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Breaking the Stigma on Weight Loss Surgery

Weight loss surgery is a powerful tool for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, yet the stigma surrounding it prevents many from seeking this life-changing intervention. Understanding the health benefits and overcoming societal and internal biases can help more individuals, take the first step towards a healthier, more confident life.

Surveys indicate that about half of people believe weight loss surgery is usually performed for cosmetic reasons rather than health benefits. Unfortunately, this perception exists among some doctors as well, who may advise patients to lose weight but are not confident in suggesting weight loss surgery. There is compelling evidence demonstrating that individuals with obesity have an extremely low chance of reducing their weight to a healthy range and maintaining it for 12 months through diet and exercise alone. In contrast, most people who undergo weight loss surgery achieve a healthy weight within just a few months, with minimal disruption to their lives.

A common misperception, especially among men, is that they don’t really need weight loss surgery and could lose the weight on their own if they wanted to. Many people can indeed lose some weight with dieting and exercise, but the problem is they often regain the weight, leading to a cycle of yo-yo dieting. Almost everyone considering weight loss surgery shares stories of how many times they’ve lost weight only to regain it later.

For example, a typical middle-aged man weighing about 110-120kg with high blood pressure or high cholesterol is an ideal candidate for weight loss surgery. This patient could expect to lose about 25-30kg with surgery and potentially discontinue their medications.

Awareness needs to be raised about the health dangers linked with obesity. Obesity is a public health epidemic contributing to mortality and numerous health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and worsening arthritis. Weight loss surgery has very low complication rates and excellent long-term success, outweighing any potential side effects. Research shows that people with significant obesity have a much shorter lifespan compared to those with a healthy weight.

Obesity is currently classified as a chronic disease, rather than a character flaw. It is a complex disease of metabolism, influenced by individual genetic and hormonal traits that predetermine a person’s adult weight. It is extremely difficult to treat without medications or surgery in addition to behavioural changes. Without scientific knowledge, many people still view obesity as a lack of willpower. They believe that weight loss surgery is taking the easy way out. Even some patients who undergo weight loss surgery struggle with this bias. The challenge lies in overcoming this inner prejudice and helping others understand if weight loss surgery can improve their life.

Despite the significant health benefits of weight loss surgery, a large proportion of people choose to have it to look better and feel better about themselves. This is especially true for women who often feel pressured about their appearance. In modern times, men are also feeling this pressure and are spending more effort to improve their appearance. Men can often be shy about discussing ways to improve their appearance, especially regarding weight loss. The reality is that looking after yourself, health-wise and appearance-wise, can boost confidence, improve interactions with others, increase productivity at home and work, and enhance mental health.

In a recent survey of thousands of people who’ve had weight loss surgery, about 90% felt it was one of the best decisions they’d made in their lives, and about 70% said their only regret was not having done it earlier.

Weight loss surgery is a powerful tool for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, yet the stigma surrounding it prevents many from seeking this life-changing intervention. Understanding the health benefits and overcoming societal and internal biases can help more individuals, especially men, take the first step towards a healthier, more confident life.