Obesity-Related Diseases Weight Loss Surgery Can Treat

Obesity-Related Diseases Weight Loss Surgery Can Treat

Read time: 4.5 minutes

TL;DR

  • When you gain weight, your risk for developing obesity-related diseases increases. Weight loss surgery helps patients lose weight and also helps reverse some diseases’ side effects.
  • Some obesity-related health conditions and diseases include high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes, risk of stroke, some cancers, osteoarthritis and more.
  • Losing excess weight and achieving a healthier BMI reduces your risk of developing obesity-related diseases and may reduce symptoms or take care of the problem if you already have an obesity-related health condition.
  • Weight loss surgery is a great way for many people to kick start their weight loss and reduce problems with obesity-related diseases.

 

As weight increases, the risk of a number of diseases also increases. Weight loss surgery is a great option for many people who suffer from obesity and can help treat or reverse some of these diseases. Learn more about obesity-related diseases and how surgery might help reduce their impact, then consider whether weight loss surgery is right for you.

Obesity-Related Diseases

Obesity is hard on the body; nearly every organ is affected by the extra weight. Obese people have a higher risk of developing a number of health conditions and diseases, including the following:

  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Heart disease
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Stroke
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Gallbladder disease
  • Breathing problems like sleep apnea
  • Some cancers
  • Mental illness like depression and anxiety

Weight Loss Surgery Helps Reverse or Treat Diseases

Many of the above obesity-related diseases improve with weight loss. Losing extra weight and achieving a healthier body mass index (BMI) can help to reduce your risk of developing obesity-related diseases and may reduce symptoms or take care of the problem if you already have an obesity-related health condition. Consider the examples of how obesity impacts the diseases below.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a disease involving elevated blood sugar levels. It contributes to many other diseases including heart disease, blindness, stroke and kidney disease. It’s not clear why overweight people are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, but more than 87 percent of adults with the disease are overweight. Weight loss may help prevent type 2 diabetes if you are at risk or may help control blood sugar levels if you already have the disease.

High Blood Pressure

Blood pressure refers to how hard blood pushes against the artery walls as it circulates through your body. When blood pressure becomes too high, it can trigger heart disease, stroke and other serious problems. A larger body size may force the heart to work harder to pump blood to all the cells, increasing blood pressure. The extra fat may also damage the kidneys, which help control blood pressure. Losing weight often helps lower blood pressure.

Heart Disease

Heart disease is a general term that includes a number of different problems affecting the heart; it’s the leading cause of death in the United States. Obesity increases your risk for high cholesterol, high blood pressure and other health conditions that put you at a higher risk for heart disease. It also forces your heart to work harder to supply blood to your body. Weight loss helps reduce the health conditions that contribute to heart disease.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a common problem related to aging or injury that causes pain and stiffness in the joints. Carrying extra weight places additional stress on the joints, putting you at a higher risk for the condition. Losing weight helps lessen this stress and reduces the risk of developing osteoarthritis; it may also help improve symptoms if you already have the condition.

Is Gastric Sleeve Weight Loss Surgery Right for You?

Losing excess weight has obvious health benefits, but it can be a challenging task. Weight loss surgery is a great way for many people to kick start their weight loss and reduce problems with obesity-related diseases. There are many factors to consider when deciding if the gastric sleeve procedure is right for you, including:

  • Qualifying for surgery
  • Researching the procedure
  • Cost
  • Losing weight before surgery

Qualifying for Weight Loss Surgery

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) issues standards that people must meet to be a good candidate for weight loss surgery as follows:

  • Over the age of 18
  • A BMI more than 40, or
  • A BMI more than 35 with one or more obesity-related diseases

Common obesity-related diseases that qualify you for weight loss surgery include:

  • Sleep apnea
  • High blood pressure
  • Arthritis
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • High cholesterol
  • Soft tissue infections

Research the Gastric Sleeve Procedure

If you think you qualify for weight loss surgery, talk to your doctor about your options. It’s important to gather as much information as possible and talk to your family about the decision.

Cost of Gastric Sleeve

Dr. Borland is a bariatric surgeon who specializes in offering affordable weight loss surgery. He offers gastric sleeve surgery to patients for $11,300. This includes an initial consultation but doesn’t include staying in a hotel room for a couple days following the surgery. Our financing options can help make weight loss surgery more affordable with monthly payments.

Weight Loss Before Surgery

It may sound strange to work on losing weight before weight loss surgery, but patients who do so are more likely to lose more weight following surgery and are less likely to suffer complications during surgery. Successful weight loss surgery requires patients to make lifestyle changes; beginning this process before surgery provides more time to change habits and set yourself up for long-term success. Work with your doctor to develop an eating and exercise plan to help you develop healthy habits.

Preparing for Surgery

During an initial consultation, Dr. Borland helps patients determine if weight loss surgery is a good option for you. After deciding on surgery, you’ll visit your primary care doctor to complete pre-surgery blood work and paperwork. The day before surgery, you’ll switch to a clear liquid diet and then not eat or drink anything after midnight before surgery.

Gastric sleeve weight loss surgery is a big decision but one that can have major health benefits. If you’re ready to make the change for a healthier you, Dr. Borland and his compassionate team are ready to support you along your journey. Learn more about weight loss surgery by checking out our other blog posts or calling the office at (337) 364-0809 to schedule your initial consultation.