Long-Term Health Benefits of Bariatric Surgery
The body is a complex system comprised of 11 interconnected organ systems that all need to work together to function properly. Because body mass and weight can take a significant toll on all of the body’s constituent parts, managing them is key to maintaining overall health and well-being.
Weight-loss surgery is one weight-loss option available to patients struggling to lose weight on diet and exercise alone. In addition to promoting a healthy lifestyle and reducing the risks associated with weight-related conditions, bariatric surgery also holds long-term health benefits.
What is bariatric surgery?
Bariatric surgery is a type of medical procedure designed to help patients lose weight and live healthier, happier lifestyles. There are several different types of bariatric surgery, each with their own strengths, that patients can choose to undergo as part of their weight-loss journey. Gastric bypass and gastric sleeve surgery are the most common options. Each surgery type modifies one aspect of your food-intake system and changes your metabolism, your appetite, or how quickly you feel full.
Over time, these changes make it easier for you to lose weight when combined with regular exercise and a nutritious diet.
Benefits of weight-loss surgery
A common misconception of weight-loss surgery is that it’s an easy, quick-fix solution, but the reality couldn’t be further from the truth. In order to truly take advantage of bariatric surgery, bariatric patients must make healthy lifestyle changes.
When combined with proper dieting and exercise, weight-loss surgeries can help you lose weight faster, reducing inflammation and improving your mobility and energy. Losing weight can also reduce the risk of certain diseases and cancers.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a condition in which the body can’t properly regulate its blood sugar levels. Having high blood sugar levels can lead to complications in the circulatory, nervous, and immune systems of the body. While there is no cure for T2D, leading a healthy lifestyle plays a major role in managing it and limiting its impact on the body. Weight-loss surgery can help patients with T2D keep their symptoms under control and combat the negative side-effects of insulin resistance.
Hypertension & high blood pressure
High blood pressure is a condition in which the force of blood pushing against the artery wall is too high. When blood pressure is elevated to a certain level it is considered stage 1 hypertension and eventually stage 2 hypertension. High blood pressure increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, and other serious health problems. Weight-loss surgery and healthy lifestyle choices can help relax the heart and lessen the pressure on the artery wall.
Experts in bariatric surgery
Bariatric surgery is a great option for those who are struggling to lose weight with just diet and exercise. It has a lot of long-term health benefits, such as healthier, well-functioning body, but those benefits are the most impactful when paired with a healthy lifestyle.
Tri State Bariatrics has a trusted team of experts here to help you dip your toe into the world of bariatrics, decide on a treatment program, and guide you toward a healthier lifestyle in the long-term.