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Have you ever thought about having weight loss surgery? Sometimes it can be difficult to lose weight, and surgery becomes a best option. If you have ever thought about losing weight or are having any troubles, weight loss surgery may be right for you. Dr. Carlos Barba is a general surgeon in Harlingen and Brownsville, Texas. He studied at the University of Montreal and the University of Pennsylvania and then did a fellowship in trauma and critical care. He can help you if you’re ready to take the next step towards weight loss.
Weight Loss Surgery in Harlingen & Brownsville, TX
Dr. Carlos Barba is a board-certified general and bariatric surgeon in Brownsville, TX. Dr. Barba is dedicated to treating each of his patients like family. The moment you walk into the office you should rest assured knowing that Dr. Barba will make sure you receive the best care available. Specializing in a variety of surgeries and procedures, Dr. Barba is an experienced surgeon at the forefront of the latest and most advanced techniques.
Obesity in the U.S.
A recent study by the CDC found that almost 40% of American adults were obese. Dr. Carlos A. Barba says it’s a problem that has been spreading rapidly over the past few decades. The causes could be anything from changes in metabolic activities to genetics and hormone levels. However, other factors have recently come under the spotlight as possible causes of obesity: Work conditions, eating habits, and lifestyle.
Dieting and Exercise are not Enough
Many people try to get their weight under control with different diets and working out. The team at Carlos A. Barba, MD, PLLC, believes that dieting alone offers temporary results that can hardly be considered a long-term solution to obesity. When you consider that fat deposits in the artery walls, around the heart, and in the abdominal cavity all lead to cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, strokes, and sleep apnea, it becomes clear that even exercising and dieting are not the best options to deal with obesity. It is estimated that about half the cancer cases among women are often a result of or closely associated with obesity.
Both diets and workouts are notoriously slow in bringing down the person’s weight. And since there’s always a risk of regaining the lost weight after the diet is over, many doctors recommend bariatric surgery for faster weight loss results and to stave off the risk of obesity-related diseases.
Am I a Candidate for Weight Loss Surgery?
The following criteria is often used to help identify ideal candidates for a bariatric surgery:
- Individuals weighing more than 100 lbs. above their optimal body weight
- Those with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher
- Patients with a BMI between 35 and 40 who also possess some sort of obesity-related health condition like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.
- Individuals who have a documented history of unsuccessful weight loss programs or other weight loss methods
- Persons who are committed to making the necessary lifestyle changes after a weight loss surgery, including proper diet and exercise in addition to follow up care from a qualified health professional
- Patients with a solid support system to help them recover from weight loss surgery and continue to implement healthy lifestyle choices after surgery
- Those without an uncontrolled psychological condition
- Individuals who do not have any addictions to drugs or alcohol
What Weight Loss Surgery Can Do for you
There are different types of weight loss surgery that can lead to weight loss. These include gastric bypass, gastric sleeve and gastric banding. The goal is to limit the calorie intake and absorption by reducing the amount of food the patient eats. This can be achieved by shortening the digestive tract or just reducing the size of the stomach or both.
Bariatric surgery leads to a fast decrease in excess body weight over a matter of months. The impact on health is just as positive as well. Cholesterol levels go down to healthy levels and the size of the heart also goes back to normal as its functionality improves. High blood pressure and kidney functions get better while type 2 diabetes goes into remission in many patients following this procedure.
Are you ready to take the next step towards weight loss surgery?
The numbers are staggering because 40% is such a high percentage of obesity. I am doing it the old fashioned way by diet and exercise and luckily have had good results so far
It really is a high number and scary.
I have heard of this before. I don’t need it, but I know some people thinking about having the surgery.
It really is interesting to know more about.
This post is really informative for someone who would like to have this procedure done.
I’m glad to be of help to others.
A very informative post for those with questions about the pros and cons, and what to expect. I’m curious if insurance covers a procedure like this if it’s deemed medically necessary?
I honestly wouldn’t know. That would be something to talk to your insurance about since all insurance companies are different.
This is very useful information. I have several friends who are considering this treatment.
I hope that they can learn some from this too.
Super important decision for those who need to loose a lot of weight, as it is life or death decision.
Yes, it really is important.
The criteria was interesting. I’ve had a couple friends who have been through a gastric band.
It really is interesting to learn more about.
That’s a really high percentage of the population, I think obesity could be a problem everywhere.
Yes, for sure.
I’ll share this to my social media, thanks for the knowledge.
Of course. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the guide, it feels great to be knowledgeable with this topic.
It’s great to see all these options too.
I know a couple of people who have had this with mixed results. I think it’s definitely an option to consider but needs to be carefully considered.
Yes, most definitely.
I have never heard of bariatric surgery before, and all I can say that it is so amazing knowing that you can now do this process to lose weight.
Thank you for sharing this info.
I agree. It’s nice to have these options.
Obesity can be a huge problem for our health. That’s why sometimes weight loss surgery can be the best option!
I completely agree.
There was a time I was very much thinking of doing this exact thing. Thank you for sharing all this information!
Of course. I hope it can be helpful.
That’s such a large number of people. This sort of treatment can be good that for those that are severely obese and have struggled to lose weight.
Yes, it really is sad to see a large number like that.
This is a lot of helpful information especially for those who are considering this procedure to lose weight.
Yes, most definitely.
Very informative post, I love it. I know of people that have had gastric band surgery before and it sure is a process.
It’s nice to see some have been successful.
Very informative and filled with great tips for those considering gastric surgery.
Yes, definitely.