10 Ways Weight Loss Surgery Can Change Your Life

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 40% of U.S. adults have obesity (BMI > 30) and 9% of adults have severe obesity (BMI > 40). 

Obesity is a chronic, complex disease that can impair health. It often leads to other health conditions, increasing the risk of disease and death.

While body mass index (BMI) is not a perfect measurement, it can help determine potential treatments for obesity. When your BMI exceeds 35, your chances of reaching and maintaining a normal body weight for an extended period is less than 1%. Surgery is an effective, long-term weight loss option for patients with severe obesity.

To qualify for weight-loss surgery:

• Your BMI must be over 40, or
• Your BMI must be over 35, with obesity-related medical problems.
• If your BMI is lower and you have diabetes, some insurers may approve surgery.

10 Benefits of Weight Loss Surgery 

Weight loss surgery, or bariatric surgery, requires hard work and dedication but can be a powerful tool to help you live a healthier, happier life. Here are some ways surgery may benefit you:

1. Improve Type 2 Diabetes

Many people don’t realize that Type 2 diabetes can go into remission with significant weight loss. This condition occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin, making it harder to control blood sugar levels. Within days or weeks of surgery, improvements in metabolic control are often evident. Overall, 78% of bariatric surgery patients experience remission, eliminating the need for diabetes medication.

2. Reduce the Risk for Obesity-Associated Cancer 

Obesity increases the risk of various cancers, including colon, gallbladder, endometrial, breast and pancreatic cancers. One study showed men with severe obesity had a 52% higher risk of dying from cancer, while women had a 62% higher risk compared to non-obese individuals.

3. Improve Your Sleep 

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is linked to obesity, as fat deposits in the upper respiratory tract narrow the airway. This leads to hypoxic and apneic episodes, increasing risks for high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Weight loss from bariatric surgery can reduce or eliminate these fat deposits, improving OSA symptoms.

4. Increase Your Fertility 

Obesity contributes to insulin resistance because excess body fat increases production of inflammatory chemicals and impairs your ability to respond effectively to insulin. Insulin resistance has been linked to decreased sperm counts in men and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women, which is the most common cause of female infertility.   

Weight loss can help reduce insulin resistance, improving both ovulation and sperm count. After surgery, women should wait 18 to 24 months to stabilize their vitamin levels and maximize weight loss but often see improvement with conceiving! 

5. Lower Your Blood Pressure and Cholesterol 

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a major cause of premature death worldwide. Excess weight affects blood vessels and kidneys, often increasing blood pressure and heart disease risk. A recent study showed that 81% of patients who had Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, a bariatric procedure, reduced their medications by 30% and nearly half stopped taking blood pressure medications altogether. 

Additionally, weight loss can lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Bariatric surgery can decrease the fat your intestines absorb, lowering cholesterol levels. Like high blood pressure, having high cholesterol can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke. Bariatric surgery can reduce the risk of cardiac death by 50%.

6. Decrease Your Risk for Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition in which fat builds up in your liver, is one of the most common forms of liver disease worldwide and is strongly linked to morbid obesity. It can progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), causing liver damage or failure.  

A recent study showed that both sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass significantly reduce the effects of NASH and actually reversed liver fibrosis in nearly 40% of patients.

7. Reduce Joint Pain

As mentioned above, fat produces inflammatory chemicals that can cause damage to soft tissues and joints. Significant weight loss reduces inflammation and alleviates pressure on the joints, particularly the knees and hips, reducing pain and improving mobility.  

8. Improve Your Mental Health 

Obesity increases the risk for depression due to poor self-image, stigma, and physical limitations.   

Numerous studies have suggested that individuals report improvements in social setting with weight reduction. Evidence shows that bariatric surgery is associated with significant improvement in areas such as anxiety, depression and eating disorders 

9. Improve Your Quality of Life

Bariatric surgery improves the quality of life in 95% of patients. Your weight loss will allow for greater mobility, travel and the ability to engage in activities with family and friends. Many patients wish they had surgery sooner since they see the positive impact it has on their lives. 

10. Lower Mortality Rate

Severe obesity increases your risk of dying earlier. One study found bariatric surgery patients had an 89% lower mortality rate over five years.

Many people worry about surgical complications, including mortality, but with advancements in technology, bariatric surgery is a safe procedure. Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare's (TMH) most recent data, spanning August 2023 to August 2024, shows post-operative complication rates below the national average in several categories.

Expertise You Can Trust

I am a board-certified general surgeon with additional, specialized training in gastrointestinal minimally invasive and bariatric surgery. As a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (FASMBS), I provide expert care during your weight loss journey and only perform procedures I know are best for you. Currently, James Parker, MD and myself are the only FASMBS-accredited physicians in the Tallahassee area. 

Weight Loss Surgery at TMH

TMH is an accredited Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP®), a joint quality program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). Research shows accredited centers experience lower complications, and better outcomes than that of non-accredited facilities. 

At TMH, we perform robot-assisted surgery for sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, duodenal switch and bariatric revisions, offering greater precision, less scarring, and shorter recovery times.  

If you're ready for a change, fill out this form to contact our team and begin your weight loss journey.