In 2008, Dr John McDougall, Dean Ornish, and Richard Simmons all said the same thing: If you’re over a certain weight, eat less. If you want to lose weight, just follow their advice. But what if you don’t want to lose weight? What if you want to weigh more than ever?
Here’s the catch: All of the weight loss surgeons and programs recommended in the media, as well as the weight loss pills and potions being sold everywhere, are based on the mistaken assumption that you (the person reading this article) want to lose weight. This is not true: you (the person reading this article) want to stay the same weight. To achieve this, you need to find the perfect balance between eating less and exercising more.
Let’s look at the evidence. First, there’s the 2008 research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. In it, doctors from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine examined the long-term effects of weight loss surgery on 1,335 obese patients. They found that 41% of the patients experienced “excellent” results, 35% experienced “good” results, and 24% had “fair” results.
To put this into perspective, let’s examine how these numbers compare to other types of surgeries. The best non-surgical weight loss treatment is medication(s). However, only 7% of the patients experience “excellent” results, 27% experience “good” results, and 56% have “fair” results.
So, in terms of results, weight loss surgery is at least as good as and maybe even better than medication(s). It’s also important to note that while the percentage of patients who got excellent results dropped by 7% points from 41% to 34% after five years, the percentage of patients who got good results increased by 4% points from 35% to 39%, and the percentage of patients who got fair results remained the same at 24%.
Here To Help
All the numbers and percentages in this discussion point to one indisputable fact: weight loss surgery is effective and, most importantly, safe. But what about the risks? Let’s take a look. First, there’s the risk of infection. Depending on the type of surgery, your surgeon will need to cut you in a certain way to create the necessary incisions. This means that you’re at risk for infection. Second, there’s the risk of complications from anesthesia. Third, there’s the risk of malnutrition or vitamin deficiency. Finally, there’s the risk of having poor glucose control or diabetes. All of these things are risks that need to be considered.
Fortunately, most of these risks go away after the surgery. But, still, it’s important to be aware of them before you make any major decision. Also, as with any other surgical procedure, recovery can be long and difficult. So, if you’re planning on going under the knife, you need to be prepared to deal with the consequences. These include both physical and mental/emotional ones.
Choosing The Right Surgeon
The first and most important decision you need to make is who will be performing your surgery. You need to pick a surgeon who is highly experienced in their field, who has extensive training in the use of the necessary tools, and who has a good reputation. It is also essential that you pick a surgeon who is a member of a reputable medical organization, such as the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. This way, you can be sure that you are getting the best possible care.
Eating Less
Once you’ve found the right surgeon, the next step is to decide on what approach you’ll be following to lose weight. There are various surgical procedures that can help, including gastric banding and gastric sleeve.
If you go with the most common approach and have the surgery performed in a clinic or hospital, your surgeon will place a small silicone band around your stomach. This is what’s known as a gastric band. A gastric band is safe, effective, and reversible. It is the most popular way to lose weight among the obese. It is also the procedure that the Dean Ornish and Dr. John McDougall recommend to their patients (1, 2).
There are several advantages to having the surgery performed in a hospital or clinic environment. First, there are plenty of experienced surgeons available to perform the procedure. This means you’ll have plenty of backup if something goes wrong. Second, you’ll have access to post-op care, should you need it. This includes things like pain medication, antibiotics, and nutritional supplements. Finally, getting hospitalized for something as simple as a routine checkup can sometimes be difficult. Having the surgery performed in a hospital helps make this process easier. Sometimes, getting proper care at home can be difficult because of poor communication between healthcare providers or between healthcare providers and families (3).
Exercise More
If you want to lose weight effectively, you need to do more than simply following the above advice: you need to put into practice what Dr. McDougall, Dr. Ornish, and Richard Simmons say. And that means you need to exercise more. In addition to the routine exercise recommended for anyone, you need to be sure to stretch regularly, get eight hours of sleep each night, and take time to relax. With these things in mind, you’ll be well on your way to a healthier life (4, 5).
The Main Differences Between Gastric Sleeve and Gastric Banding
The two most popular surgeries used to treat obesity are gastric sleeve and gastric banding. As the name would suggest, a gastric sleeve is longer than a gastric band. Instead of wrapping around your stomach, a gastric sleeve links the upper stomach with the rest of the digestive tract. This means the food is digested slower and, as a result, calories are absorbed more effectively (6).
One advantage of a gastric sleeve is that it is a more adjustable surgery. This means the results are more likely to be long-lasting. The other advantage of a gastric sleeve is that it has fewer side effects than gastric banding. Most people who have had a gastric sleeve report that it is easy to follow and has few complications (6).
The main differences between a gastric sleeve and gastric banding are as follows: (1) with a gastric sleeve, there is no risk of over- or under-eating; (2) with a gastric sleeve, it is easier to lose weight, and the pounds come off more quickly; (3) with a gastric sleeve, it is easier to maintain; and (4) with a gastric sleeve, there is less risk of complications (6).
Staying Motivated
Once you’ve decided to go under the knife, it’s important to remain motivated. This means you need to find a goal you’ll be working towards. It could be as simple as getting your surgery and following the advice of McDougall, Ornish, and Simmons. But, really, it’s up to you! You could also decide that you want to lose weight for mental/emotional reasons, such as getting anxiety or depression treatment. Whatever it may be, find something that will help you stay motivated.
For many people, the decision to lose weight is a tough one. There are a lot of unknowns, and not a lot of clear-cut answers. Still, if you want to lose weight, the answer is there. You just need to find it.