What risks do I face if I’m morbidly obese?

If you are morbidly obese, you have a much greater risk of developing a variety of serious medical conditions compared to individuals who are not obese. You may develop health problems at a younger age. Some of these conditions may include:

What are the benefits of gastric bypass surgery?

The surgery is an accepted long-term weight control tool with established health benefits. Gastric bypass surgery (malabsorpitive techniques) tends to produce greater weight loss than surgeries that only use restrictive techniques. Over half of the weight loss surgery patients lose about two-thirds of their excessive weight within two years. While some weight rebound may occur, most patients can keep off roughly 100 pounds of the weight they’ve lost over the long term. As each case is different and must be independently evaluated and managed, actual weight loss will vary. The surgery may resolve or improve some of the serious complications of obesity surgery, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, joint pain and incontinence.

What are the potential complications from Gastric Bpass surgery?

The risks include, but are not limited to, the usual risks of any surgery which involves general anesthesia, including problems with:
Breathing, pneumonia, Blood clots, Bleeding, Hernias at the site of the incision, Infection, Death, The risks specific to gastric bypass surgery include:
Leaking or rupture along the stapled area of the stomach, Gallstones, Nausea and vomiting, especially if you overeat, Dumping syndrome (a condition in which you eat too much sugar or fin, resulting in symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, shakiness, dizziness and sweating), Nutritional deficiencies (such as iron, calcium, vitamin B12 and folic acid)
Blocked intestine (bowel obstruction), Hair loss, Constipation, Excess skin after weight loss, Although you may not be able to avoid all complications, this is how to minimize risks after surgery:
Closely follow recommended meal sizes, Take small bites, Chew slowly and thoroughly,

How do I determine if I am morbidly obese?

The best way is to calculate your BMI ( Body Mass Index). Your BMI estimates how much you should weight based on your height. BMI of over 40 falls in the morbidly obese category.

Most insurance policies cover obesity surgery with proper documentation.  To expedite this process you can follow these few steps:

1. Check with your insurance company to see if the obesity surgery is excluded from your coverage.
2. List all of your weight loss efforts in the past 5-6 years, include copies of your records from any of commercial weight loss programs that you have tried, such as Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig etc.
3. Obtain copies of your medical records from your healthcare providers including your primary care physician and those who have treated you for obesity or any related health issues.
4. As your family physician to refer you to an obesity surgeon of your choice.