Improvement in chronic medical conditions
Obesity has been linked to a huge number of medical problems, including some extremely serious conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis, and type II diabetes. A reduction in weight can significantly reduce the likelihood of these or similar conditions occurring, or create a significant improvement in patients who are already experiencing symptoms.
Quality of sleep
Weight loss also has a positive impact on quality of sleep. Obesity often causes chronic snoring, which although not a problem for the patient, can have an extremely detrimental effect on his relationships.
People who are obese are also much more at risk of developing a condition known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) during which the walls of the throat relax and narrow during sleep, which interrupts regular breathing. Instead, the sufferer may sound as though he is holding his breath or struggling to breath. Although common, it can lead to poor quality of sleep and troubled relationships with others, as well as put the patient at increased risk of medical emergencies such as stroke or heart attack.
Fertility
Obesity can have a serious impact on fertility, particularly for women who rely on a complex balance of hormones in order to produce an egg and then carry a baby to the point where it can safely be born. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal condition that is especially prevalent in overweight or obese women, affecting up to 1 in 5 ladies of reproductive age. However, many women who have lost weight as a result of bariatric surgery have gone on to be able to conceive babies naturally – sometimes surprisingly so! Bariatric surgery can also help to improve fertility in men too by increasing testosterone production.
If you are pregnant and overweight then you will normally find that you are at increased risk of a number of complications which include miscarriage, hypertension, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and caesarean birth to name a few. Reducing your weight before you get pregnant can not only boost your fertility, but support a healthy, straightforward pregnancy and delivery.
Energy Levels
After eating a big meal, many of us feel slow and sluggish for a short time after while our bodies work their way through the large number of calories we have just consumed. However, for many obese people, that feeling is one that persists throughout the day. Low energy levels make it virtually impossible to gather the motivation to exercise or even carry out simple tasks. However, another key benefit of bariatric surgery is that the weight loss that it causes results in vastly improved energy levels. This helps the patient to move more, resulting in yet further and greater weight loss, and the cycle continues until the patient reaches a weight and fitness level that they are happy with.
These examples demonstrate just a few of the phenomenal benefits that bariatric surgery can bring to your life. To find out more, make an appointment with Laparoscopic Surgical Center of New York, and we will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.
