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!