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Are
You a Candidate for Surgical Weight Loss?
Gain
weight…lose weight… gain weight…lose weight…
- a familiar cycle for someone who has dealt with long-term weight
issues. A popular weight-loss myth is that everyone who loses weight
eventually gains it back. According to the Surgical Weight Loss specialists
at Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital, weight loss can successfully be
kept off with a dedication to nutritional therapy and physical activity.
First Things First
There is no myth in the fact that Americans are gaining weight at
an alarmingly rapid rate. Being overweight refers to an excess of
body weight – not necessarily body fat. In contrast, obesity
is a term that refers to an excessively high proportion of body fat.
Health professionals use a measurement called body mass index (BMI)
to classify an adult's weight as healthy, overweight, or obese.
A BMI ranging from 18.5 to 25 is considered healthy, from 25 to 30
is overweight, and 30 or higher is obese. Generally, the higher a
person's BMI, the greater the risk for health problems.
Is Surgery For You?
Surgical Weight Loss at OLBH is recommended for individuals who are
100 pounds or more overweight and have medical complications that
will be helped, and in many instances resolved, by substantial weight
loss. While weight loss surgery is not for everyone, it is a must
for a large number of patients to succeed at an improved health status.
“Patients who are severely obese are clearly at an increased
risk for serious, potentially life-threatening medical conditions,”
Mark Pack, OLBH general surgeon, said. “Many obese patients
already suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol,
or sleep apnea. Providing a surgical weight loss treatment for these
patients is dire to their condition.”
Candidates for Surgical Weight Loss at OLBH should:
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Be 100 pounds or more overweight or 100 percent above their ideal
body weight
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Have a measurable complication that may benefit from the surgery
whether it is physical, psychological, social, or economic
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Have no known endocrine or metabolic causes for severe obesity
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Be of sound mind to understand the risks and commitment of the surgical
procedure
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Be able to commit to follow-up visits to their physician
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Have attempted weight loss treatments without success
If you
meet the above criteria for Surgical Weight Loss at OLBH, the CareLine
can assist you in registering for the upcoming OLBH Surgical Weight
Loss Community Education Session; simply call (606) 833-CARE
(2273).
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