We all know that being overweight is bad for your health, it can lead to many illnesses including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and even some types of cancer. Of course not everyone who carries extra weight will become ill although the risk rises if you have a family history of any of these conditions.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE?
Obesity is a common problem in the UK that’s estimated to affect around 1 in every 4 adults and around 1 in every 5 children aged 10 to 11.
There are many ways in which a person’s health in relation to their weight can be classified, but the most widely used method is body mass index (BMI). According to the NHS for most adults, a BMI of:
- 18.5 to 24.9 means you’re a healthy weight
- 25 to 29.9 means you’re overweight
- 30 to 39.9 means you’re obese
- 40 or above means you’re severely obese
BMI is not 100% accurate as people who are very muscular sometimes have a high BMI without excess fat. But for most people, BMI is a useful indication of whether they’re a healthy weight, overweight or obese.
A better measure of excess fat is waist circumference, which can be used as an additional measure in people who are overweight (with a BMI of 25 to 29.9) or moderately obese (with a BMI of 30 to 34.9).
Generally, men with a waist circumference of 94cm or more and women with a waist circumference of 80cm or more are more likely to develop obesity-related health problems.
I’VE TRIED EVERY DIET AND I JUST CAN’T LOSE WEIGHT, SHOULD I CONSIDER WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY?
If you feel like you have tried every possible method of losing weight and you’re still not happy with your body shape then you may want to consider either a cosmetic or surgical solution. Consider all your options carefully and speak to your family and friends. It may even be worth undergoing counselling to see if there is a deeper reason that you struggle with your weight.
If you’re 100% certain that you wish to proceed then it’s time to book a consultation with a surgeon who can talk you through the best options for you – as well as explaining the after care available to you.
It’s important to remember that, as with all surgery, there will be recovery time and it’s not a magical cure all – you will have to make some changes to your lifestyle post op.
TUMMY TUCK
Abdominoplasty, more commonly known as a ‘tummy tuck’, is a surgical procedure designed to remove excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen. It’s a very popular cosmetic surgery procedure, and can dramatically improve the size and shape of the abdomen.
In addition to removing the surplus skin and fat, other procedures may be added as required, including:
- Surgical tightening of the abdominal muscles (plication)
- Liposuction to excess fat elsewhere on the abdomen and waist
- Excision of other abdominal scars
Who is Suitable for Tummy Tuck Surgery?
The very best candidates for abdominoplasty are men or women who are generally in good health, but who are concerned about either loose skin or a large fat paunch over their abdomen. The most common clinical situations are:
- Women who after several pregnancies have loose skin and poor muscle tone
- Older patients with slight obesity who may also have poorer skin tone through ageing
- Patients who have lost significant amounts of weight, but who have been left with unsightly sagging skin and stretch marks
- If you intend to lose weight in the future, or if you have not yet finished your family, then you should postpone your Abdominoplasty until afterwards.
LIPOSUCTION
As we get older, we increase the amount of fat stored in each of these fat cells. They simply balloon, sometimes to many thousands of times their original size. Because of these localised deposits, people become increasingly self-conscious about areas of their bodies. They often relate that persistent exercise and dieting do little, if anything, to improve their abdominal paunch, or their saddlebags etc.
As weight is put on, all fat cells become larger. As weight is lost, these cells shrink again. However, in specific stubborn areas, the greater number of cells remains constant even after dieting. Hence, these areas may reduce a little as the fat cells shrink, but are still relatively larger
This results in the classic liposuction patient, who describes that from a relatively early age these larger areas have been present. They have usually been inherited from a parent. If the patient puts weight on, it seems to focus on this area. If they lose weight or exercise, it makes considerably less difference (if any) to this area. Even at his or her lowest weight, this area persists. However, these stubborn areas of excess fat may be easily, and permanently, treated by liposuction.
WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY
There are many options when it comes to surgery including the Gastric Band, Gastric Sleeve, Gastric Bypass and Gastric Sleeve. Because every person is unique, you should spend some time with your surgeon discussing each procedure to find out if it will be suitable to you and your lifestyle moving forward. It will have an impact on your eating habits so it’s important to be prepared with all the information to ensure the weight loss surgery is a success.
All types of weight loss surgery can help you lose a significant amount of weight, but they each have advantages and disadvantages.
For example:
- you usually lose weight more quickly after a gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy than after gastric banding
- more people tend to achieve significant weight loss with a gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy than with a gastric band
- the risk of serious surgery complications is generally higher for a gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy
- gastric bands are removable, so the operation can be reversed if it causes serious problems
- If you’re considering weight loss surgery, talk to your surgeon about the different techniques to decide which is best for you.
Here at The New Birkdale Clinic we offer 2 years follow up appointments with our dedicated specialist team following your surgery to ensure you achieve the optimum weight loss.
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