An article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, revealed supposedly encouraging results with regard to surgery that alters the digestive tract. They found it can reverse diabetes in 77% of obese patients, high blood pressure in 62%, and lowered cholesterol in 70%. However, the study was funded by Johnson & Johnson, who make instruments used in the surgeries, not like they have a vested interest in finding something positive though is it!!
The procedure in the UK cost's £8000, and the number performed has increased 10-fold over the last decade. The National Bariatric Surgery Registry (yes it really exists), point out the fact that diabetes costs the NHS £3,000 per patient a year for life. Kind of makes the £8,000 cost of bariatric surgery seem like a bargain. Sadly the National Wealth Service (NHS) is neither good at treating diabetes or helping with weight-loss, its all about balancing the books rather than balancing the scales.
For those wanting a quick fix, surgery's downsides are often ignored as the big business of selling slimness steamrollers ahead. The JAMA study's authors didn't include the rate of surgery complications in their research. Malnourishment (since the stomach is reduced substantially), infections, rate of deaths (both during surgery and through long term malnourishment, check out this post on the subject) all lead to some serious issues that surly make it a very risky path to go down.
The cost of surgery vs. the year of diabetes care (£8000 vs. £3000 a year) assumes the surgery is a one of cost and fails to take into account follow-up visits, dietitians appointments to deal with malnourishment, diabetes appointments (it won't magically disappear), X-rays, further surgeries and much much more...
The view that surgery is an "easy way out", simply isn't true. Despite all the health risks, even with reduced stomach, a patient can still eat poorly and gain weight. One thing you should know from my previous posts, is that cutting down on calories will just spike hunger. You may managed a considerable amount of time with little food but your bodies safety mechanisms will make sure it gets the energy it requires eventually (the reason behind yo yo diets). Nutritional deficiencies such as osteoporosis, anemia, hypothyroid, decreased circulation and temperature, skin disorders and a long list of other conditions occur after such a drastic option.
If I take a typical patient that I've consulted with over the years, they may suffer a degree of hypothyroidism. This may be caused by a dysfunctional liver that can't produce the enzymes that help the pancreas function, leading to problems with insulin and thyroid function.
It may seem like the use of bariatric surgery is the only option and its popularity will grow as the public seek an easy way out and business seeks a way to make profit. Just remember buyer beware as this doesn't come with a money back guarantee.
The procedure in the UK cost's £8000, and the number performed has increased 10-fold over the last decade. The National Bariatric Surgery Registry (yes it really exists), point out the fact that diabetes costs the NHS £3,000 per patient a year for life. Kind of makes the £8,000 cost of bariatric surgery seem like a bargain. Sadly the National Wealth Service (NHS) is neither good at treating diabetes or helping with weight-loss, its all about balancing the books rather than balancing the scales.
For those wanting a quick fix, surgery's downsides are often ignored as the big business of selling slimness steamrollers ahead. The JAMA study's authors didn't include the rate of surgery complications in their research. Malnourishment (since the stomach is reduced substantially), infections, rate of deaths (both during surgery and through long term malnourishment, check out this post on the subject) all lead to some serious issues that surly make it a very risky path to go down.
The cost of surgery vs. the year of diabetes care (£8000 vs. £3000 a year) assumes the surgery is a one of cost and fails to take into account follow-up visits, dietitians appointments to deal with malnourishment, diabetes appointments (it won't magically disappear), X-rays, further surgeries and much much more...
The view that surgery is an "easy way out", simply isn't true. Despite all the health risks, even with reduced stomach, a patient can still eat poorly and gain weight. One thing you should know from my previous posts, is that cutting down on calories will just spike hunger. You may managed a considerable amount of time with little food but your bodies safety mechanisms will make sure it gets the energy it requires eventually (the reason behind yo yo diets). Nutritional deficiencies such as osteoporosis, anemia, hypothyroid, decreased circulation and temperature, skin disorders and a long list of other conditions occur after such a drastic option.
If I take a typical patient that I've consulted with over the years, they may suffer a degree of hypothyroidism. This may be caused by a dysfunctional liver that can't produce the enzymes that help the pancreas function, leading to problems with insulin and thyroid function.
It may seem like the use of bariatric surgery is the only option and its popularity will grow as the public seek an easy way out and business seeks a way to make profit. Just remember buyer beware as this doesn't come with a money back guarantee.
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