Weight Loss Surgery vs. Diet and Exercise: What You Need to Know

Have you been struggling with obesity for a long time? If you have tried to lose weight and had little to no success, it can be very frustrating. You can follow a healthy diet and exercise regularly. Or, you can consider Bariatric Surgery, one of the most effective options that could be a total life changer for the right candidate. Which approach to dealing with obesity is better? Is weight loss surgery vs. diet and exercise a fair comparison?

A healthy diet and an exercise routine seem to be the easiest, simplest methods for losing weight. But if you are reading this, you’ve probably tried a diet program or two, signed up at your local gym, and still haven’t been able to make progress. What added benefits does bariatric surgery have? And, are the benefits worth it? Is Bariatric surgery more effective than regular dieting and exercising?

Our expert bariatric surgeons shared with us some of the pros and cons of both approaches and offered some advice on how to decide if weight loss surgery is for you.

Bariatric Surgery vs Natural Weight Loss

First, no bariatric surgeon underestimates the benefits of following a healthy lifestyle. Apart from maintaining a healthy weight, it can help prevent many diseases, improve your mood and boost your energy.

Some of the pros of exercising regularly and eating healthy foods are: Increase your metabolic rate; improve your circulation, heart, and lung function; sleep better; decrease your risk of developing diabetes and high blood pressure; decrease the risk of certain cancers; prevent brain disorders and mental conditions. Furthermore, doing these as part of your daily routine means developing healthy habits for life. A major con to choosing only diet and exercise is that your progress might be incredibly slow. And your metabolism might not respond to this “natural” weight loss approach.

“Following a balanced diet and exercising regularly are the most valuable habits anyone can have in order to live a long, fulfilling life. It is a mistake, however, to think that Bariatric Surgery is opposed to this,” explained Dr. Oscar Lumban, one of the Bariatric Surgeons at VIDA. “A healthy diet is vital, whether you are dealing with obesity or not. The same goes for exercising. But, it’s an unfair misconception to assume that these alone will help people beat obesity for good. Some patients have success with a new diet at first, but end up stalling or gaining the weight back. Patients who are obese need extra help, and that is the biggest advantage of choosing weight loss surgery.”

Patients who don’t respond to diets can find unrivaled benefits in a bariatric procedure, either a Gastric Sleeve, a Gastric Bypass, or a Lap Band.

“I always remind patients that weight loss surgery does not undermine their efforts to eat healthily and be more active. On the contrary, they complement each other. One couldn’t be successful without the other! And, for most of my bariatric patients, the weight they lost after having surgery and committing to living a healthy life, is priceless,” adds Dr. Rodriguez, who for years has been helping patients get their lives back through Bariatric Surgery.

Is weight loss surgery more effective than diet and exercise?

Weight loss surgery actually makes diet and exercise effective for those who have been battling obesity for years but haven’t thrived on conventional methods. If your BMI is over 35, you diet, lose weight, and gain it all back within months, then bariatric surgery might be for you!

The biggest con our doctors hear from their patients is that bariatric surgery is risky and recovery might be uncomfortable. While any surgery does have certain risks, the benefits far outweigh the risks.

Our bariatric doctors opt for a laparoscopic method, making surgery and recovery less invasive and less uncomfortable for patients. A little discomfort and an adjustment period are expected post-bariatric surgery, but for patients, beating obesity is finally possible. These surgeries, when paired with a balanced diet and exercise, will improve their quality of life indefinitely.

Do you think you may be a candidate for bariatric surgery? Is this something you have explored with your physician? Call us now at 619 610 1667 and let’s finally beat obesity, together!

More Info About Bariatric Surgery & Weight Loss

The Truth About Weight Gain After Gastric Sleeve Surgery

The decision to get Gastric Sleeve Surgery comes with a lot of hope for patients and what post-op life will be like.

As one of the safest bariatric surgeries preferred by the expert medical team at VIDA Bariatrics, the Gastric Sleeve allows patients to lose weight thanks to a smaller stomach and less Ghrelin production, the hunger-causing hormone.

It is a fact that after getting Gastric Sleeve surgery, patients can expect to lose weight for up to 18 to 24 months. But beyond all of the success stories flooding the internet with bariatric patients who have lost up to 80% of their weight, it is easy to forget a hard topic: weight gain after a Gastric Sleeve.

Can you gain weight back after Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

Is it possible to regain weight after bariatric surgery? Yes. To better address this topic, we had a chat with some of our board certified bariatric surgeons.

“There are too many doctors who treat patients for their gastric sleeve procedure and never discuss the follow-up, nor do they talk about the possibility of gaining weight back. I like to be upfront about it, and explain to my patients that it is possible to regain weight and then some after any bariatric surgery. The good news is that if we work closely with the patient and explain to them how the procedure helps them and what steps they can take to make the most out of it, we can prevent weight gain and set them up for a life full of healthy habits.”

Gaining weight after a Gastric Sleeve is possible…but preventable.

While patients can feel discouraged by this information, our expert surgeons assure us that gaining weight after gastric sleeve surgery is definitely not the norm. Particularly when you go to a surgeon who supports patients throughout their weight loss journey, even post-op.

“We get a lot of patients who haven’t thought about the possibility of gaining weight after having a Gastric Sleeve. We always outline strategies for the patient on how to prevent that from happening. We are their support team after all. So whether they need extra help by seeing a nutritionist or just need to understand the procedure better, we are there for them.”

The first thing patients need to learn is the logic behind it. The stomach is an elastic muscle, and while a surgeon will remove a significant portion of it, this doesn’t change. Your new smaller stomach can stretch after a Gastric Sleeve because it retains those expansion and contraction capabilities, which allow food to flow through when you eat. When people constantly overeat, they constantly overstretch their stomach. “Think of a rubber band, If you over-stretch it too often or for too long, it will not shrink back to its original size. Here at VIDA Bariatrics, we like to provide that visual example to help patients understand the importance of following a balanced diet, with adequate portions after their surgery.”

Simple steps to avoid re-gaining weight post Gastric Sleeve  

  • Remember that getting a Gastric Sleeve is only one part of your weight loss journey. Patients must make a lifelong commitment to changing their eating and exercise habits.
  • Tracking your food intake and discussing sustainable strategies with a nutritionist can set you up for success.
  • Set real goals and make yourself accountable. Take it step by step: one day at a time, one healthy meal at a time.
  • Gastric Sleeve means changing and adjusting: to a new body, with your loved ones and to your new dietary restrictions. Join a Gastric Sleeve support group to help you navigate these changes and keep the weight off.

Contact our VIDA Bariatrics department so we can help you finally beat obesity! Our staff will help you decide if a Gastric Sleeve is for you, craft a strategy that will ensure you lose the weight and keep it off and make sure you get all the support you need. Visit our website  or call us at
1 (619) 610-1667 to see how we can help you!