Get Medical Advice About Bariatric Weight Surgery
Most of us fall into the category of having occasion to lose a few pounds now and then. There are others who battle with extra weight their entire lives. There are still others who are seriously overweight and it is no longer an issue of how much or what kind of food they eat, their very lives are in danger because of their weight. My advice to those people would be to not fool around with their health. They might find relief if they would get medical advice about bariatric weight surgery. Of course, surgical weight loss is not a magic wand. Ideally, it is one component of a program that embraces the patient as a whole person and supports their success before surgery even occurs. Indeed, therapy might be ongoing well after the patient has met their goal weight.
The comprehensive program at Eastern Maine Medical Center, in Bangor, includes surgery for weight loss that is performed using the most advanced robotics assisted techniques in the field. To complement that, they offer psychological, physical and nutritional therapy for their patients, beginning care of the total person well before they undergo the procedure. Throughout the program, the patient is encouraged to attend group therapy sessions so they can connect with others who have been in their shoes, so to speak. Being bolstered by the success stories of others is very valuable in cases like these, where profound shifts in lifestyle are required to meet weight goals.
Periodically, one hears news stories about the disturbing obesity trends occurring in America. Some of these news stories are just sensationalism, but they often contain a kernel of truth. When I read about the increasing incidences of obese children, I was shocked but I was not particularly surprised. Advertisers bombard us from all angles to hunger for their fast food, their sugary breakfast cereals and their syrupy soda pops. The duality between the medical establishment and the advertisers sets up a stressful, “push me, pull you,” scenario. And we all know what many of us do when we get stressed out – eat! Also in the media, we are exposed to glossy magazine covers with headlines that tell us what celebrity has magically lost an enormous amount of weight in a short period of time, right next to a headline about some delicious recipes for brownies. So, if we are to believe what we are reading, we are supposed to want to be slim and trim, but indulge in eating brownies. How is that for, “push me, pull you?” Also, the photos of these supposedly perfect celebrities smiling out at us from the covers, are airbrushed to the point where the principles of human anatomy no longer hold sway.
The reasons surrounding the obesity epidemic are complex. If you’re struggling with your weight, make an appointment with your primary care physician so you can get the medical facts about bariatric weight surgery. Your doctor can examine you, take your medical history into consideration and give you the best medical advice.
| January 27th, 2012 | Posted in Medicine |