Addressing Morbid Obesity

Morbid obesity affects approximately nine million people in the Unites States.

The definition of it is when an individual weighs 100 pounds more than their ideal weight, or has a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more.

Obesity is more than an uncomfortable condition.

It increases an individual’s risk for more than 30 diseases and conditions, many of which are life threatening.

It’s more than a matter of appearance; it’s a matter of life or death.

Those who suffer with morbid obesity are at extreme risk for these diseases, which is why the word morbid is added to the description.

As with anyone who is overweight or obese, the key to losing weight is to focus on your calorie intake.

You need to consume fewer calories than you are burning.

By burning more calories than you are eating, your body will begin to use up its fat stores and you will lose weight.

For those who face morbid obesity they have often tried everything they can to lose weight, and feel they have exhausted all options.

Many turn to weight loss surgery as a viable solution.

For many, this is a decision that can help them successfully lose the weight they need to in order to lead a healthier life.

In our effort to help you overcome obesity, we discuss five of the weight loss surgery procedures available in detail for mobid obesity.

The information contained here can help you:

• Research which options may work well for you
• Give you enough information to begin discussing weight loss surgery with your physician.

Roux-en-y surgery is the most common weight loss surgery performed today for morbid obesity.

It successfully helps you lose weight by creating a small stomach pouch, and also bypassing some of your intestinal tract.

This forces:

• You to eat smaller amounts of food.
• Moves food quickly through your system so less is absorbed.

Two similar surgeries include the:

• Biliopancreatic diversion and
• The biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch.

In both, a portion of the stomach is removed and the small intestines are bypassed.

In the biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch the bypass occurs after the entrance to the small intestine, or duodenal, which enables your body to absorb more of the nutrients it needs.

With surgeries that bypass part of your intestine, you need to understand your risks for what is known as dumping syndrome.

This occurs when foods, particularly high calorie sweets, move too quickly through the stomach and intestinal system.

This results in:

• Nausea
• Weakness
• Sweating
• Faintness and
• Possibly diarrhea soon after eating.

Two other forms of weight loss surgery include using bands to create a small stomach pouch.

In vertical banded gastroplasty a pouch is created by stapling the stomach vertically near the esophagus.

A band is used to secure the opening between the small pouch and the remainder of the stomach.

Similarly, in adjustable gastric banding a band is fitted around the top portion of your stomach so that it creates a small pouch.

An advantage to adjustable gastric banding is that the band can be adjusted throughout your journey to overcome obesity, and can even be eventually removed.

Both banding surgeries eliminate your risk for malnutrition because the intestines are not bypassed.

Be sure to carefully discuss any weight loss surgeries with your physician so you thoroughly understand the expected outcomes and risks.

If you are in the ranks of those who are facing morbid obesity, it is important for you to take control of your health today.

The fact that you are reading information on obesity on this site it a great start on your path to overcoming obesity.

While you consider these surgical alternatives, here are some tips that will lead you down the right path to weight loss which are cheaper and healthier choices.

• Incorporate a proven, complete nutritional program into your daily life.
• Enhance your nutritional program with a complete mutivitamin supplement because no nutritional program is perfect.
• Use a behavior modification and motivational program that will help you stay on track with your nutritional plan.
• Exercise at home with your own:
  Treadmill

  Stairstepper

  Exercise bike

  Elliptical trainer

  Hand weights or

  An aerobic video.

• See what kinds of weight loss aids your health insurance covers such as:
  Hypnotism

  Gym membership discounts

  Nutritional counseling.

If you face morbid obesity, now is the time to do something about it.

Your very life depends on it!

Get started losing weight right now before it is too late.