There’s no denying that obesity is on the rise in Australia. This is not good news for Australia, with major implications for our health care system. But most importantly, if you are obese, it’s not good news for you. Carrying excess weight can have a huge impact on your long-term health, so now is the time to act.
Bariatric surgery is becoming increasingly popular to combat obesity. It’s a great option if your efforts to lose weight using non-surgical methods are just not getting the results you want and need.
- According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2014-15, the rate of obesity in 1995 was 53%.
- In 2015, it was a staggering 63%.
That’s about SIX out of every TEN adults – or 11.2 million adults. Obesity is also increasing amongst younger individuals and it’s reached the point of being a national health crisis in Australia.
Why is being severely overweight or morbidly obese harmful?
- Obesity increases the risk of a range of health issues, including cardiovascular problems and Type 2 diabetes.
- It may also increase risks for some musculo-skeletal conditions, cancers and chronic disorders.
- Back pain is also a serious disability and a leading cause of sick-leave in Australia and chronic back pain can be related to being overweight
How effective is Bariatric Surgery to help people who are obese to lose weight?
The effectiveness of bariatric surgery for weight loss is well-documented.
Bariatric surgery produces results that most other non-surgical options, such as lifestyle and diet changes, simply can’t create on their own or in a time frame that will reduce the patient’s obesity-related health risks.
It is important, however, to recognize that having surgery isn’t a ‘set and forget’ solution to weight control. Surgery may need to be part of an overall plan for your health if you are obese. However, your lifestyle and diet post-surgery are going to be important factors in your overall health and the safety, sustainability and effectiveness of your post-Surgery results from Gastric Bypass or Gastric Sleeve surgery and related Bariatric Procedures.