Some Teens are Having Bariatric Surgery

Teenagers who are obese might have the option of having bariatric surgery. Previously, this type of weight loss surgery was only offered to adults. Although it isn’t the best choice for every teenager, there are some teens who can greatly benefit from it. The New York Times reported in February of 2017 that the number of adolescents who are overweight or obese has leveled off in recent years. But the number who are severely obese – heavy enough to qualify for bariatric surgery – has nearly doubled from 1999 to 2014. Previously, 5.2 percent of adolescents were severely obese. That … Continue reading

Should Insurance Cover Bariatric Surgery?

There is some debate about whether or not state health insurance plans should cover bariatric surgery. Some people feel that people should have to pay for this surgery on their own, without the use of “taxpayer money”. Others point to the lifesaving benefits of this type of surgery, and its expense. For some reason, there are a lot of people who feel that people who use a state or federal form of health insurance should not have access to the range of health care treatments and services that are available to people who are able to afford to pay for … Continue reading

Your Health Insurance May Not Cover Weight Loss Surgery

It has been said that there is an epidemic of obesity in America. It is not easy to lose weight, or to keep off the weight that has been lost. Many people are turning to bariatric surgery as a weight loss solution. The problem is that most health insurance will not cover the cost of these kinds of surgeries, or the costs of aftercare. Bariatric surgery involves a surgery that reduces the size of the stomach. There may be an implanted medical device, (such as a band), that closes off part of the stomach. Or, the surgery may actually remove … Continue reading

Arm Lift Surgery: Brachioplasty for Batwings

When you lose weight it is such a great feeling, isn’t it? You are feeling good and your self-confidence has soared. If you have lost a great deal of weight, however, there is still one more thing that is bothering you. The loose skin. If you have been exercising right along with dieting you will fare better than those who just diet alone without the means of exercise. Even so some will still have some areas on their body that they just cannot seem to tone up. A crucial area for many is the little flap of skin underneath your … Continue reading

Pregnancy After Weight Loss Surgery

According to the National Association for Weight Loss Surgery, approximately 100,000 women undergo surgery each year. Some of these women will go on to conceive and have healthy pregnancies. If you have had, or are considering weight loss surgery, there are a few things you should know. Most doctors recommend waiting at least 18 months after surgery before getting pregnant. This allows time for your weight to stabilize after the surgery. Getting pregnant too soon can result in malnutrition of the fetus, which is a serious complication. If you have had fertility issues that are related to weight, you may … Continue reading

Gastric Banding Sucks

Let me qualify that statement before I go any further. In 2001, I had a gastric bypass. That procedure involves stapling off most of the stomach pouch so that you end up with a stomach the size of a shot glass. You eat less food, suffer serious side effects when you eat greasy or sugary foods and thereby lose a lot of weight. With the help of a good diet and regular exercise, I lost 90 pounds. A couple friends of mine have since had the same procedure and lost a great deal of weight. None of us suffered from … Continue reading

Suddenly Skinny

I’m not a big Oprah watcher but one recent show she did, entitled “Suddenly Skinny”, was very important for me to see. While the folks on Oprah’s message boards are up in arms about it, I thought it was well done and high time that somebody finally brought this issue out into the open. The show focused on women who had gastric bypass surgery and then suffered from addiction transfer. The show did not imply that all people who undergo gastric bypass surgery suffer from this but it did bring the issue out into the open and get a healthy, … Continue reading

Suicidal After Weight Loss Surgery?

I know, I know. You’re probably thinking: “Hey, you aren’t obese anymore, you’ve lost 100 pounds and all your health problems have cleared up. What have you got to be suicidal about?!” The University of Pittsburgh recently completed a study that showed that among people aged from 25 to 34 who had weight loss surgery, the suicide rate was considerably higher than that of the general population. Having had a gastric bypass in 2001, I’d like to address this from my own personal point of view. When you’ve been overweight all of your life, it becomes part of your identity. … Continue reading

Morbid Obesity and Weight Loss Surgery

There comes a point where a person has become so obese that weight loss simply stops and other health issues arise. When you get to that point, diet, exercise programs, appetite suppressants and behavior modifications are just not effective any more. When you weigh 264, losing 5 pounds is a drop in the bucket. When I took this before picture, I was eating a healthy diet (and much less food than my husband who weighed far less than me) as well as walking for an hour on a treadmill every day. I couldn’t run because the weight was too much … Continue reading

Before You Have Bariatric (Weight Loss) Surgery

Personal Issues I spent about a year soul searching and researching bariatric surgery before I ever spoke to a doctor about having a gastric bypass. I recommend that anyone else do the same. This isn’t a decision to jump into lightly. If you aren’t ready to make a serious commitment to your continued health and fitness then going under the knife for a gastric bypass is just foolish. Once you see a doctor, there is an extensive screening process. If your doctor believes this is a viable option for you, he’ll refer you to a bariatric surgeon. The surgeon will … Continue reading