HealthTree Blog

Since moving to southern California, I’ve become painfully aware of what it means to be in a year-round beach community. Less clothes means being near obsessed with weight and fitness. I’m sad to see some of my friends get depressed as they struggle to have a thin lifestyle, which often means cutting out many of our fun activities.

For some friends who have struggled with obesity from childhood, despite starvation diets and non-stop exercise, surgery is the only option. There appears to be three main types of surgeries: Malabsorptive, Restrictive (see image) and Mixed Procedures.

While the first employs a re-routing technique that creates a smaller stomach, the Restrictive Procedure is commonly referred to as stomach stapling or, alternatively, stomach banding. The most common procedure in recent times is a combination of these two. Basically, the idea in all of these surgeries is to create a smaller stomach with a faster route through the body so that less fat is absorbed.

While these may sound ideal, friends that have undergone these procedures often complain of serious pain when they eat even the slightest bit too much. As the stomach expands a little, eating gets less troubling. While most procedures are successful, the follow up is difficult and it does not guarantee extreme weight loss. Once initial weight loss takes place, it is up to the patient to make a lifestyle change to continue the transformation.

Sarah Montrowl