Weight Loss - Facts And Myths!

Will I ever lose my excess weight? Why some people fail diet and exercise? Are there sustainable weight loss solutions? Is there a smart way to conquer obesity? What is this bariatric surgery? Isn't it expensive? Is it reliable? What are the risks?

It's a common myth in the eyes of the public that obesity is a sign of mental weakness and that it can be controlled by diet and exercise. There are many other factors that can come into play, such as genetic factors, psycho-social and socio-economic factors.

Certain physiological mechanisms in our body are designed to defend against weight loss and conserve energy. Thus, losing weight is challenging and maintaining weight loss after dietary and exercise intervention even more so.

When you try to lose weight, your body defends itself against dipping too far below a certain weight or "set point". This regulation becomes abnormal in obese people. Even if this set point is abnormally high, the body defends itself. Bariatric surgery, or weight loss surgery, can reset that set point

Research shows that bariatric surgery is more effective for long-term weight loss compared with dietary modifications or exercise.

Trials have also shown it to improve or resolve conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and fertility.

Most patients who are overweight and make exercise and dietary modifications tend to have a high rate of failure and relapse. Surgery not only restricts food intake but also changes gut hormones that promote satiety; suppresses hunger and increases metabolism. This is why metabolic complications like diabetes and hypertension improve immediately after surgery, even before the patient has lost significant weight. That is not to say that those who are overweight should give up on exercise or dieting altogether.

Two common types of bariatric surgery are vertical sleeve gastrectomy, or gastric sleeve, which involves removing a portion of the stomach; and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, a more complex procedure where a small pouch is created from the stomach. The operation creates a connection from the stomach to the small intestine, bypassing portions of the digestive tract.