Gastric bypass surgery - should we say no?
The latest news from the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-10877140) suggests that palliative care, rather than surgery, is the answer for the growing obese population. It argues that reducing the symptoms and improving the general quality of life rather than curing is the answer.
I have a profound issue with the subject of gastric bypass surgery. It has been shown to work and it has been shown to have a payback period to the National health service of less than 4 years when compared to the drug treatment and care obese people require.
However there is usually only one reason for obesity and that is lifestyle. eating too much and exercising too little is the cause of obesity. Nobody is born obese and I know. I was 9lbs 2 ounces at birth and the nurses named me the ’Giant’. I am now the proud owner of a fully functional six-pack care of a good diet and regular exercise.
The gastric bypass surgery essentially caps what a person can eat. That is all. I makes the hole smaller so it fills faster and when full nothing else can be shoved in. This though is no cure no matter what obese people might say.
Often you will hear that they have a slow metabolism or they just can’t lose weight no matter how hard they try.
I have a small experiment I show them when discussing weight loss. I take three small test tubes with an equal amount of kerosene heating oil in and light em up as we chat. They always extinguish at about the same time. I use it to explain calorie burning and how it affects them.
The sad truth is most obese people are looking not for diets and hard work but quick solutions and a free ticket to continue over eating.
Sometimes people should try and help themselves first as it is in the end their health and wellbeing. If they do not care enough about that then really why should the tax payer?
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