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Surgical weight loss guide

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Surgical weight loss, also called bariatric surgery, refers to a number of procedures that can help morbidly obese individuals lose weight. These procedures have received a lot of attention in the media in recent years. This guide will help answer some of your questions about this type of surgery, including a discussion about who may be eligible.

Surgery can help reduce important health risks in obese individuals. However, the surgery itself has risks and should not be undertaken lightly. Before considering surgery, you should work with your physician to make lifestyle changes to lose weight. These include changes to your diet, eating habits, and level of physical activity. If these measures are not sufficient and you decide to have surgery, you still need to make lifestyle changes to help you lose the weight all and keep it off.


I. Introduction

Step 1: Understanding morbid obesity
Step 2: The health risks of obesity
Step 3: Treatment overview
Step 4: How weight loss surgery might help


II. Surgical Options

Step 5: Gastric bypass surgery
Step 6: Vertical sleeve gastrectomy
Step 7: Laparoscopic adjustable banding system


III. Post-Surgical Care

Step 8: Nutrition
Step 9: Exercise
Step 10: Lifestyle changes

questionHelpful Handouts

Body mass index - chart

Review Date: 12/16/2012

Reviewed By: Robert A. Cowles, MD, Associate Professor of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.



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