Trying to lose weight through diet and exercise, only to fail, is frustrating. It can make you feel like there’s no point in trying or that every effort is for naught.
Carrying a few extra pounds is one thing–but when those few extra pounds places you into an obese category, your health is at risk. In order to lose weight and live a long healthy life, you may consider weight loss surgery.
Before you decide this is a great option, you should be familiar with gastric bypass requirements. This will help make your initial consultation with a doctor much easier. We’re going to talk about what requirements you should be aware of before attempting to schedule this surgery.
Keep reading for more information!
What is Gastric Bypass Surgery?
First, let’s take a quick look at what gastric bypass or gastric sleeve surgery is.
This surgery is a weight loss surgery in which a surgeon removes a large part of your stomach. The removal of this portion of the organ will leave you with a much smaller stomach that resembles a sleeve-shaped tube.
This sleeve of a stomach can hold about two ounces of food at a time (an average stomach can hold one liter!) Because your new stomach will only hold two ounces, you will feel full quickly and in turn, consume fewer calories. This calorie deficiency will lead to drastic weight loss.
Who Meets Gastric Bypass Requirements?
You cannot just decide that you want gastric bypass surgery. You must show your doctor that you have tried to lose weight with the help of diet and exercise–and failed.
Additionally, there is a body mass index (BMI) requirement. You must have a BMI of 40 or higher or 35 and weight-related health problems like high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes.
Your doctor may also advise you to lose 8-10% of your body weight before the surgery. This is to help reduce complications during the surgery and reduce recovery time post-operation.
There is a chance that you will have to meet with a dietician and a psychologist before being able to schedule your surgery. This is to teach you about the diet you are to follow and ensure that you are mentally healthy enough to handle this procedure.
Each of these health professionals will help determine if the procedure is right for you and whether you have the correct motivation. An example of poor motivation may include believing the surgery is a ‘miracle cure’ that won’t require hard work.
Talk to Your Doctor
If you believe that your BMI meets gastric bypass requirements and you are interested in a long-term commitment to changing your life, talk to your doctor.
There are numerous benefits that come with losing weight, and not all of them are purely physical. Looking good will boost confidence, a lowered weight may increase libido, and you could see a decrease in depression and anxiety!
Should you be interested in more diet and weight loss articles, check out this blog!
