Just as obesity has rocketed over the past 30 years, weight loss surgeries have made the same incredible surge. Regardless of the "type" of weight loss surgery choosen, the results are similar: An immediate and sharp decrease in body weight due to an immediate and sharp decrease in food intake. The good news is that this decrease in body weight lowers many risk factors for heart disease, cancer and depression. The bad news is that if the work has not been done prior to the surgery to put into place a lifetime behavior modification plan, the weight begins to creep back on leaving the surgery recipient exactly in the same shape they were prior to surgery - overweight, unhealthy and unhappy.
Most surgery centers require patients to attend classes and counseling prior to surgery as well as "getting back on track" classes. Yet for many, attending these classes is only a "going through the motions" activity. Clearly, for a large percentage of surgery candidates, the pre and post surgery counseling and education does not meet their needs.
Weight loss surgery is only successful if it results in lifetime weight management. Dropping 100 pounds for fifteen minutes followed by weight gain is not success - it is sad and very dangerous. Attending a class to "get back on track" after the surgery may be too late.
If you are considering weight loss surgery, don't fall into the trap of feeling as though you are the one who "won't put the weight back on". Understand that once the novelty of the surgery wears off and your appetite comes back, you will be faced with the same challenges that led you into obesity. Understand that weight loss is a very small aspect of weight management, and without serious behavior modification tools to help you through the rest of your life, success will be only a dream.
Stay tuned to my column for behavior modification tools that will help you today and tomorrow - with or without weight loss surgery.
Most surgery centers require patients to attend classes and counseling prior to surgery as well as "getting back on track" classes. Yet for many, attending these classes is only a "going through the motions" activity. Clearly, for a large percentage of surgery candidates, the pre and post surgery counseling and education does not meet their needs.
Weight loss surgery is only successful if it results in lifetime weight management. Dropping 100 pounds for fifteen minutes followed by weight gain is not success - it is sad and very dangerous. Attending a class to "get back on track" after the surgery may be too late.
If you are considering weight loss surgery, don't fall into the trap of feeling as though you are the one who "won't put the weight back on". Understand that once the novelty of the surgery wears off and your appetite comes back, you will be faced with the same challenges that led you into obesity. Understand that weight loss is a very small aspect of weight management, and without serious behavior modification tools to help you through the rest of your life, success will be only a dream.
Stay tuned to my column for behavior modification tools that will help you today and tomorrow - with or without weight loss surgery.
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