Bariatric surgery or Gastric Bypass (GBP) is a very effective and safe weight-loss procedure which basically works by changing the digestive system to control eating and digestion. By effectively facilitating weight loss, obesity-related risks are lowered. Bariatric Surgery is the procedure of choice by most surgeons as it can offer reliable, enduring weight loss when done together with changes in behavior. The success of the procedure, however, greatly depends on the individual’s firm commitment to lifestyle/behavioral changes and these would help prevent potential complications and side-effects.
If the individual truly wants to lose weight by undergoing GBP and gives his/her share in the process, success is very likely to be achieved. This paper seeks to argue that GBP is a very safe procedure and it is probably the best medical intervention that can be provided to morbid obese individuals. To support this argument, the paper will present studies that suggest that Bariatric surgery is by far the safest and most effective procedure there is. Some Statistical Evidence The world epidemic of overweight and obesity is estimated to be around 1.
7 billion individuals (Buchwald et al. , 2004). About 5% of the U. S. population is morbidly obese with around two thirds of individuals living in the US are overweight, and of these, almost half are obese (Buchwald et al. ). The increase in the prevalence of obesity is related with increases in the incidence of obesity comorbidities resulting in over 2. 5 million deaths annually throughout the world, including stroke, hyperlipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea, depression, hypertension, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and various forms of depression (Buchwald & Williams, 2004).
Obesity significantly reduces a person’s life expectancy. For instance, a 25-year-old morbidly obese person has lost an estimate of 12 years or a 22% reduction in expected remaining lifespan (Buchwald & Williams). Severe obesity-caused co-morbidities are typically alleviated following weight loss as a result of gastric bypass (Fobi et al. , 1998). In obesity management, bariatric surgery is presently being conducted with 85% efficacy rate, 70% weight loss post-surgery and below 10% perioperative morbidity (Fobi et al.).
By interrupting the digestive process and by restricting food intake, gastric bypass effectively controls or reduces weight. According to the World Health Organization and the National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute, a person is considered as overweight if he/she has a body mass index (BMI) of 25. 0–29. 9, while those with 30 or more BMI is obese (Anderson & Wadden, 1999). Aside from being a leading global health problem, obesity often leads to considerable social discrimination (Anderson & Wadden, 1999).
It is thus not surprising that over $30 billion is spent by Americans every year on weight control commodities (Anderson & Wadden). Bariatric surgery was first introduced in the U. S. in 1953 and, between 2002 and 2003, a total of 146,301 operations were performed worldwide—103,000 of these were conducted in the U. S. and Canada (Buchwald et al. , 2004). However, among all patients meeting the requirements for bariatric surgery, only around 1 percent actually receives the therapy (Buchwald et al. ).
The National Institutes of Health, in 1991, has set up surgical therapy guidelines for morbid obesity for male patients with >40 BMI and 100 pounds excess weight and for female patients with >35 BMI and 80 excess weight (Buchwald, et al. ). Additionally, in order to be qualified for bariatric surgery, patients should be diagnosed having severe health problems related to obesity and they should have an understanding regarding the surgery, including compliance for lifestyle change (Buchwald et al. ).