Many people see formerly obese people a few months after they have had weight loss surgery and believe that the procedure must be something akin to magic. However, even though bariatric surgery can make a big difference in someone’s weight loss success, there are still many other considerations that need to be made in order to assure that a patient will lose weight.
Getting ready for weight loss surgery can take several months. One’s ability to eat the portions that they ate when they were obese cannot be done without medical consequences, so doctors want to make sure that patients are capable of making the right food and lifestyle choices that are required after weight loss surgery. Potential weight loss surgery candidates undergo nutritional counseling as well as a psychiatric evaluation before they are approved for the surgery.
If all goes well and weight loss surgery is performed it is important that patients continue to get follow-up care during the months following the surgical procedure. Finding an effective exercise program is vital to continued success. It’s recommended that patients get 150 minutes of exercise each week over 4-5 days. They also need to pay closer attention to when it is time to stop eating, and how much food is appropriate for a meal or a snack.
The Salt Lake City community is a great place for patients to find support as they lose weight. There are many physicians in Salt Lake City that can assist patients not only with their weight loss, but in getting the right nutrients with a limited amount of food. Other important changes following bariatric surgery include continued exercise, a healthy diet, and emotional and psychological support to assure that the weight loss experienced after surgery does not return, and patients can live the life that they want.