1. Learn About Gastric Bypass
Gastric bypass surgery is a procedure that makes the intestine smaller so that less food is absorbed and ingested into the body. Patients who have gastric bypass surgery are placed on a strict near-liquid diet initially, but can eventually taper off to very small portions of foods originally eaten. After the stomach has been minimized during surgery, it is able to handle only small amounts of food, and patients feel "full" at a faster rate than before. Rapid weight loss is the goal of gastric bypass, but the surgery is only suggested in congruence with a healthy eating plan and moderate exercise. In order to be considered for gastric bypass surgery, patients must meet a wide range of criteria, or they will be turned down for the procedure.
2. Understand Your BMI
The first requirement to qualify for gastric bypass surgery is having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or higher (40 to 50), or be 75 pounds overweight. Exceptions can be made for those with a BMI of 35 or higher, coupled with life-threatening weight related conditions. Typically, gastric bypass is reserved only for those considered morbidly obese, and whose life is greatly endangered by their weight (typically from conditions such as diabetes, hypertension or high cholesterol). In addition, many hospitals require that a patient has been morbidly obese for at least five years, and has had failure rates with traditional interventions of diet and exercise.
3. Age, Habits and Dangers
The age requirement for gastric bypass varies according to sources, but typically anyone 15 to 18 is the youngest allowed, while 50 to 65 is the oldest age accepted for surgery. In addition, doctors may examine a patient's history for alcohol abuse, depression, psychological disorders, or eating disorders to ensure he or she can appropriately handle the surgery. The final qualification for gastric bypass is that no other weight-loss surgery or procedure has been undertaken in the past.
The surgery is used as a last resort for those who are severely debilitated by their weight and size. If a patient has extreme health conditions due to their size such as a severe heart problem, insufficient lung strength, or joint damage, the patient may be rejected for the surgery. Any form of surgery is dangerous, and doctors will not risk putting patients under anesthetic (and under the knife) if their body can no longer handle the dangers.
4. Understand the Risks
There is a great deal of risk associated with gastric bypass surgery, and it by no means presents a way out of pursuing a healthy lifestyle of good eating habits and moderate physical activity. For example, if a patient gains substantial weight during surgical evaluation, she may be rejected from the program. If the patient has shown little evidence of dietary or fitness-related efforts for changing his lifestyle in the past, he may be turned down. It is important that you are committed not only to the surgery but to the mental, emotional and physical strain that recovery can bring. Changing your eating and exercise habits forever are required for a healthy lifestyle and body regardless of whether a patient has gastric bypass surgery.
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