Across the nation, obesity is an epidemic. From small, rural towns to urban city centers, obesity is one of the few things that still unites these United States. Today, more than two out of three American adults are considered to be overweight or obese, a term that means you weigh more than 20% of what is considered normal for your height, weight, age, and sex.
Loosing weight can be troublesome for many adults, but for the first time in human history, there are reliable, medicine-based solutions available. Say goodbye to “get thin quick schemes,” because medical weight loss programs are here to help those that need an extra boost.
In fact, there are now a variety of physician-directed, medical weight loss programs to choose from. Here is a quick breakdown of the different medical weight loss solutions available.
Gastric bypass
Gastric bypass is a form of bariatric surgery that divides the stomach. This leads to a reduction in the size of your stomach, thereby limiting the amount of food you are able to eat and store in your body. Additionally, this new stomach bypasses part of the small intestines, which means less calories are absorbed by the body.
Some gastric bypass requirements include a body mass index of over 40, along with having a serious weight-related health problem, such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or severe sleep apnea. For patients who do qualify, this surgery can reduce your symptoms of diabetes by 80% and sleep apnea by a whopping 90%. Additionally, gastric bypass recovery time is minor. The patient can expect to stay in the hospital for two to three days, and be back to normal activities within three weeks.
Lap Band
Another one of the popular medical weight loss programs available is the lap band. This is when a silicone band is placed around the top portion of the stomach to shrink the stomach and slow the consumption of food. The goal is to loose weight steadily and to change one’s psychological reaction to food. The surgery is minimally invasive, and the patient can expect to be back to their everyday life in about one week.
Gastric Sleeve
This surgery reduces the stomach to about one-fourth of its original size. The result is a sleeve like structure, and like gastric bypass, it will limit the amount of food a person can eat. Gastric sleeve qualifications include having a BMI of over 40, being 100 pounds or more overweight, and having trouble loosing weight through regular diet and exercise.
No matter the solution you choose, there is always a medical weight loss program available to you. If you have any questions about what surgery is the most beneficial to you, do not hesitate to call a doctor today. And for patients in the Alabama area, contact My Destination Weight Loss.
