Bariatric surgery is now a standard for weight loss. In recent years, obese individuals consider the procedure the safest and fastest means to get rid of the extra kilos of flesh. It is worth mentioning that the intention of each patient concerning undergoing the surgery often differs. Some regard it as a way to cut down on their weight. Some other patients take to it to reduce the adverse effects of obesity-related diseases. On the other hand, another group of bariatric patients undergoes the procedure to elongate their lives.
All these reasons are good. Nevertheless, life expectancy may not be as high as you anticipate. Some medical studies posit that weight loss abroad can increase the lifespan of obese individuals. Some other studies suggest a decline in the health and general lifespan of patients after the surgery. We’ll look at the two sides of the coin (prolonged and shortened lifespan). This will help you weigh your chances at the surgery before passing through the knife.
The Goal of Weight Loss Abroad
It is worth noting that bariatric surgery has relevance in today’s society, especially with the growth of medical tourism. The overall essence of bariatric surgery is to improve the lives of patients. Below are key takeaways of the procedure.
- Lose Weight Quickly
Before considering weight loss abroad, you may have used other means, such as healthy dieting and regular exercises. For some obese individuals, these methods do not offer the anticipated results. Thus, it brought about the consideration of bariatric surgery. It is on this premise that the procedure offers accelerated attention to patients’ condition.
On monthly intervals, obese people tend to lose specific kilos of flesh. This continues over the years. After an interval of two (2) years, it is clear that patients lost a significant amount of weight. This factor informs the decision to pass through the knife to lose weight faster.
- Reduce Food Intake
Inordinate consumption of food, either in large proportions or in taking more of calories, can trigger obesity. The goal of weight loss surgery is to disrupt the traditional method of food intake. Most of the procedures entail reductions in the size of the stomach. This way, obese individuals will have “smaller stomachs”.
This works on the concept of “the smaller the stomach, the smaller the food intake”. To this end, you’ll consume only a smaller portion of food. In addition, the goal is to get many nutrients at a go. Thus, you won’t focus more on “junk foods” but healthy meals that have the right amounts of protein.
- Control Obesity-Related Diseases
Excess weight (obesity) has a major downside, which is the facilitation of obesity-related diseases. Patients may be at the risk of diabetes, sleep apnea, and heart disease if the Body Mass Index (BMI) is high. Undergoing weight loss surgery abroad helps in the remission/cure of these diseases.
- Promotes a Healthy Lifestyle
Above all, bariatric surgery promotes a healthy lifestyle for obese individuals. Now, they can take their diet more seriously and workout to keep the body fit at all times.
Obese Individuals vs. Weight Loss Surgery – The Lifespan Perspective
One of the commonest fears about surgical operations is the prospects of making it alive. Patients need extra conviction that they will come out of the operation room safe and sound. There is also the consideration of the long-term plan of such surgeries. This trend also extends to weight loss surgery abroad. Obese individuals who are already at the receiving end of the adverse effects of an excessive Body Mass Index (BMI) tend to find out the lifespan chances that come with the surgery.
Note that the procedure can prolong and shorten the lifespan of patients. It all depends on the chances that lie before the patient before and after the surgery. Are you considering weight loss surgery abroad? Below are the facts you need to understand about elongating your life with bariatric surgery.
Bariatric Surgery Prolongs Lifespan
The moment your Body Mass Index (BMI) goes up, there is a tendency that you are in harm’s way. For some individuals, it is just a little kilo of flesh, which will go off after some time. Note that this is not a good approach, because your weight tends to expand as the days go by. Thus, undergoing a surgical operation can offer you a new lease on life.
Researches in this field posit that obese individuals have a prolonged lifespan after the procedure. This is possible because of the innate factors that make the procedure one of the best choices for weight loss.
Consider it in this perspective. John is a 23-year-old student who happened to have excess weight. Despite constant exercises and a healthy meal plan, he has not been able to shed off much weight. The expectation is that he will live for more three and a half decades if he was no overweight. However, when obesity-related diseases, such as Type 2 diabetes, and sleep apnea set it, there is no assurance of his chances of surviving the next decade. In such a situation, it is clear that the hopes of living up to the destined age may not be feasible. On the contrary, bariatric surgery can be a lifesaver. John will not only be able to shed off the extra kilos of flesh in the coming years but will also sustain the same for long. Thus, he literally “has his life back”. Such is the aftermath of undergoing weight loss surgery abroad. You stand a chance of an all-around improvement in your life.
Factors Responsible for Lifespan Elongation
You may be wondering about the possibility of an extension in the lives of obese individuals after weight loss surgery. It is worth noting that certain factors are responsible for the lifespan elongation. Below are some factors associated with this.
- Healthy Lifestyle
The surgery institutes a new way of feeding. It won’t be all about the bottled foods in your freezer. Patients will now have to pay less attention to unhealthy meal plans that triggered obesity in the first place. In the stead, bariatric surgery forges a new meal plan, which mandates patients to consume healthy meals that can make them full at a short interval. By promoting this, obese individuals tend to eat rightly.
On the other hand, exercises will be the norm, as patients have to make it a daily routine. In extension, these plans reduce the chances of weight regain. Thus, the inception of a healthy lifestyle after weight loss abroad helps in prolonging the lifespan of obese individuals.
- Bariatric Patients have better prospects
It is important to understand the classes of obese individuals when broaching the topic of obesity. A group of obese individuals still makes use of traditional approaches (dieting and exercise) with hopes of weight loss. For this class of obese individuals, bariatric surgery can be tasking and may dip a hole in the pocket. There is also skepticism on the safety of the surgery.
For the latter group (bariatric patients), the procedure can be a medium to lose weight faster. It is worth mentioning that people who seek medical help for obesity tend to have positive changes. This is because of accelerated medical attention that comes their way. In addition, the post-operative period is a time to consolidate on the effects of the surgery. Thus, a prolonged lifespan after weight loss surgery is only feasible for people individuals that underwent the procedure.
- Patients with lower BMI tend to live longer
This is quite true. Obese individuals whose Body Mass Index (BMI) is not within the morbid range of 40 and above tend to live longer after the surgery. This is because of the limited obesity-related diseases that come their way. Furthermore, the surgery will be a “walk-over” for such patients, because there may not be a need for a pre-weight loss before the surgery.
- Remission/Cure of Obesity-Related Diseases
Bariatric patients who have obesity-related diseases tend to see an all-around improvement in their lives after undergoing weight loss surgery abroad. Note that these diseases, also called “comorbidities” have adverse effects on the body. There is also a tendency of reducing the lifespan because of these negative effects. Prolonging the lifespan of obese individuals is possible when there is a remission of Type 2 diabetes, and cure for other diseases, such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea and heart disease.
Life Expectancy may be low
While some patients jump at the prospects of enhanced and prolonged lifespan, others wear gloomy faces because of the shortened lifespan that awaits them. This is not an irony. Bariatric surgery certainly improves the lives of obese individuals. However, a good number of these patients may not get the same favor. For some reasons that are beyond the restrictions of the surgery, patients may have to live the rest of their lives in fear of death. It is surprising that some obese individuals benefit while others don’t. Below are some reasons why lifespan elongation is not possible for a certain class of bariatric patients.
- “Super Obese” Patients are not favored
Note that the core assessment of an individual’s qualification for weight loss surgery abroad is by checking the weight and height. This translates to the Body Mass Index (BMI), which serves as a prerequisite for bariatric surgery qualification.
Individuals tend to pay less attention to the early stages of weight gain. When it becomes obvious to them that medical help is the only way out, it may have been too late. The traditional consideration for bariatric procedures is for people who have a BMI of 35 and above (though we accept 30+ for the gastric sleeve and 35+ for gastric/mini gastric bypass procedures). The consideration of a 40+ BMI is exclusive for morbidly obese individuals. At this stage of obesity, such obese individuals are already at risk of comorbidities.
However, there is a “super obese” state, which is exclusive to people with a BMI of 60 and above. Obese people who fall into this category are at the risk of low lifespan expectancy. This is because obesity-related diseases have literally “eaten deep into their system”. Thus, they may not expect a longer life after the surgery.
- Diabetic Patients with a BMI of 60+
This boils down to the effects of obesity-related diseases. For emphasis, obese individuals who are diabetic and have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 60 and above should not expect prolonged lifespan after bariatric surgery. As facts from studies suggest, these set of people are already embroiled in a battle between obesity and diabetes. Weight loss surgery can only help in the reduction of the body mass but may have little inputs to make to the diabetic state of the individual(s), which sadly, is already in a critical state.
Important Points to Note
It is sad that the procedure may not increase the lifespan of certain classes of bariatric patients. Nevertheless, there are facts that support that perspective. Here are some of them:
- Benefits of Surgery Decreases on higher BMI
As we noted earlier, people with a higher BMI of 60 and above may not get the same life expectancy as those with the minimum version. In the same, there is a tendency of shortened lifespan as the Body Mass Index (BMI) increases. Obese individuals with a BMI of 60+ should not expect life expectancy. This is because of the fact that the positive aspects of bariatric surgery may not materialize because of the inherent risks associated with a higher BMI.
- Lifespan Elongation reduces as BMI Increases
Some patients may have a lower BMI before the surgery. There is a tendency for weight regain in the event of not sustaining weight loss effectively. Such cases stall drastic weight loss and lifespan elongation of the patient.
For instance, an obese individual with a BMI of 45 is a good candidate for weight loss surgery abroad. After the procedure, the expectation is for him/her to sustain weight loss within the ambient of regular exercise, medications/supplements, and healthy dieting. If these factors are not in place, the excess kilos of flesh will make a comeback. In such scenarios, the BMI increases, thereby, reducing the chances of a prolonged lifespan.
Who will benefit?
The following classes of bariatric patients can benefit from lifespan elongation offered by bariatric surgery.
- Obese Individuals
They’ll get all-around improvements in their body mass. The surgery does not only cut off extra kilos of flesh but also helps in regulating food intake afterward.
- Diabetic Patients
These set of obese individuals will get remissions for Type diabetes. This is on the provision that their Body Mass Index (BMI) is not within the range of 60 and above.
- Individuals with Obesity-Related Diseases
Obesity can trigger diseases, such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. These have negative effects on the body and can reduce the lifespan of affected individuals. Undergoing weight loss abroad can help in getting rid of these diseases. In extension, affected patients will then have a new lease of life.
Bariatric Surgery is a Lifesaver
Weight loss surgery saves lives of obese individuals who are already at risks of obesity-related diseases. It is also effective for patients who want to “get back their lives”. It is important to maintain a healthy BMI of 30+ (for gastric sleeve), and 35+ (for gastric bypass and mini gastric bypass). Otherwise, a BMI of 60+ can spell drastic effects for the body and may reduce the lifespan chances.
Do not wait until you lose balance and fall down a flight of stairs before booking for weight loss surgery abroad. If you’re serious about exploring the bariatric surgeries we offer at Weight Loss Riga, contact us today through our website.
