am i eligible?

Overview of Obesity

Obesity does not just happen overnight - it develops gradually from poor diet and lifestyle choices.

Lifestyle choices

Lifestyle choices are an important factor in influencing your weight. Eating more calories than you need may be down to poor food choices - for example eating high fat, processed, or fast food - rather than filling up on fruit, vegetables and unrefined carbohydrates, such as wholemeal bread and brown rice.

Childhood obesity is a strong indicator of weight-related health problems in later life, showing that learned unhealthy lifestyle choices continue into adulthood.

Lack of physical activity

Lack of physical activity is another important factor that is related to obesity. Many of us have jobs that involve sitting at a desk for most of the day, and we rely heavily on our cars to get around. When it is time to relax, we tend to watch TV, or play computer games, and rarely take any regular exercise. If we are not active enough to use up the energy provided by food, the extra calories are stored as fat instead.

Some people tend to stay the same weight for years without much effort, whereas others find they put on weight quickly just by looking at a cream cake!

Medical reasons

In less than one out of every 100 cases, there is a medical reason for obesity, sorry to give you that disappointing news. This means that you have to look at your diet and your physical activity if you want to make that difference...

Most people know that being overweight increases your health risk for heart problems, diabetes, high blood pressure etc. Take a look at the list below for the physical and lifestyle conditions associated with being overweight.

Physical conditions	Lifestyle conditions
Heart disease High blood pressure Diabetes Respiratory disease Cancer Liver disease Sleep apnoea High cholesterol Gallstones Gastric reflux Osteoarthritis Achy joints Infertility	Incontinence Skin fold infections Depression Low self-esteem Feeling negative about your body Never going out Bullying Relationship issues

Is surgery right for me?

Weight loss surgery is performed to control weight . There are two basic ways that weight loss surgery works to help patients lose weight and improve both physical and lifestyle conditions.

1. Restrictive procedure - changes in the configuration of the stomach
   A restrictive procedure limits the amount of food you eat to feel full, therefore, you should feel satisfied on smaller amounts of food and feel full for a longer period of time. You will eat less and lose weight.
2. Malabsorptive procedure - technique of modifying the intestinal tract
   These procedures modify the body’s ability to absorb calories and nutrients from food. Fewer calories are absorbed, therefore you will lose weight..

In the UK, the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) have published criteria for those considering weight loss surgery. www.nice.org.uk

Are you eligible?

In order to be eligible you must:-

• Be over the age of 18
• Demonstrate that all appropriate and available non-surgical measures have been adequately tried but have failed to maintain weight loss
• have a genuine desire to overcome your obesity problems and demonstrate full commitment to finally getting your weight under control
• fully understand both the benefits and the risks of weight loss surgery
• have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35 to 39 with other obesity related health problems
• have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or above

Calculate your body mass index (BMI)

If you see weight loss surgery as an opportunity to start again and learn new healthy eating and fitness habits then it could be for you. It is not a miracle cure to obesity, you have to work with whichever procedure you choose to have. The surgeons operate on your body, NOT on your mind, therefore, a lot of aftercare support , advice and guidance is required to help you reach your goal – we are with you every step of the way.

Benefits of surgery

• It may save your life. Your risk of death can be reduced if you lose weight through surgery compared to staying morbidly obese
• Reduction in food intake which leads to a reduction in calorie intake and consequent weight loss
• Weight Loss surgery can not only help you look and feel better, it can also ensure that you lead a healthier life.
• Weight loss will improve the physical and lifestyle conditions associated with being overweight
• If you have failed at many diets and exercise programmes weight loss surgery is probably the most effective and ONLY method which results in significant weight loss long term as long as you have the right aftercare package in place to enable you to learn how to work alongside the surgery you have chosen to have.
• Energy levels improve enabling you to move around easier and improve your quality of life.
• Successful weight loss surgery improves your self esteem and self worth. It can give you a new found confidence, positive feelings and control over a life that has had issues with being overweight for a long long time.
• It's sad but true, being overweight can prejudice and influence the perception and attraction of others at work, at home and within relationships. Weight loss surgery can turn that around as your self esteem and confidence improves so does others perception and reactions around you.

Risks of surgery

It is important you understand the risks associated with weight loss surgery. Your surgeon will make sure you are fully informed and committed to make changes before you sign WLS Group terms and conditions

Obesity is a disease, being seriously overweight is a great risk to your health, surgery does carry risks, however, far outweighs the risk of you doing nothing.

Laparoscopic weight loss surgery carries some risks and complications but on the whole is regarded as a much safer procedure with a quicker recovery rate and reduced pain, infection risk and anaesthetic time than that of open surgery.

See weight loss procedures we offer for further information on the risks associated with each weight loss surgical procedure.

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