Health Improvement Through Weight Loss Surgery

Treating so much more than the number on the scale

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A new year, a new beginning. 

With the arrival of 2023, many of us use this annual marker to stop and think about where we have been, and where we’re going.  It’s a chance to reflect on our wellbeing and to make plans to improve the quality of our lives by improving our health.

For many, weight loss is a health improvement goal.  It’s a formidable challenge, because our body’s weight regulation mechanisms are so complex.  The dangers of elevated body weight often sneak into life slowly.  The number on the scale may be just the first sign of serious health issues on the horizon. 

First, let’s talk about the dangers of obesity.  The metabolic dysfunction that occurs in obesity often leads to something we call “metabolic syndrome.”  This is a cluster of conditions increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and other serious chronic health conditions.

Obesity is not a disease of a number on a scale, it is a disease of our body’s metabolism.  Metabolism is the set of life-sustaining chemical reactions that regulate our body’s energy consumption, energy expenditure, and energy storage.

So, what can you do to combat obesity and start living a healthier life? 

Decades of studies have shown that the most effective and longest lasting treatment option is weight loss surgery – aka: bariatric surgery or metabolic surgery.

While all these names refer to the same set of surgical procedures, I feel that the term “metabolic surgery” best encompasses the true purpose and potential of what surgical weight loss offers to patients. 

More than just a procedure to lower weight; metabolic surgery is truly about lowering the serious risks of chronic medical conditions and premature death that occur with obesity.  On average, patients with obesity die several years earlier than patients without obesity.

Surgical weight loss has also been shown to improve severe medical conditions including, but not limited to, high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, infertility, depression, degenerative joint disease, cancer, and more.

The complexity of obesity and metabolic syndrome treatment deserves the support of a multidisciplinary team.  At the Center for Surgical Weight Loss at Care New England, patients have a comprehensive center for beginning their surgical weight loss journey– starting with checking your body mass index (BMI), informational webinar, and an individualized consultation with one of our accredited bariatric surgeons.

To get started on your weight-loss surgery journey visit: https://www.carenewengland.org/bariatric/

Disclaimer: While I am a doctor, I am not your doctor.  The content in this blog is for informational and educational purposes only and should not serve as medical advice, consultation, or diagnosis.  If you have a medical concern, please consult your healthcare provider, or seek immediate medical treatment.