How Bariatric Surgery Can Help You Achieve Sustainable Weight Loss

How Bariatric Surgery Can Help You Achieve Sustainable Weight Loss

In the war on obesity, most people are entrapped in a vicious cycle of dieting, exercising, and subsequent temporary weight reduction, leaving them disappointed and discouraged. For severely obese persons, the path to long-lasting weight reduction seems very far and out of reach. However, for those patients seeking permanent and effective weight loss, bariatric surgery provides the solution. This surgical procedure is a complete approach to weight control that incorporates continuing assistance, lifestyle modifications, and medical competence. It is not just a temporary solution.

The department of Gastroenterology in Apollo Hospitals specialises in performing bariatric surgeries tailored to each patient’s individual needs. Bariatric surgery is not merely an advanced medical procedure but also more holistic in combating obesity and associated disorders. Below, we outline how bariatric surgery works, the varieties of procedures available, and how it lends itself to sustainable weight loss.

Understanding Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surgery refers to various surgical procedures usually aimed at assisting an individual in losing excess weight by altering the digestive system. In general, bariatric surgery is mainly directed towards the reduction of food intake and, subsequently, the intake of calories; this actually aids in weight loss. The most common bariatric surgeries include:

• Gastric Bypass: This develops a small purse-like pouch at the top of the stomach, and it is then directly attached to the small intestine. It reduces the amount of food intake and decreases caloric as well as nutrient assimilation.
• Sleeve Gastrectomy: With this treatment, the stomach is removed in its entirety, leaving behind a slender structure that resembles a sleeve. This lowers hunger hormones and drastically diminishes the stomach’s capacity.
• Adjustable Gastric Banding: This technique involves creating a small pouch that limits the passage of food into the stomach through an inflatable band around the upper part of the stomach. The band can be adjusted to control the amount of food consumed.
• Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch: This is both a restriction and a malabsorption operation since it involves a considerable portion of the small intestine being bypassed together with a sleeve gastrectomy.

These procedures prove to be beneficial for a BMI level of 40 or greater, or a BMI of 35 or greater with other obesity-related health issues. The Gastroenterology department of Apollo Hospitals is dedicated to and operates strictly according to protocol for assessing patients for bariatric surgery, and appropriate surgery is hereby suggested for an individual.

The Science Behind Weight Loss Through Surgery

The two mechanisms through which bariatric surgery triggers weight loss are primarily through restriction and malabsorption. The restriction component puts a patient in a position where only minimal amounts of food can be consumed, and these result in feelings of fullness even after consumption of small portions of food. This is an immediate change and ensures healthier eating habits without overeating.

The malabsorption component alters the processing of nutrients in the gut. Because such a large portion of the intestine is bypassed, it leads to fewer calories and nutrients being available for absorption. Most critically, it should be noted that this element of surgery requires a lifetime of altered diet and supplementation to avoid deficiencies.

How Bariatric Surgery Supports Sustainable Weight Loss?

• Reduces Appetite: The hormone levels that regulate hunger are significantly changed after bariatric surgery. This hormonal shift prevents overeating during the recovery phase and increases the difficulty of regaining the calories lost, which helps people lose weight for longer periods of time.
• Limits Food Intake: It actually reduces stomach capacity, meaning that less food can be consumed at once. Patients are left to gradually achieve their health goals as a result of the reduced calorie intake that eventually results in a steady and ongoing weight loss over time.
• Enhances Nutrient Absorption Efficiency: The body’s capacity to absorb calories from meals is decreased when a portion of the digestive tract is bypassed during surgeries like gastric bypass or biliopancreatic diversion. Although patients still need to watch what they eat to avoid shortages, this change ensures that a person absorbs fewer calories overall even when they eat the same kinds of meals.
• Improves Metabolic Health: Bariatric surgery has been shown to improve metabolic health on many different levels closely associated with achieving sustainable weight loss. The improvement in such health helps bariatric surgery patients to easily take part in physical activities that also reinforce their weight loss.
• Helps Overcome Plateaus: A plateau is another common issue with weight reduction programs when people’s efforts to lose weight are in vain. By giving the metabolism the necessary push, bariatric surgery breaks through this plateau. Patients can lose more weight more consistently and persistently, even when other approaches have failed, because of the changes in hormone and digestive processes.

Benefits of Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surgery has numerous advantages that go beyond a number on the scale. Here are some of the top health improvements bariatric surgery can yield to patients:

• Resolution of Type 2 Diabetes: Many patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes experience improvement in their symptoms, and most of them even experience full remission after bariatric surgery. In such cases, it could well mean needing less or even no medication for diabetes and insulin.
• Lower Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: Obesity is known to increase the risks of heart disease and stroke. Most of the weight loss associated with bariatric surgery patients correlates with improved cholesterol levels and blood pressure; hence, it reduces the risk for cardiovascular events.
• Improvement in Joint Health: Gaining weight puts stress on the body’s joints, increasing the risk of conditions like osteoarthritis. Following bariatric surgery, losing weight improves functioning and reduces joint strain, which increases physical activity and encourages more weight reduction.
• Better Sleep: The second common disease among obese people includes sleep apnea, which often disappears after bariatric surgery.Improved rest not only leads to improved moods and high energy levels but also assists in weight management
• Enhanced Mental Health: The psychological impacts of obesity may be severe because it can cause its victims to become depressed and anxious as well. Mental well-being is improved through bariatric surgery as these patients start gaining confidence after the surgery because they regain control over their bodies and their overall well-being.

Conclusion

While bariatric surgery is not an instant fix, it is an effective means for those who are obese to lose weight in a sustainable and long-lasting manner. Bariatric surgery alters the body’s digestive system and thereby contributes to weight loss along with resolving health conditions related to obesity and enhancing overall quality of life. Apollo Hospitals, with its state-of-the-art bariatric surgery clinics, offers patients individualised treatment that puts them in a better position to maintain their weight reduction and long-term health gains.

For patients who would like to choose bariatric surgery, Apollo Hospitals offers programs that include all the expertise required to guarantee long-term weight loss and restored health.