off.
Morbid Obesity is still considered a chronic,
complex and multi-factorial disease. Weight
reduction surgery, compared to other treatments,
has provided a sustained and long term weight
reduction solution to patients that have
been unsuccessful in every other attempt
to loose weight. For many patients, the
death risk of not going through surgery
is higher than the risk of possible complications
due to surgery.
This is the reason why over 60,000 bariatric
surgeries are being performed every year
in the United Stated alone. Patients that
have had surgery and have enjoyed the results
have revealed the most satisfying experiences
in terms of quality of life, social interactivity,
job opportunity, psychological and economical
welfare.
Surgical weight reduction procedure is
considered a mayor surgery. It is being
used more frequently for morbidly obese
patients as a result of these three facts:
our actual knowledge of the significant
health risks morbid obesity represents;
the relatively low risk level of these procedures
compared to not having surgery; and the
ineffectiveness of non-surgical methods
actually being used for sustained weight
loss. After all, surgery should be considered
a method used to heal a disease that weakens
those who carry it.
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