Miia
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Joined: 21 Sep 2005
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 Posted: 10/23/05 - 11:41 Post subject: Weight-loss surgery: 4% die in a year |
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New studies are showing just how popular and risky weight-loss surgeries are.
Today’s life style influences increase in obesity and therefore an increase in weight-loss surgeries as well. In the last seven years, the number of stomach-reduction surgeries has increased tenfold. What is worrying is a fact that during the year after the operation, nearly 1 in 5 patients were hospitalized and nearly 1 in 20 died. Most of the hospitalizations were due to surgery-related complications such as infections, hernias and bowel obstructions.
Unfortunately, it seems that weight-loss surgery is usually the only thing that works for extremely obese patients, and that the benefits generally outweigh the risks. Still, patients should be aware of the risks and possible complications.
Surgery is recommended for people with a body mass index higher than 40, which means they are roughly 100 pounds or more overweight. Less obese patients can qualify for surgery if they have obesity-related conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.
The most common technique used is known as a gastric bypass. Patients typically lose 60 to 70 percent of excess body weight the first year, though many eventually gain some of it back.
The study shows that many of the patients are very well aware of the risks while there is a huge number of those who are heedless of the risks. Many of them can’t stand the fact that they are so fat that they feel they would die anyway. |
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