Obesity in the United States has been referred to as epidemic. Recently, the American Heart Association Obesity Committee of the Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism released a statement concerning weight loss surgery, such as Lap Band surgery, as it relates to losing weight and improving on risks involved with metabolic disorder.
Many have tried to lose weight on their own as well as through medical weight loss programs only to find that they are turning to weight loss surgery as an option. Weight loss surgery has shown promise with patients showing dramatic weight loss over the short term and keeping it off long term with the correct direction and guidance.
The statement from the American Heart Association recognizes that weight loss is just part of the benefit of weight loss surgery and additional benefits include reduced risks of co-morbidities including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol. The success is directly related to the brain and the physiological control it has over the thoughts and understanding of the process of weight loss.
Researchers and physicians continue to improve the process of weight loss surgery by monitoring outcomes and guiding patients to success, but the question remains whether or not we understand how we became obese or morbidly obese in the first place. Are the issues that led to overeating and obesity addressed sufficiently enough as to not cause a relapse?
People with diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease can reduce risks while they lose the weight and receive the proper pre-surgical and post-surgical guidance. The physical and psychological changes that help them achieve success become the tools that will help keep the weight off permanently.
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