Bariatric Surgery Pros & Cons

THE PROS & CONS OF BARIATRIC BYPASS SURGERY
According to statistics, an average of 40,000 overweight or obese people per year have gastric bypass surgery, with reportedly more than 100,000 undergoing the procedure last year . The bulk of them have tried more traditional methods of weight loss, including careful dietary planning, regular exercise, and the use of prescription medication meant to speed by metabolism or thyroid functions, but they have not found success. If you are an individual considering this procedure, however, you should carefully weigh the pros and cons of Bariatric surgery for committing to the procedure.

There has been much discussion in the medical community about Bariatric bypass pros and cons. However, even supporters of the procedure admit that the surgery should be considered only as a last-ditch effort to drop weight, and even then a person must meet specific criteria. In fact, a person must be considered clinically morbidly obese to even be a candidate for the procedure. That means that he or she must be a minimum of 100 pounds over the target weight for his or her height, or have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or higher. Additionally, the candidate must first meet with doctors and psychologists to discuss the pros and cons of gastric bypass surgery and to consider other options. If viable alternatives can be found, they are tried first, with Bariatric surgery remaining a last resort.

When evaluating bariatric surgery pros and cons, it is always best to consider the positives first. For starters, it can be an effective way to reduce body mass levels. According to information provided by the Center for Disease Control's National Health Center for Statistics, over 30% of the adult population in the United States were considered obese in 2000 -- a 200% increase in just 20 years. In fact, corporations pick up an estimated tab of $13 billion dollars per year due to obesity-related insurance claims. Certainly, any discussion of the pros and cons of bariatric surgery must first begin with the fact that it can improve the well-being of millions of people nationwide, and has the potential to reduce the possibility of illness among this sector. Additionally, gastric bypass surgery has reportedly been known to help cure of alleviate non-insulin dependant diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and some respiratory problems.

When asked about gastric bypass surgery pros and cons by Kim Droze of eDiets.com, Georgeann Mallory, who serves as the executive director for the American Society For Bariatric Surgery (ASBS), is quick to point out that it is not a surgery that should be taken lightly. “Usually it’s a last resort,” she told Droze in an January 17, 2000 interview. “They’ve tried every type of diet, diet pills, hypnosis, wraps. Some have even had their jaws wired shut. [But] it’s the only long-term solution for people who weight more than 100 pounds. Nothing else seems to be effective for those people long term.”

Foremost among the cons of gastric bypass surgery? The health risks involved. According to estimates, one out of every 100 people who undergo the procedure will die, and the mortality rate increases among those with higher BMI or other pre-existing medical conditions. Other cons of the gastric bypass surgery include the other health-related complications that may arise. Among them are the risk of pulmonary embolism, gastrointestinal leaks, bowel obstruction, the formation of stricture, the formation of stomach ulcers, abdominal bleeding, pneumonia, the formation of gallstones and abdominal hernias. There is roughly a one-in-five chance that at least one of these particular complications may arise in any given person following Bariatric surgery.

When discussing the cons on gastric bypass it is also important to consider the monetary and nutritional aspects of the procedure. The prescribed post-surgery diet may result in a protein, vitamin or mineral deficiency, with possible malnutrition, osteoporosis or anemia resulting. Additionally, the procedure typically costs between $25,000 and $40,000, and many insurance companies are hesitant to cover the procedure due to the possible complications that can arise and the total costs involved, should additional surgery be required. Many people who want to undergo Bariatric surgery will be forced to pay for it out of pocket, if indeed they can.