Why is Weight Loss Surgery so Popular?
Obesity and lifestyle are the number one indicators
Understanding the popularity of weight loss surgery starts with understanding the obesity rates around the world. Obesity numbers in Canada point to 23% in 2004 and the rates have had no signs of abatement as the years went by. In fact, they’re even projected to increase by 5% for the next 10 years. The 2010 figure for obese Americans is 26%. In Mexico, The Guardian reports that obesity is fast becoming an epidemic due to the desire of many Mexicans to have American lifestyles. Here, economic status is not a determining factor as indicated by a high incidence among the urban poor of Mexico.
These obesity figures indicate similarities that might be explained primarily through lifestyle. It should be noted that many other factors including: geography, culture, diet and close Canadian-American-Mexican trade leads to the wide availability of similar consumer goods, particularly food items
The Most Popular Procedures
Of the many types of surgeries available, these three are the most preferred:
- Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding
- Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass
- Laparoscopic Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy
In fact, many developing countries like Mexico and the Philippines have founded initiatives to foster what is known as medical tourism to address the high demand yet high costs in developed nations. Medical tourism initiatives leverage on comparably lower costs of operation in the host country while packaging these with travel and hotel accommodations.
In Canada, lap-band surgery is the most preferred procedure since it is highly effective, less risky and most of all, reversible.
Weight loss percentages for this particular type of procedure can range from 50-60% since the patient is actually induced to consume lesser amounts of food.
The cost for this particular type of procedure ranges from $16,000 to $20,000 – which is noticeably lower when compared to US prices which range from $18,000 to $35,000.
A Controversial Proposition
The high demand for weight loss surgery underscores the amount of concern for the growing rate of obesity around the world. Many are speculating on the possible causes for it and some have even pointed to the astounding prevalence of fast food chains all over the world.
It should be noted that a lot of information is routinely being sifted and collected from all weight loss surgery applicants. In Canada, a popular weight loss clinic even includes a long and very comprehensive questionnaire which even asks mundane questions on whether the applicant owns a pet.
For some, the increasing demand for weight loss surgery is a practical gold mine. For others, it is a clarion call for governments to start regulating the fast food industry and to start mandating stricter implementation of health improvement measures.
Yet for the many millions who are obese, it offers them a ray of hope in the quest to have better health. In one is to speak on a general manner, the popularity of weight loss surgery points out the many trends that the world is undergoing ranging from machines which free the labourer from physical labor, more technologically related jobs as opposed to agriculture, the widespread promotion of food as a luxury and even the disparate economic conditions around the world.
What is the History Behind Lap Band Surgery?
Perhaps the most sought after surgery of all the weight loss surgeries in the world, knowing how it all started can be very enlightening
To the many thousands who have already undergone lap-band or laparoscopic gastric banding surgery, it’s not just another type of surgery. In fact, it is their gateway to a whole new life. Most people who have had to undergo this are usually overweight or obese and suffering from other diseases such as high blood or diabetes. These types of health problems are often accompanied by low self-esteems and self-perceptions.
Sometimes, one can only ponder on how the idea came about in the first place. To be sure, there have been countless other weight loss surgeries that have not been as successful and as effective as lap-banding.
Visualizing the procedure, the upper portion of the stomach is practically made smaller and constricted to a very small proportion using a band. The psychological results are far more impressive than the physical ones. By making the upper portion smaller, the brain seems to feel that it is already full therefore decreasing the desire to eat.
L.H. Wilkinson and the Reduction of Gastric Reservoir Capacity
Before this was even published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in February 1980, L.H. Wilkinson has been conducting tests using canines since 1974. The aim was to achieve early satiation by decreasing the capacity of the gastric reservoir. Wilkinson started performing human tests in 1976 by inverting the curvature of the stomach. They used a polypropylene mesh around it. In the test, the patient lost around 60 lbs. one year after the procedure.
Following the success of Wilkinson, continuous development was undertaken by several other pioneers with the focus primarily on the precise type of material that was used as the band. One of the more notable concerns about Wilkinson’s band was that it was not adjustable.
The most notable names in the development of an adjustable band came with the efforts of Dr. Lubomyr Kuzmak, Dr. Dag Hallberg and Dr. Peter Forsell. From these three doctor’s work, came two types of bands: the Adjustable Silicone Gastric Band and the Swedish Adjustable Gastric Band. From hereon, the usage of these bands became widespread and professional trade conferences started to commence in the early 90s. The rest is history.
Current Developments
The focus now is more on rapid commercialisation as well as the introduction of more affordable methods. With obesity rates among both developed and developing nations increasing to abnormal rates, the market for procedures involving this have become a virtual cornucopia for medical professionals specializing in these.
It has also spurned forth various incarnations which are closely affiliated with other physical appearance enhancement procedures. Cosmetic surgeons, wellness facilities, medical tourism destinations and more, point out the somewhat vanity inclined attitude that people have when it comes to weight loss surgery.
Interestingly, despite the somewhat “Hollywood-esque” attitude towards these, many industry observers note that safety is still a primordial focus. Deaths caused by these are often extremely very low that it could even be considered as 0%. Nevertheless, it continues to be a serious primary recourse for patients who are suffering from obesity and excessive weight.
What are the Different Types of Weight Loss Surgeries?
Being overweight is considered to be a burden by many. They shamble along sidewalks, preferring not to be seen by others and hoping that their bulk is not being noticed by others. Obesity is a common complaint which is taking on staggering proportions as each new generation comes up. For those who have seen no improvement from exercise and weight loss diets, the main source of help is to go in for weight loss surgery or bariatric surgery.
While there is no one particular form of surgery that can be considered as a panacea for all types of complaints, there are some fraudulent claims made by weight loss institutes and gyms saying a particular solution would work for anyone. The reasons for obesity may be different in different individuals. Some people might have overweight running in the family while others gain weight by unconscious over-eating and absence of a healthy lifestyle practices consisting of exercise and good eating habits.
Bariatric surgery or weight loss surgery is suitable only to those people who have a BMI (Body Mass Index) between 35 and 40. Being conscious of your BMI and watching the variations in it as there are changes that come in your metabolism as you adopt better practices will make sure that the surgery you go through really pays off.
The over-eating that results in spurt in your weight chart does not get digested and is laid up as fat near the abdomen and hips. This causes the body shape to get ungainly. The remedy for this is to have a gastric banding surgery that cordons off a part of the stomach with the help of a metal ring. This sections-off absorbency and feeds fewer calories of nourishment to the body, even when more calories are consumed. The small intestines can be routed to the smaller part of the stomach. This is referred to as gastric bypass surgery and is highly rewarding to people suffering from moderate overweight to obesity.
The best part of biliopancreatic diversion is that the client does not have to limit the diet in any way. Since the small intestines are diverted to this sectioned part of the stomach, it would allow direct absorbency of nourishment in the normal way, with no foreign body intervention. For a few days after the surgery, however, the client has to be restricted to fluid diet for a few days. Guidance of a dietician and surgeon at this stage is crucial.
Volume reduction of another method is the sleeve gastrectomy surgery. The volume of the stomach is reduced by a standard amount of 150 ml. This is determined by the surgeon after taking into account the patient’s medical records and response to treatment. The implications of this surgery are that reversing this procedure is not possible. The stomach is effectively detached and re-routed to a different part of the small intestine. Digestion is impacted by this to a certain level but only temporarily.
Any of these procedures should be carried through only upon proper evaluation of each person’s individual case.