To Your Health: Surgery may be best option for the obese

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Dr. Vafa Shayani

Updated: February 12, 2012 8:09AM

Many of us begin the New Year with a goal of losing weight. It’s a goal that can be elusive or frustrating, and for those who suffer from obesity, it can seem almost impossible. But help is available.

The severity of obesity can be determined by measuring body mass index, which is based on the relationship between height and weight.

A BMI range of 18.5 to 25 is considered ideal for most people. A BMI of 27 indicates that a person is overweight, 30 indicates obesity, and those with a BMI of 35 and higher are considered morbidly obese.

Many weight loss centers work with patients on either a medical weight management program or surgical intervention. Locally, the Center for Bariatric Surgery at Franciscan St. James Health provides support to people seeking to pursue surgical or non-surgical weight loss.

Working with a weight loss counselor, people will learn about the various options that exist for weight loss assistance. Knowing options and discovering those for which a person is best suited can help determine which direction to take.

When considering the important health and quality-of-life issues at stake, doing nothing is not an option.

At the Center for Bariatric Surgery we have learned that most patients are seeking the improvement in quality of life that follows significant weight loss. An intangible concept that many people take for granted, quality-of-life involves being able to participate in the activities of daily living. It may include such things as taking a walk with your spouse, being able to play with children and grandchildren or the ability to dance at a wedding without frequent stops to catch your breath.

There are specific, potentially debilitating health conditions that can result from obesity. The most recognized are diabetes, hypertension and sleep apnea.

For the most part, every organ in the body functions much better when excess, unneeded weight has been shed. Kidneys, heart and even body parts we don’t think about such as the eyes are affected by excess weight. The incidence of cancers, most notably colon and breast cancers, are higher among the obese population.

Further, reduction in obesity contributes to an overall positive economic effect as patients become healthier. They require fewer medications and doctor visits to treat or manage health issues. The community at large benefits as patients miss less time at work, sustain fewer injuries and employers spend less money hiring temporary replacements.

There are several surgical weight loss options for people who are good candidates for this route to better health. Known as bariatric surgery, common types of surgical interventions include gastric bypass, gastric banding, sleeve gastrectomy, and duodenal switch, which is the most extreme. A new procedure, gastric plication, is available around the world and soon may be available locally.

Gastric banding is considered to be the simplest and safest of all surgical procedures both short- and long-term. About 75 percent of obese and morbidly obese patients do well with this approach.

A significant number of studies have suggested that patients who have surgical intervention lose weight more reliably than their counterparts who do not have surgical intervention. What’s more, it has been found that people who undergo bariatric procedures are more likely to keep their weight off in the long-term and suffer fewer health problems.

If you have a BMI of 30 or higher, you owe it to yourself to explore the weight loss options that are available. It’s within your power to take control. Ask your doctor about getting the support of a weight loss center.

Dr. Vafa Shayani is the medical director of the Center for Bariatric Surgery at Franciscan St. James Health in Olympia Fields. Franciscan St. James is a member of the Southland Health Alliance.