Researchers at the Bariatric Surgery Unit in Pisa, Italy decided to investigate the cost effectiveness of obesity, or weight loss surgery for people with type 2 diabetes. The types of surgery considered were:
adjustable gastric banding
gastric bypass surgery.
Scientists wanted to see if these surgeries were cost effective for type 2 diabetics living in Italy, Spain and Austria. Usually these types of surgery are for people with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 35.
Results of this investigation were published in the Obesity Surgery Journal on September 19, 2009 and showed that after a five year follow up, that both adjustable gastric banding and gastric bypass surgery were cost effective.
However, it is important to consider more than cost effectiveness. It would be really wise to take the following into account:
if takes up to six weeks to recover from weight loss surgery
it will necessitate an immediate change of lifestyle
you can only eat very small amounts of food
the absorption of some vitamins and minerals can be seriously impaired. Then it is necessary to take high doses of Vitamin D and Vitamin B12 for the rest of your life. Are you happy to commit to taking vitamins for the rest of your life? Or having Vitamin B12 in injection form?
it is not always a successful operation, approximately 40% have to return for more surgery
Other complications include:
burping after eating
infections
abscesses
feeling nauseous
constipation and/or diarrhea
indigestion
heartburn
Television shows such as The Big Loser shows people can change their life and their health without one of the bariatric surgeries. It is true following a healthy eating plan and an exercise program is work and takes effort, but you need to change your eating pattern and also exercise following one of the obesity-weight loss surgeries. So if your previous attempts to lose weight failed because you didn’t stick to your diet and exercise program, it probably won’t work with surgery. The following also needs to be considered if you are thinking about surgery:
if you are the type of person who overeats due to stress rather than because you are hungry … this will cause you difficulty losing weight
if you drink a lot of juices and high sugar/calorie sodas, this too will make it difficult for you to lose weight
It is not impossible to overcome weight problems, even when you have a hormonal influence on your weight such as that experienced with type 2 diabetes. The best news is that the body can heal.
Think carefully before you have obesity or weight loss surgery. It is true, if you have serious health issues like those associated with type 2 diabetes, this surgery could be life saving. But if you don’t follow a recommended diet and exercise following surgery, it could have no effect at all.
Before making a decision why not talk with people who have already had weight loss surgery. Ask them:
what it’s like if they overeat
what supplements do they take that they never took before surgery
as many questions as you can think of
Your decision will then be based on reality, not cost-effectiveness.
