As obesity rates rise, more people are trying to manage their weight in order to improve their health and prolong their lifespan. Weight-loss surgery, or bariatric surgery, can be the answer to those who those who are 80 to 100 pounds over weight, have a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 40, or have an obesity-related disease. However, many forget that weight loss surgery can be a dangerous and sometimes lethal procedure. Before you choose to have this surgery, know the dangers.
Ulcers
The Mayo Clinic, a non-profit health organization dedicated in research and treatment, says that 5 percent of patients who have weight-loss surgery develop a ulcers, an acidic build-up in the gastrointestinal tract. These ulcers normally occur in the lining of the stomach or the beginning of the small intestine and are caused by bacterial infections. Nausea, vomiting, and fatigue are common symptoms of ulcers.
Kidney Stones
A recent study out of John Hopkins University found that those who have weight loss surgery have a greater chance of developing kidney stones. Brian Mattaga, M.D. says that "kidney stones are often caused by an excess of a dietary component known as oxalate, which normally binds with calcium and is flushed out of the body." Because weight loss surgery results in a decrease in calcium absorption, these patients are more likely to develop kidney stones as the body tries to flush out the calcium deposits.
Malnutrition
Because the surgery changes an individual's stomach capacity, malnutrition after the surgery is common. Many patients simply forget to eat as they longer register feelings of hunger. Unaddressed malnutrition such as pellagra, beri beri and kwashiorkor may occur, along with permanent damage to the nervous system. Patients are encouraged to take their supplimental vitamins and minerals, making sure that the body gets the nutrients it needs to function.
Hernia
Hernias are another common complication of weight loss surgery. They occur when part of an organ (usually the intestines) sticks through the thin muscular wall that holds the abdominal organs in place, resulting in discomfort in the groin and stomach region. Weight loss surgeries can result in hernias when the intestines are sewn back together. The most common types of hernias that weight loss patients experience are incisional hernias and internal hernias. Incisional hernias block bowel movements, whereas internal hernias occur when a small bowel is dislodged in to the abdomen's lining.
Depression and Suicide
Weight loss patients feel that their troubles will end once they've had the surgery, but instead are faced with the same challenges they struggled with prior to surgery. There have been high instances of depression and suicide among those who have had weight loss surgery. A study out of the University of Pittsburgh found that out of 17,000 weight-loss surgeries performed in Pennsylvania from 1995 to 2004, 440 people died, and 16 of those deaths were due to suicide or drug overdose. New York Times writer Tara-Parker Pope says that "some research shows a link between obesity and depression, so the typical surgery patient may already be at a high risk for depression and suicide before the operation. It's possible that depressive symptoms may worsen in patients who have unrealistic expectations about the results of surgery or who struggle not to regain weight after the procedure." Without psychiatric treatment, weight loss surgery patients run a higher risk of depression, which in turn can lead to suicide.
