Weight Loss Program (Surgical)

Premature Death
New research suggests as many as 18 percent of all deaths in the U.S. can be attributed to obesity, which would ratchet up the toll to about 450,000 per year. Patients who undergo bariatric surgery may experience substantial weight loss. Maintaining a healthy weight has been shown to correlate with a reduced risk for other diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Type 2 Diabetes
Approximately 80 percent of people with diabetes are overweight or obese. It doesn’t take much weight gain – just 11 to 18 pounds – to double your risk for type 2 diabetes. By losing weight, you may be able to reduce your risk for diabetes. Patients who have already developed diabetes may be able to better control their disease by dropping to a healthy weight range. Many post-bariatric patients are able to stop taking diabetes medications altogether.

Heart Disease
Overweight and obese individuals (BMI of 25 or more) are at an increased risk for heart disease, including heart attack, sudden cardiac death, and arrhythmia. Also, hypertension is twice as prevalent in obese adults as it is in healthy adults. By losing weight, lowering blood pressure, and reducing cholesterol, you may be able to lower your triglyceride (blood fat) levels. Lowering these levels reduces the amount of fatty plaque that builds up in your arteries, thereby lowering your risk for cardiovascular disease.

Cancer
Overweight and obese individuals have been shown to be at an increased risk for various cancers, including colon, prostate, kidney, gall bladder, and endometrial cancer. Women who gain 20+ pounds between age 18 and midlife are at twice the risk for postmenopausal breast cancer. Whether you decide to pursue weight loss through surgical means or other medical treatments, losing weight may help reduce your risk for certain types of cancer.

Heartburn
Obese and overweight individuals are at a higher risk for having heartburn (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Not only is heartburn uncomfortable, but it can develop into a condition known as Barrett’s esophagus in 10 to 15 percent of patients who have mild symptoms. This condition can lead to esophageal cancer. By reducing abdominal weight, you can relieve pressure on the stomach, thereby lowering your risk factor for gastroesophageal disease and esophageal cancer.

Reproductive & Child-Birthing Difficulties
Obese mothers are at an increased risk for gestational diabetes, death, and complications; they are at 10 times the risk for high maternal blood pressure. Babies born to obese women are more likely to have a high birth weight, and therefore more likely to be delivered via Cesarean section. These infants are also at greater risk for having neural tube defects, such as spina bifida. Having weight loss surgery at least one year or more before becoming pregnant can be one of the healthiest decisions you make for yourself and your future child.

Osteoarthritis in Weight-Bearing Joints
According to the Surgeon General, “For every 2-pound increase in weight, the risk of developing arthritis is increased by 9 to 13%.” Studies have shown that losing as little as 11 pounds can reduce the risk of knee osteoarthritis in women by 50%. 

Depression
Clinically severe obese individuals frequently suffer from depression and social anxiety. At the Surgical Weight Loss Center of Utah, patients work with a licensed psychologist, who helps with the psychological, social, and emotional angles of extreme weight loss. With regards to mental health, patients who undergo bariatric surgery typically exhibit cognitive, affective, and physiological improvement.

Urinary Stress Incontinence
Urinary stress incontinence may be caused in part by relaxed pelvic floor muscles and excess abdominal weight, which puts pressure on the bladder. Many patients who undergo surgical weight loss regain strength in their pelvic floor muscles (in addition to dropping weight in the abdominal region). 

Sleep Apnea & Breathing Problems
Both sleep apnea and asthma have been shown to be more prevalent in obese individuals. Sleep apnea is typically more common in obese individuals because of fat deposits in the tongue and neck (compounded with sleeping on the back). Both surgical and conventional weight loss treatments have been shown to help reduce instances of sleep apnea. 

Gastroparesis
Normally, the stomach contracts to move food down into the small intestine for additional digestion. The vagus nerve controls these contractions. Gastroparesis may occur when the vagus nerve is damaged and the muscles of the stomach and intestines do not properly function. Food then moves slowly or stops moving through the digestive tract. There is no cure for gastroparesis but there are treatment options that can control the symptoms of chronic vomiting and nausea.