By Dr. Megan Gilmore – CHI St. Joseph’s Health Weight Management Center
Deciding to have weight loss surgery can be a big step, especially if you’ve struggled with your weight for a long time. People often hear stories or ideas about this surgery that aren’t quite true. Let’s clear up some common misunderstandings about weight loss surgery and see who it can really help.
Weight Loss Surgery is the “Easy Way Out.” Many people think surgery will quickly solve everything and that you won’t have to work hard at eating healthy or exercising.
This is not true! Weight loss surgery is a powerful tool to help you lose weight by changing how your body digests food. But it’s only the start of a new journey! You have to make big changes to how you eat and exercise for the rest of your life. It’s not easy – it’s a huge commitment.
You Can Eat Whatever You Want After Surgery (Just Smaller Bites). Some people think that as long as you eat tiny amounts, you can still have candy or unhealthy foods.
Partially true. We learn to avoid all-or-nothing thinking. However, your stomach will be much smaller, so you can eat less. But what you do eat becomes even more important. You need to choose healthy foods, especially foods with protein, like chicken or beans. You should avoid sugary foods or greasy foods, as they can make you feel very sick (they call this “dumping syndrome”). You also have to take vitamins every day because your body won’t absorb nutrients as easily. It’s all about choosing smart, healthy foods.
Weight Loss Surgery is Dangerous. All surgeries have some risks, but some people think weight loss surgery is riskier.
The truth is… While there are always risks with surgery, weight loss surgery is now as safe as common surgeries like getting your gallbladder removed. Being very overweight can cause many serious health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Often, the health problems from being overweight are much more dangerous than the surgery itself. This surgery can actually help you live a longer, healthier life!
You’ll Just Gain All the Weight Back. People sometimes worry that even after surgery, they’ll end up gaining all the weight back later on.
Not usually! While some people might gain a little weight back over time, most people who have weight loss surgery keep a lot of it off for many years. To keep the weight off, you need to keep up with your healthy habits and check in with your medical team. It’s an ongoing journey, and with proper help, you can keep the weight off for good.
Weight Loss Surgery is Just for Looking Good. Some people think this surgery is only for making you look thin or “perfect.”
The main reason people choose weight loss surgery is to improve their health and quality of life. Weight loss surgery is a medical procedure to help people who are very overweight and have serious health problems because of it. The main goal is to make you healthier, help you live longer, and feel better overall. Patients often see their diabetes go away, their breathing improves, blood pressure gets better, and their joint pain gets much less severe.
So, Who Can This Surgery Help, and How Does It Work?
Weight loss surgery can be life-changing for people who:
- Have obesity.
- May also have other health problems like diabetes, sleep problems, high blood pressure, or bad joint pain.
- Have tried many other ways to lose weight without long-term success.
- Are ready to make big, lasting changes to their diet and lifestyle, and are willing to work with doctors, dietitians, and other experts.
How Weight Loss Surgery Helps:
- Smaller Stomach: The surgery makes your stomach much smaller, so you can’t eat as much food at once. This helps you feel full faster.
- Changes Hunger Hormones: This is a cool part! The surgery can change the natural chemicals in your gut that tell your brain when you’re hungry or full. This can make you feel less hungry and fuller for longer. It can also help your body use sugar better.
- Better Health: Because of these changes, conditions like type 2 diabetes often improve, sometimes even before you lose a lot of weight!
- Addresses Healthy Habits with a support team: The surgery gives your body a boost, and working with a team makes it easier to use the tools to enjoy a healthy lifestyle such as eating healthier or following an exercise plan.
- Better Life: Beyond losing weight, people often have more energy, can move around better, have less pain, feel better about themselves, and can do things they couldn’t do before.
At CHI St. Joseph’s Health Weight Management Center, Dr. Megan Gilmore and her team are here to help. We have surgeons, food experts, counselors, and nurses who will guide you every step of the way.
If you’ve been struggling with your weight and wonder if weight loss surgery might be for you, don’t let untrue stories stop you from learning more. Call us at (218) 237-5757 for a private conversation to understand the real facts about improving your health.