Some people who are concerned about their weight are reluctant to consider obesity surgery because they think it is an admission of failure. Some can also feel that if they only had more willpower, they would be able to manage on their own. Often this is neither a fair nor accurate assessment of the true causes of obesity.
Firstly, it’s important to recognise that appetite regulation in humans is exceedingly complex, and controlled by many chemical and hormonal messengers. Some individuals – for reasons we don’t fully understand – are simply unable to regulate their appetite in the normal way.
Such people are involved in a perpetual struggle; in effect, they are trying to wage war against their own biology. There is no reason to feel ashamed about such a situation. On the contrary, it takes courage for an individual to admit that they have exhausted all other options, and require the kind of help that weight loss surgery offers.
Secondly, it is important to recognise obesity as a disease. Being seriously overweight represents a major threat to your long-term health. Indeed, if you have a BMI of 40+, you have only a 1 in 7 chance of a normal life expectancy.
The good news is that obesity surgery can change all that. It can reduce or even entirely eliminate health risks for major diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and stroke. It can add enormously to quality of life through improved mobility, self-confidence and self-esteem.
The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) has laid down specific guidelines for surgeons considering patients for obesity surgery. Briefly, the main criteria are as follows:
- You must be 18 years or over
- You must have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35 kg/m² in the presence of significant co-morbid conditions (eg, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, raised cholesterol levels etc) OR a BMI of 40 kg/m² or above
- You should have tried all other appropriate and available non-surgical approaches, but have failed to maintain weight loss
- You should be fit for anesthesia
- You should be prepared to undergo intensive follow-up and monitoring after weight loss surgery
- You should understand that obesity surgery is not a cure – but a tool to help you keep the disease under control
