Is Weight Loss Surgery Really Worth It? Things You Should Know

Hola amigos! Welcome back!

Weight loss surgery is major decision for some people. Is it worth it? What are some factors to think about that are not advertised in the brochures? David unpacks the details in this episode. 

Highlights of this episode:

Isabelle’s weight loss surgery storyTypes of weight loss surgeryClaimed benefitsRisks and Lifetime Outcomes

Warning: this episode will mention numerical weight, body mass index (BMI), obesity, and weight loss surgery or bariatric surgery, in order to share an individual’s story through her intuitive eating journey and bring criticism to bariatric surgery. Weight loss surgery and bariatric surgery will be used interchangeably throughout the episode. 

Summary 

David’s first dietetic job, about 18 years ago, was at a premier bariatric center. They had everything associated with the surgery in-house and were identified as meeting the gold standard for weight loss surgery. 

The bypass surgery creates a highly restrictive diet and micronutrient regimen because of the major alternation of the digestive tract. Post-surgery care means taking vitamins and minerals for life, and not just one multi-vitamin daily. It requires a strict schedule of multiple supplement pills and sometimes B12 injection shot once a month.  

The digestive problems post-surgery is a laundry list: acid reflex, constipation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and more specifically, dumping syndrome. It’s really no surprise why these digestive problems happen. The surgery reduces the stomach to the size of a ping pong ball. Parts of the small intestine are removed and reconnected at remaining intestinal sites.  

The outcome is poor malabsorption of food and its nutrients for life, which leads to its own risks. People who had weight loss surgery and lost weight are often still in large bodies because “large” is a relevant term. Post-surgery, malnutrition is common because the body is having trouble digesting and absorbing adequate protein.  

David sees people who underwent the surgery over two years ago, because they are looking again, to lose weight. It’s really just like another diet, which comes with weight regain. Anything that forces your body to lose weight, is seen as a threat, a stress response. 

Where do I go from here?

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