According to the American Obesity Association, obese people have a 50-100 per cent increased risk of death as compared to normal weight individuals.

Severe obesity is associated with a significant increase in morbidity. Attempts to manage morbid obesity with medical weight reduction programmes have failed completely. Childhood obesity is on the rise in Pakistan due to changing lifestyle. More than 30 per cent people in the cities like Lahore, Faisalabad and Gujranwala are suffering from the disease owing to their disorderly eating habits.

Obesity is an excess of total body fat, which results from caloric intake that exceeds energy usage. A measurement used to assess health risks of obesity is Body Mass Index (BMI).Under Bariatric surgery, a (gastric) band made of silicon is wrapped around the top part of the stomach. Inside the band is a balloon that can be adjusted by adding or taking fluid out of it. This is placed on the body muscles and is connected to the band tubing. A new very small stomach is created above the band that makes the patient feel full after eating just a few mouthfuls. The food empties slowly from this pouch so the patient feels hungry less often.

In Pakistan patients with morbid obesity usually do not respond to medical means of weight loss. Efforts to treat morbid obesity through controlled diets, behaviors modification and exercise programmes are only temporarily successful. High cost of treatment is the reason of obese people prefers ring surgery which is the only method by which long-term and permanent weight loss can be achieved.

As I refused another helping of the delicious blueberry cake with great show of self control, I realized the amount of sacrifice an overweight person needs to do. Be it through dieting or a rigorous exercise regime, much self control and will power comes into play when you are involved in a battle of the bulge. However, a couple of pounds overweight is still easy to manage but morbid obesity is a different story altogether. No amount of diet control or exercise can help you reduce the necessary amount of weight that is required to be shed In order to be fit and fine. At times like this drastic steps are required and that too steps that are sure to yield positive results. Weight loss surgery might be the answer to millions of prayers sent up by every obese person. In order to get back to a normal and healthy way of life, such a surgery might often be the only solution available to many.

A weight loss surgery not only helps a morbidly obese person reclaim his life, but also helps the patient to maintain his ideal weight life long. Certain criteria need to be met in order to qualify for a successful weight loss surgery. A person needs to be overweight for more than five years of his life and must have a body mass index higher than 40. Also, regular weight loss methods like diet control and exercise must have to be proved ineffective to achieve a desired weight. Also a potential candidate for a weight loss surgery should be above the age of eighteen to qualify. Only then can opt for and be recommended a weight loss surgery by experienced surgeons. This method of weight loss is proving to be quite successful for morbid patients around the globe and has given them all a new leash of life.

Before opting for a weight loss surgery, one must collect every bit of information about the surgery method, the results and the possible side effects of such a surgery, from the bariatric surgeon. You must not hesitate to ask and clarify every kind of doubt that arises in your mind and verify each piece of information given to you by the physicians. The internet has also emerged as a potent tool for information collection and can be thus utilized to gain more information about the weight loss surgery. Once you are completely aware of the risks and complications that might arise due to the surgery and are ready to proceed, you must ensure that only an experienced and competent surgeon is assigned to handle your case.

The weight loss surgery brings about a decrease in the size of the patient’s intestine by demarcation of the intestine into two separate portions. The restrictive surgery ensures that only a limited amount of food can be consumed by the patient and he or she experiences a feeling of fullness after consuming a very little quantity of food. The patient is also monitored for a long duration after the surgery to measure and control his diet. Strict adherence to the post operative care is essential to prevent any complications and side effects. If all precautions are rightly taken and the patient is healthy, the surgery can indeed help the patient reduce all excessive weight and maintain the balanced weight life long.

Many people want to lose some weight for one reason or another. For some, it may be as simple as losing a few extra pounds so they can fit into their holiday clothes more comfortably.

But for others the target is to lose several stone. And when this is their goal it can be difficult to do it successfully. Persevering on a diet isn’t easy, which is why some people – especially those who have a lot of weight to lose – opt for having weight loss surgery to help them reach that goal.

However, it is essential to realise that what you eat after you have had the surgery will be very different from what you may have eaten before. For example, if you consistently ate meals in large portions you won’t be able to any longer; simply because you won’t be able to take on board that amount of food.

To begin with, you will have to stick to liquids immediately after your operation. This will give your body time to adjust to the effects of the surgery. You will eventually be able to start eating ‘normal’ food again though – that is, food which is solid and resembles a normal meal.

However, that doesn’t mean it would be a case of ‘back to normal’. You will find that certain foods you used to eat before, don’t agree with you now. A classic example is that of high fat food; even if you loved eating chocolate bars before, you may find that you can now only do so in moderation.

Whatever type of weight loss surgery you have, it will effectively reduce the size of your stomach. This means that you will feel full much sooner than you would have done before – if you try and overeat then you will certainly feel very uncomfortable. As a result, it can be best to stick to eating smaller portions.

Clearly these changes to your diet will take some getting used to. But they will result in long term and beneficial weight loss, as you adjust to your new diet. Regardless of whether you have a gastric bypass performed, or a gastric band fitted, you can get positive results from either procedure.

Low fat, low calorie foods will also be processed much more easily if you chew them well before swallowing; and high fibre foods are also recommended. They have the effect of cleaning your system and keeping everything moving as it should do.

Whichever type of weight loss surgery you opt for, it is clear that it can have great effects – if you eat the right foods afterwards.

Obesity drags down the quality of life on so many levels. It causes serious health problems and plays havoc with your daily life affecting everything from getting around to choosing clothes. Weight loss surgery is one way to claim your inner slimness that promises remarkable results. Read all about it here.

Weight loss surgery promises remarkable results but it’s no quick fix. In fact it’s the procedure of last resort for those who are morbidly obese. This doesn’t mean the procedures are involved or risky, though. The most popular procedure is laparoscopic gastric band (lap band) surgery. It’s popular because it’s fast, easy and has few side effects. Here’s the lowdown on lap band weight loss surgery.

Lap band surgery is a type of restrictive weight loss surgery. As the name implies, it works by restricting the volume of food entering your digestive system. In this way, fewer calories reach the bloodstream.

It works by forming a pouch out of the top part of the stomach by putting an inflatable band around it and attaching the band to the stomach with staples. When eating, this pouch fills quickly and sends a signal to the brain to indicate it’s full. Thus you stop eating. The food then gradually passes through a small opening into the rest of the stomach and hence into the small intestine in the normal way.

A few weeks after the operation and the sutures have healed, the doctor inflates the band using a reservoir attached to the band by a tube. This inflation causes the restriction. The reservoir is located just under the skin allowing the doctor easy access. Adjusting the band to its optimum size is critical and many adjustments may be needed over a period of several months.

Lap band surgery is popular for many reasons. Firstly, lap band procedures are done using keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery. This type of non-invasive operation leaves minimal scarring. The whole procedure takes around 30 minutes. Another plus is that in lap band surgery, the food passes through the whole digestive system, albeit in reduced quantities. This means that nutrients are absorbed normally.

So how can you decide if lap band surgery is for you? The main criteria are that you have been severely weight for over five years and have failed to lose weight using conventional methods. (You should have made a sustained effort for at least six months to lose weight by diet and exercise).

Another factor is whether your health is at serious risk resulting from your weight. This is a condition known as morbid obesity and can mean a body mass index (BMI) of over 40 or a BMI of over 35 with an attendant medical condition such as diabetes.

In addition, you should not be suffering from any psychological or physical condition that precludes the weight loss operation. Consult your doctor for detailed information.

If you feel these conditions apply to you, the next step is to consult with a doctor specialising in bariatrics (obesity cure). He will be able to advise you on whether lap band surgery is for you. If so he will advise you on the procedure and make arrangements for you.

Losing excess weight can be a life-transforming experience working wonders on physical, social and emotional levels. If you’re obese and want to makeover your health and life, call a lap band surgery specialist and inquire today.

Carrying around the weight of an extra baggage cannot be much fun and when that weight is your own, you feel doomed. Excessive weight or obesity in people all across the globe is rising with alarming speed. A sedentary lifestyle and irregular schedule is a major contributor to this epidemic. Obesity is indeed a disease that can become life threatening if not checked at the early stages. The main danger form this condition is that it has a lot of connected problems associated with this condition. An obese person will be more likely to have a weak heart and face the dangers of a possible heartache. He would be more prone to asthma, arthritis, blood pressure, diabetes and so on. At times, a strict exercise regime or a regulated diet plan is not sufficient to fight the condition. In such cases, the best option would be to go in for a weight loss surgery and regain a healthy life.

Not everyone can qualify for a weight loss surgery and the basic criteria to be met is that the patient must be above eighteen years of age, must have been obese for over five years and unable to reduce weight through the normal methods of weight loss like exercise and dieting. If you fall into the eligible category then the first thing for you to do would be to locate a competent surgeon who specializes in weight loss surgery procedures. A past reference or verification of his record of accomplishment is a good way to judge the expertise of the surgeon being considered for your treatment. Ask all the questions, which you feel, are relevant to your surgery and clarify every doubt that you may be having regarding the procedure before you agree for the operation.

Also, before you make up your mind about undergoing a weight loss surgery, make sure that you are well acquainted with the postoperative precautions and care that need to be maintained by the patient. A patient would be required to maintain a strict regime of controlled diet until the time his doctor has prescribed. Water intake must be high while intake of liquid like various beverages is completely forbidden. In addition, the patient is required to consume a lean protein diet for every meal as otherwise he may be prone to weakness and anemia. A weight loss patient is not allowed to go on a snacking binge as this might completely do away with the results of the surgery. In addition, in spite of a weight loss surgery, most patients are required to do some exercise every day.

Only if a person is ready to follow these instructions closely, should he or she opt for a Weight loss surgery. As the surgery can be an expensive affair, take care to find out all about the cost involved in the entire process. Many countries with good facilities are providing the option of this kind of treatment and it may be a good idea to consider all options available before arriving at any kind of decision.