Gastric Bypass Information
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Obesity-Related Illnesses - Are You Eligible for Gastric Bypass Surgery?
Most obesity centers have very specific eligibility criteria
for their surgical patients, and "obesity-related illnesses"
are sometimes used to determine eligibility.
Usually, to be eligible for gastric bypass surgery you
would need to have a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 40 or more, or a BMI of
35 to 39.9 with obesity related illnesses. What, exactly, is an obesity-related
illness?
When most people think of a condition related to obesity
they think of diabetes and heart disease. Both of these conditions have
shown improvement for many patients after gastric bypass and gastric
banding surgeries. However, there are other illnesses that may make
you eligible for weight loss surgery. Your surgeon will look at your
overall health and all current conditions before determining if you
are a good candidate for these procedures.
Some of the conditions that may be caused or related to
obesity are listed below. You’ll note that many of these conditions
affect the heart.
Please also note that many of these illnesses are associated
with the metabolic syndrome, a collection of illnesses associated with
insulin resistance. Therefore, any
diet you go on before a gastric bypass surgery should reduce the
refined carbohydrate foods that can cause insulin resistance. The kind
of diet that can help you lose weight without surgery may also reduce
the symptoms of many of these illnesses.
Elevated cholesterol and triglycerides,
which may be associated with a higher risk for heart disease and stroke.
Gallstones. Although gallstones are considered
an obesity-related illness, this is also one of the possible complications
of gastric bypass surgery because of the fast weight loss experienced
by post-surgical patients.
Pancreatitis, or inflammation of the
pancreas, a large gland that secretes digestive enzymes in to the small
intestine.
Abdominal hernias. Sudden weight loss
can also cause hernias, which develop at weak spots in the abdominal
wall.
Fatty liver disease, which is often associated
with alcoholism, can also be caused by obesity. It is thought that the
liver damage may be due to insulin resistance, which is also common
in obese patients.
Diabetes and prediabetes, which may also
be related to insulin resistance in obese patients.
Polycystic ovary syndrome,
which can affect the menstrual cycle, hormone balance, insulin production,
heart, blood vessels, fertility, and appearance (acne). Obesity is considered
one of the symptoms of this syndrome, which affects 5 to 10% of women
who are of childbearing age.
High blood pressure, which affects 70%
of obese patients.
Coronary heart disease, which can lead
to a heart attack. Obesity is considered a major risk factor for heart
disease.
Pulmonary hypertension, or high blood
pressure in the arteries that supply the lungs.
Stroke, the third leading cause of death
and disability in the United States. A recent study found that a man
with a BMI of 30 or higher is twice as likely to have a stroke as a
man with a BMI of less than 23.
Blood clots in the legs and lungs. This
is another condition that is both an obesity-related illness and a common
risk associated with surgery.
Sleep
apnea, which affects obese men more than women. Over 95%
of patients diagnosed with sleep apnea are overweight.
Knee osteoarthritis. Obese patients have
4 to 5 times greater risk for this condition.
Gout, an extremely painful condition
caused by the deposit of uric acid crystals in joints and tissue.
Lower back pain, caused by carrying excess
weight.
Infertility, in both men and women.
This is only a partial list of obesity-related conditions
that may be considered by your surgeon when determining if you’re
eligible for bariatric surgery. Many of these conditions may go away
or improve dramatically after a gastric bypass procedure and the subsequent
weight loss.
See Also: Improving Life
Threatening Medical Conditions With Gastric Bypass
To read first-person accounts from people who have experienced
gastric bypass surgery, click
here.
Note: The information given here should
not be taken as medical advice. Be sure to talk to your doctor
about any concerns you may have about gastric bypass surgery.
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