Good, Not Perfect

Every day, it seems, we read about possible new remedies for the difficult problem of obesity. While many of these as-yet unproven approaches may turn out to hold some genuine promise, right now, only such procedures as sleeve gastrectomy have been fully proven as effective.

At University Bariatrics,we are following these possible advances with great interest, but we are also concerned that some prospective weight loss patients might be tempted to delay a needed procedure because they are hoping some other technique might provide them with the results they need later on. To this, we can only say that there is absolutely no guarantee that any of these exciting, but as yet extremely unsure, techniques we'll be shown to be both safe and effective. The fact of the matter is that obesity is a serious condition with great risks. Every day we suffer under its effects impacts both our overall health and quality of life. We don't have time to waste.

When it comes to our health, it's crucial not to let the perfect -- which usually doesn't exist anyway -- be the enemy of the good. Bariatric surgery is not perfect, but it is by far the best solution we have access to right now. If you think you could benefit from bariatric surgery in Thousand Oaks at our offices, don't wait to get in touch with us. Your health can't wait forever.

Certain Diets Can Help, But Not for Everyone

According to a study published this month in the Annals of Internal Medicine, those who eat a high fiber diet are more likely to lose weight and respond better to insulin if they are diabetic. Yet, in an article published in the Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology journal around the same time, several leading weight loss experts stated that not everyone can lose weight with traditional diet and exercise. For years, obese people have been unfairly stigmatized by people who claim that they are simply not doing what everyone else does to stay thin, but these experts assert that bariatric surgery in Thousand Oaks may be the only option for certain patients.

For these patients that need bariatric surgery to lose weight, University Bariatrics presents an outstanding option for safe, effective surgery. Weight loss surgery with Dr. Amir Mehran has helped countless patients lose weight after years of failing with traditional diet and exercise. Dr. Mehran is the best option for patients looking for a sleeve gastrectomy or another effective bariatric procedure to help them get on track towards a healthy lifestyle.

Considering Quality of Life

A study that came out recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) underlined the fact that we've pretty much come to the point where the very small risks of bariatric surgery are far outweighed by the truly substantial risks of living with severe obesity. More importantly, as we see every day here at University Bariatrics, the long term benefits of weight loss accomplished with the help of metabolic surgery are undeniable.

Still when considering a procedure like a sleeve gastrectomy or a gastric bypass, people tend to forget about some of the longer term quality of life issues surrounding obesity, particularly those that may impact us in our later years. Yes, most of us are keenly aware of the shorter term physical and social benefits of losing weight -- and it's only human for us to focus on more immediate results. However, anyone who's been around an older relative dealing with some of the less discussed impacts of obesity knows just how harrowing they can be, and might better understand the benefits of taking action earlier in life.

For example, while most people are aware that excess weight is an important risk factor for heart attacks and strokes, we usually have only a vague sense of what that actually means beyond the risk of death. Surviving a stroke, for example, is usually a very long and painful process, especially for older victims who may already be frail. Even less well known is the kidney disease that often accompanies type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Losing kidney function and going on dialysis at any age is something that's hard to imagine until you see it before your own eyes, and it doesn't become any easier as we older. Obesity also worsens such common and painful conditions as arthritis. This may not sound particularly frightening, but severe chronic pain is obviously going to hugely impair anyone's ability to enjoy their life and be healthy.

When considering a procedure such as a sleeve or a gastric bypass in Thousand Oaks, don't simply consider the shorter term benefits or even the risk of premature death. The fact of the matter is that medical science has gotten extremely good at extending life even for many people with multiple health issues. As more and more of us can expect to make it well into our eighties and beyond, even with fairly severe obesity, the issue of the overall quality of life as you go into your later years is increasingly crucial.

Important Details From Recent Bariatric Study

Earlier in the week we shared an article that explained another important benefit of bariatric surgery – the money that surgery can save patients on prescription drug costs. Here are some important statistics from the recent study that demonstrate how a sleeve gastrectomy or another weight loss surgery procedure can reduce the need for prescription drugs that are needed to treat dangerous conditions that can be a result of obesity.

• For patients who have bariatric surgery, their pharmacy expenses are 22.6% lower four years after surgery.
• People who have weight loss surgery are 74% less likely to have a prescription for diabetes medication four years after surgery. The numbers for anti-hypertension drugs and other cardiovascular drugs are 48.3% and 48.9% lower, respectively.

Obviously, the biggest reason to get bariatric surgery in Thousand Oaks is to improve your health so you can live a longer, more fruitful life. Yet, this financial incentive is another important reason to consider bariatric surgery when weighing the benefits against the risks. For most severely obese patients, the benefits of bariatric surgery outweigh the risks, but a consultation with Dr. Amir Mehran at University Bariatrics is the only way to know for sure if the surgery is right for you.