According to experts, if you have a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 40 or more, you are overweight by approximately 50 kilograms (for men) and about 40 kilograms (for women). This is considered severely obese and as a result, people with such high BMI's might be candidates for weight loss surgery.

Why weight loss surgery is for you

Weight loss surgery might be recommended for people who have a BMI ranging from 35 to 40, and those who suffer from serious overweight health conditions such as serious sleep apnea, obesity-related heart disease, or diabetes. For some, the danger of death from not undergoing a surgery could be possibly bigger than the possible complications involved in undertaking the procedures. While doctors recommend natural weight loss over surgery, sometimes a person's complications might be serious enough to warrant a quick fix. 

Things to keep in mind when undergoing weight-loss surgery

Most medical practitioners require candidates to exhibit their motivation levels as to why they should undergo physical weight loss surgery. They would also want a clear understanding of detailed dietary and exercise fails and successes. Most of the surgeons would establish an understanding with the patient to follow medical guidelines for the rest of their lives after undergoing a weight loss surgery. In addition to it, various medical studies are performed to evaluate the health of your body such as heart and functioning of hormonal system. Nutritional and dietary counselling is also a must to practice before and after the surgery.

Why weight loss surgery is not meant for you

For patients who tend to remain sternly obese even after undergoing non-surgical procedures of weight loss, or for people who are a victim of obesity-related disorders, surgery is not ‘the’ answer to end their weighty problems. For many, simply following a healthy lifestyle, which involves mindful eating and daily exercising, is enough to slowly and gradually pave the way to weight loss. 

If your answer to these questions is ‘YES’ then you might consider weight loss surgery:

• Have you already been trying to lose weight by adopting effective measures such as exercising, attending one-to-one counselling sessions with your nutritionist, calorie dictated meal plans, food or exercise journals? 
• Are you well aware of the weight loss surgical procedures and the after effects of surgical treatment?
• Are you focused on the goal of losing weight and are you certain to improve your health by it?
• Are you aware of the changes in your life you might have to undergo after a weight loss surgery treatment, such as adopting different eating plans, adjusting to the side effects of surgery and so on? 
• Are you certain to follow a life-long health follow-up?

Many times, weight loss surgery is seen as an easy escape from being obese. Some ill-informed people go in for drastic surgeries without realising that they'll have to adhere to strict dieting and daily exercise, despite having taken the easy way, once the surgery is over. We'll say it again - there are no short cuts where maintaining a healthy weight is concerned. Consult a doctor before even considering anything as drastice as weight loss surgery, and remember - the best health results are self-made.

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