By Christine Haran
Diet and exercise have long been considered the only effective way to lose weight. But in recent years, a third way—surgery—has emerged for certain men and women who are severely obese. This option, known as bariatric surgery, can result in dramatic weight loss. It has most famously physically transformed once-obese celebrities Al Roker and Carnie Wilson.
Bariatric surgery is reserved for people who have been unable to lose weight on professionally managed weight-loss programs and those who have obesity-related conditions such as diabetes, or are at risk for them. But the surgery, which restricts food intake and digestion, comes with its own serious risks and side effects.
Below, J. Christopher Eagon, MD, assistant professor of surgery at Washington University in St. Louis, discusses how this weight-loss procedure works and when it's appropriate.
When is surgery an appropriate option for weight loss?
The best candidates for the surgical treatment of obesity are patients who have a body mass index of 40 or greater, or 35 or greater and associated obesity-related conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and sleep apnea. In terms of pounds, qualifying for surgery equates to being about 100 pounds above ideal body weight. If you take a person who is five foot, six inches tall, they might have to weigh something in the neighborhood of 260 pounds or more in order to qualify for surgery.
Copyright 2009 NBC Health
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