Types of Weight Loss Surgery Options - Information for Potential Patients

Contrary to popular belief, not all people that suffer from obesity are that way from just overeating. Obesity can be caused by a number of different factors, some of which can make it virtually impossible to lose weight just by diet and exercise alone.

The “environment” that we live in can contribute greatly to obesity. Some people overeat simply by making the wrong food choices not realizing that they are causing themselves to gain a great deal of weight. Many convenience foods are often laden with calories, so even if the person is not eating a large portion of food, they are still eating far more calories than they actually need. Serving sizes have also grown and become misleading, so while a person may eat what they believe is one serving, they are actually eating enough food for two or even three people.

There are also many physical conditions which can contribute to obesity. If the hypothalamus gland fails to function in the way that it should, or there is a hormone imbalance present, a person may become obese no matter how hard they try keeping the weight off. Only medication that is prescribed to treat these conditions or some form of bariatric surgery will be able to help control the obesity.

On the other hand, some medications that people take can also cause obesity and weight gain that is uncontrollable. If the medication affects the metabolism, obesity can quickly set in regardless of their diet and exercise. If a person is obese, yet maintains a healthy and reasonable diet and exercises regularly, the medications they take for medical conditions should be evaluated to determine whether or not they are the culprit causing the obesity.

Finally, some obesity can actually be caused by psychological disorders. A person may overeat not because they just want food, they may overeat due to a psychological condition. This is actually quite common, and if a person believes this may be the cause of their obesity, they should seek psychiatric help to overcome their problem.

There are many benefits of losing weight. No matter the reason for your obesity, if you are overweight and have been unsuccessful through medication or diet and exercise, you might consider weight loss surgery as an option. Speak with a qualified bariatric surgeon to determine if you are a good candidate for weight loss surgery and if so, if you should consider gastric bypass surgery or a LAP-BAND procedure.