WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY

Many people with extreme weight have struggled with this health problem all their lives, and they are not alone. Extreme obesity, defined as being at least 100 pounds overweight or having a body mass index of 40 or more, has become a national epidemic. Only one in 200 Americans in 1986 was extremely obese. By 2000, the number of extremely obese surged to one in 50. In the South Bay, more than 3,300 people are 100 pounds or more over their ideal weight. For many, this excess weight can lead to additional serious health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and respiratory problems.

Weight loss surgery, or bariatric (bear-ee-AT-ric) surgery, offers the only clinically proven method today for long-term weight loss. It is not cosmetic surgery. Weight loss surgery requires the patient to undergo drastic and permanent physical and emotional changes. Candidates for weight loss surgery must have exhausted all other means of weight loss, and undergo a battery of physical, psychological and dietary assessments. They must further demonstrate a clear ability to adopt a new lifestyle following surgery.

At Coast Surgical Group, weight loss surgery involves the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. We use an open surgical technique to ensure the best possible outcome. For more information, we invite you to contact our office or to attend one of the regularly scheduled informational support group meetings at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center.

Formula for calculating BMI: kg/m2 (where kg = weight in kilograms and m = height in meters).