Originally published July 7 2005
Doctor feels surgery is last resort, especially for weight loss
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
After The Port Townsend Leader published an article about gastric bypass surgery, reader Dr. Boyd Lyles - who is also a medical director for LA Weight Loss Centers and the director of the Dallas HeartHealth and Wellness Center - replied with a letter stressing that surgery should always be the last resort, especially in the case of obesity, which should first be addressed with diet change and exercise.
In response to the story "137 pounds later" in the June 15 issue, I'd like to remind your audience that surgery should always be the last resort for any injury, condition or disease.
The risks of invasive bariatric surgeries (such as gastric bypass, adjustable gastric banding, duodenal switch, etc.) are substantial.
Mortality rates for bariatric surgical procedures can be as high as one in 100, according to estimates by Virginia Commonwealth University.
The survivors can expect months of difficult recovery, common complications such as vomiting, ulcers, hernias and internal bleeding, and the surgery's dirty little secret -- the cruel irony of a nightmarishly strict diet for the rest of their lives.
Most patients are restricted from eating certain foods ever again (which vary depending on the person).
In addition, patients are often required to take a variety of supplements and medications to combat "predictive malabsorption," a serious side effect that stops the body from digesting crucial nutrients.
After gastric bypass, naughty indulgences that contain excess fats and sugars can become life-threatening transgressions because they take up crucial stomach space but have no nutritional value.
Sadly, many of these patients could lose their extra weight without surgery, given a well-designed fitness program that includes diet, exercise and proven behavior modification techniques.
In more than 20 years of treating obesity, I've rarely recommended bariatric surgery, and when I have, it has been only in the very most extreme cases and with great trepidation.
Even in the most extreme cases, behavioral therapies can be as effective and rewarding as invasive procedures.
With a well-planned approach and the help of a medical professional, anyone can lose her excess weight without losing the freedom of a normal lifestyle.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml