25 May 2010 Weight loss surgery

It has been estimated that 16 to 30 percent of overweight individuals enrolled in weight loss programs will meet the diagnosis criteria for binge eating disorder. Some people speculate that food is addictive, just as alcohol and drugs are addictive. After weight loss surgery, the ability to binge eat is no longer possible. Without binge eating it can become possible to transfer the addiction from food to other addictive substances.  This is certainly not the case in everyone who has weight loss surgery, however, if someone is prone to addictions, then they may be prone to transferring addictions from one form to another. 

These days part of the evaluation process prior to surgery approval is often a psychiatric evaluation. Behavior therapy is very beneficial for weight loss in general, and it is especially helpful for weight loss surgery patients. Therapy is essential for understanding emotional eating and finding new ways to cope instead of turning to food.

Weight loss surgery is a personal choice. Health risks can greatly be improved with substantial weight loss such as hypertension, diabetes, insulin resistance, sleep apnea and heart disease to name a few.

Any surgery is not without risks. People have to weigh the risks of the surgery to the risks of being overweight. 

The surgery itself is only the beginning. It is important to understand that once the surgery is over, the real work begins. The diet following surgery is vital to having successful weight loss. When you are only able to eat 1-2 ounces at a time, it is imperative that the foods you eat be high quality nutritious foods. This can be a big change. Most people don’t make high quality nutritious foods a priority. 

You cannot consume a junk food diet after this surgery. A poorly balanced diet after the surgery can result in malnutrition, weight gain, hair loss, skin changes, GI difficulties, vitamin/mineral deficiencies, anemia, osteoporosis and muscle loss. 

Weight loss surgery is an effective tool if used properly, as long as you commit to a lifetime of healthy eating. Making important lifestyle changes is vital after the surgery. Using the services of health professionals such as a licensed therapist and a registered dietitian can help to make the transition to a lower weight easier for most people.