1. Have you
unsuccessfully tried
to lose weight
through conventional
methods such as
exercise,
calorie-controlled
diets, food journals
and/or one-on-one
counseling?
Yes
No
Surgery is
appropriate
only for
people who
have
failed to
lose
weight
through
nonsurgical
methods.
People who
have not
seriously
tried to
lose
weight
without
surgery
need to do
so before
considering
the
procedure.
Surgery
should be
considered
only when
there is
no other
healthy
way to
lose
weight.
2. Are you
prepared to make a
lifelong commitment
to following a
special diet,
exercising regularly
and routinely seeing
your doctor?
Yes
No
Weight
loss
surgery
will be
successful
only if a
person is
committed
to making
permanent
lifestyle
changes.
For
example,
eating
habits
have to
change
after
weight
loss
surgery.
The
specifics
vary
depending
on the
type of
procedure,
but
typically,
people who
have had
this
surgery
have to
eat
smaller
amounts of
food, chew
well and
eat
slowly.
Many
surgeons
discourage
snacking
and having
desserts,
carbonated
drinks,
milk
shakes and
high-fat
and
high-fiber
foods.
Most
surgeons
also
recommend
daily
doses of
vitamins
and
supplements
along with
regular
exercise.
Continual
medical
follow-up
is also a
must.
Typically,
patients
see their
doctors
frequently
during the
first
three
months,
then every
three to
six months
and
eventually
every one
to two
years.
Surgeons
may also
encourage
their
patients
to join a
support
group for
help with
short-term
and
long-term
questions
and needs.
Many
believe
that
patients
who join a
support
group
after
surgery
have more
success
than those
who do
not.
3. Do you
suffer from an
obesity-related
medical condition or
an obesity-induced
physical problem
that interferes with
your ability to
walk, work or care
for your family?
Yes
No
There are
more than 30
medical
conditions that
can be caused
-- or made
significantly
worse -- by
obesity. They
include
diabetes,
arthritis, high
blood pressure,
asthma, some
cancers,
cardiovascular
and pulmonary
diseases,
gallstones,
heartburn,
gout,
hypertension,
back and joint
pain, sleep
apnea,
infertility,
urinary stress
incontinence
and type 2
diabetes. These
conditions can
damage one's
quality of
life, and some
of them, such
as
cardiovascular
disease, may
cause early
death.
If a person's
weight is
causing and/or
threatening to
escalate a
health problem,
surgery may be
appropriate to
lower the risks
to his or her
health. Even a
small (but
permanent) loss
of 5 to 10
percent of
one's total
weight can
improve
symptoms.
4. Are you
100 or more
pounds over
your ideal
weight, or do
you have you a
Body Mass Index
(BMI) of 40 or
greater? (Calculate
your BMI.)
Yes
No
Typically,
only people who
are 100 or more
pounds
overweight, or
who have a BMI
of 40 or
greater, are
considered
candidates for
weight loss
surgery.
Exceptions are
sometimes made
for people who
do not meet
these
requirements if
they have a
life-threatening
medical
condition that
is
obesity-related.
You may be a candidate for weight loss surgery.
If you answered 'yes' to these questions, are more than 100 pounds overweight and/or have a BMI over 40, or your weight has caused or worsened a medical condition, weight loss surgery is a viable option. Your next step should be to visit your doctor for further evaluation. Before making a final decision, you should be well informed of the risks and benefits involved and fully understand the permanent lifestyle changes that weight loss surgery requires.
In many cases your insurance will cover all/most of the cost of this surgery.
If you want to pay cash, the cost can be as low as $10,000 **cost varies region to region
Another good reason to have surgery is that our patients have told us that weight loss surgery can reduce your monthly food bill as much as 50% or more
What is your average monthly food bill?
Using $ as your cost per month you could save on food expense over the next 5 years alone.
Besides the significantly higher food costs, medical costs are dramatically higher to those suffering from morbid obesity
