Weight Guidelines
For gastric sleeve surgery and other weight loss surgeries, doctors look at a wide range of factors before giving you approval for an operation. First, most doctors will only recommend these drastic treatments for individuals who are considered severely obese. On the Body Mass Index scale, or BMI, an individual must have a score of 40 or more. For men, this generally means the individual is 100 pounds over their ideal weight. For women, this number is closer to 80 pounds.
If you are below the threshold but have other health conditions, including diabetes, doctors may still approve your surgery. Otherwise, a doctor may recommend a specific exercise and diet plan instead.
Lifestyle Considerations
Even if you meet the weight guidelines for weight loss surgeries, there are other considerations you must pass before becoming a good candidate for the operation. If you're a regular smoker, you must stop this habit before you can undergo the surgery. Smoking raises your risk of various complications, including infection, blood clotting and other potentially dangerous conditions. You must avoid smoking for a month prior and after the operation. Doctors will also consider other important lifestyle factors, including how long you've been obese and your overall health.
What to Know About Recovery
If you are considering weight loss surgery, you need to consider the recovery process. Regardless of which type of surgery you undergo, you will have to change your eating habits drastically after the operation. After most surgeries, you will be unable to consume the same amount of food as you could before the operation. For the first few days after your operation, your doctor will place you on a liquid-only diet. During this time, it is crucial for patients to adhere to their doctor's recommendations to avoid any nutrient deficiencies.
After a few days of a liquid diet, you can begin to gradually introduce semi-solid foods back into your diet. Once you have become more comfortable with semi-solid foods, you can begin to consume solid foods. However, even when you reach this phase, your food consumption will still be limited. Most weight loss surgeries reduce the size of your stomach, making it impossible for you to eat too much without suffering adverse effects. Most doctors recommend you only eat about 800 calories per day for the first year after your surgery.
Is Weight Loss Surgery Right for You?
Weight loss surgery is only right for you if you fit the medical guidelines and can commit to the drastic lifestyle changes that will occur after your operation. After surgery, your weight should decrease dramatically, but you will need to stay committed to maintaining your loss by embracing new lifestyle habits.
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By : John W Wright
Article source : Why Weight Loss Surgery May Be Right For You