Darin McCloud is a 20-stone man. He consulted a weight-loss clinic but was said he wasn’t heavy enough to qualify for a weight-loss surgery.

NHS Portsmouth only considers people with BMI of 45 or above for weight-loss surgery. What is more, to qualify the patients should also suffer from obesity-related diseases in order to qualify.

Mr. McCloud has been turned down as his BMI was “only” 40, even though he’s been diabetic.

As he is desperate to lose weight, he had an idea: to put on more in order to qualify for the procedure.

Now he eats lots of fast and processed foods in hope he becomes bigger.

Mr. McCloud tried dieting but he was unsuccessful. He finds a weight-loss surgery not only will help him to get his body back but also will cure his diabetes.

He applied for the operation in February 2009. He has put a stone and a half so far, and his BMI is 43.5 at the moment.

Dr Paul Edmondson-Jones from NHS Portsmouth reckons the rules should change so that patients with lower BMI are allowed the weight-loss surgery, as in longer terms that would save the NHS lots of money.

The current situation does not allow that, as the NHS does not have enough funds to be able to afford the surgeries for the patients with BMI below 45.

Weight loss surgery opponents are not convinced if this is a safe way of shedding the extra pounds. Dr. Ted Khalili, M.D. of the Khalili Center for Bariatric Care, who, together with his team, carried over 4.000

The Lap Band is one of the safest weight-loss procedures. It is completely reversible and, as has been performed for over 20 years. has a proven track record.

Obviously, as any other cosmetic surgery, also Lap Band can be risky. However, with the appropriate pre- and after-medical care, as well as lifelong follow up, the procedure proved to be safe and effective in fighting obesity and related diseases.

Weight-loss surgery doctors offer some tips for those considering an obesity procedure:

1. Weight-loss surgery is not a quick fix. Only patients who find other methods unsuccessful can opt for the surgery. Also, they have to be aware that their eating habits and life-style need to change after the procedure.
2. Find out as much as you can. If you decide to go ahead with the surgery, you need to find out what the best option for you is going to be. Try to find as much information as possible (on internet, by talking to people, reading appropriate articles, etc.), then contact a weight-loss clinic. You will then meet a surgeon for a detailed consultation.
3. Choose a qualified surgeon. You want a doctor who is certified and who will be able to tell you how many operations they have carried and their complication rates. It is also important that the surgeon is able to undergo other weight-loss surgeries, not only Lap Band procedure.
4. Choose a good support program. Weight-loss surgery is a complex process. You need to make sure you’ve got support of qualified health professionals including physicians, nurses, dieticians and mental health specialists.
5. Make sure your program leads to success. The surgery is only a tool. It will decrease you appetite and the calorie intake but the long-term success depends on your post-op life-style. That’s why a good program is a must. That needs to be comprehensive, fully integrated plan that combines weight loss surgery with a number of other approaches, including nutritional classes, support groups, fitness regimens, educational talks, and other therapeutic programs.

Lap Band is one of the safest weight-loss procedures. Before making a decision though, it is worth gathering as much information as possible about other methods to make sure to choose the best one.

Darlene Sullivan was always a big person. Even as a baby, she was plump. As she was getting older, she was also getting bigger.

One day, accidently as flipping channels, Darlene found a program about severely obese people preparing for and recovering from weight-loss surgeries. She continued to watch it for a year and then started to search for some information about the weight-loss procedures on internet. Before that, she had tried every possible diet and exercising but yo-yo effect was always there.

Darlene was embarrassed by everyday situations when her big body was causing her problems. She had to ask flight attendants for belt extenders, she was unable to keep up with her husband. One of the most embarrassing moments of her life happened when on holiday. With her husband, Darlene was at a boat party and at some point she jumped out for a swim. As she wasn’t able to swim anymore, she nearly drowned.

Two men had to pull her onto a dinghy. They had to strain so hard to roll her onto the tiny boat that she ached the next day.

Shortly after this accident Darlene made an appointment with a weight-loss surgery clinic. She underwent the procedure in January 2009. Before that she weighed 276 pounds. She managed to reach her target of 155 pounds. Her life took another turn. She got a job as a medical assistant when got back in shape.

Weight-loss surgery gains in popularity. About 220,000 people in the United States had this type of surgery in 2009, up from an estimated 177,600 three years earlier.

Dietician Nicole Rhoads says many overweight people try low-carbohydrate diet. They prove unsuccessful in the long term. The reason for that is that the calorie intake is low so they lose weight at the beginning but for many people that lifestyle isn’t sustainable over a long time.

All weight-loss surgery doctors highlight that this kind of procedure is not a quick fix. It is only a tool that will help patients achieve their goals. After removing part of the stomach, patients can only consume a certain amount of calories. This is the secret of the procedure. Then, after they have changed their diet and started exercising daily, they are able to lose weight and then maintain it. Sounds easy? It is not! Patients need to be really motivated and know what exactly is going to happen. That is why all good weight-loss surgery clinics will talk the patient through not only the procedure itself but will also offer an excellent aftercare.

WorldMed Assist observed an interesting phenomenon for the fifth year in a row: an annual surge in weight loss surgeries.

Patients tend to request weight-loss surgery just after Thanksgiving. In the month of December, there tend to be a 40% increase in the enquiries when compared to November. Weight-loss surgery boom lasts until the end of February. The analytics show that the months between December-February are the busiest in the year. The number of surgeries carried on during this period often equals the ones done in the remaining nine months.

Gastric bypass, lap band surgeries, and gastric sleeve are the most popular procedures.

Also the reasons of the contacting the weight-loss surgery companies are interesting. Researches show that people feel guilty after the Thanksgiving or Christmas festive season. Others say they consider the surgery by the prospect of lots of eating during Christmas. Still another reason is the New Year’s resolutions. As for most patients, diet and exercising are not successful, they seek other efficient methods.

The weight-loss need in the New Year for some patients means the necessity of a life-style change whereas the other patients believe to be more successful with a new body.

Those opting for a procedure in February usually have got other reasons. One of them might be a financial recovery after Christmas. Others might consider the surgery as an early start of the spring.
Whatever the reasons of the weight-loss surgery, it will always mean a new fresh start, an improved life-style and a better health. Patients have to be aware that the surgery means a complete change in their life-style and that only high motivation is the key to success.

With the beginning of a new year, many people make a resolution of weight-loss. Unfortunately, as much as 95% of them won’t succeed. They will lose some weight, but it will bounce back quickly.

Weight-loss specialists reckon that the most likely to succeed are those people who use professional programs with proven track records.

Most people don’t actually have a plan, or even if they do, it is not successful. People must also realise that in order to lose weight and keep it off a life-style change is required, not just a diet change.

Dr. Stephen Scott, medical director of the SSM Weight-Loss Institute, says people should avoid diets that:

~~ only allows you to eat only one or two types of food
~~ makes you feel hungry

On the other hand patients should concentrate on programs that include four factors:

~~ dietary plan with educational guides
~~ exercise regimen
~~ behavior modification component (counseling, support groups, buddy system)
~~ medical supervision by a physician or expert on a regular basis

Morbidly obese patients (with BMI of 40 or more)can seek help through weight-loss surgery. Very often it is the only way to succeed. In many cases the procedure can save the patient’s life, in all cases it improves the quality of life and cures numerous health problems.

Obesity-related health problems are serious: type 2 diabetes, hypertension and heart disease, arthritic joint problems, sleep apnea and respiratory problems, acid reflux, reproductive problems and a higher risk of many forms of potentially fatal cancer, including breast, colon and pancreatic cancer.

Doctors say they would like to see more younger patients undergoing weight-loss surgery. The reason is that the surgery can prevent all associated diseases. Weight-loss techniques, such as gastric bypass, also pose very little surgical risk.

Weight-loss surgery not only cures most obesity-related diseases but also is able to reverse type 2 diabetes. This process, even though not fully understood, is seen in 85% of patients.

Those patients who do not qualify for the weight-loss surgery, these tips are recommended:

~~ Do not drink sweet drinks, such as sweet tea, juices, soda, alcohol etc.
~~ Eat lots of fruit and vegetable, between 5 and 9 portions a day. This will make you feel fuller so you will not need as much other foods.
~~ Take part in a moderate exercise program. Do not do too much too quickly but try to exercise 5 or 6 days a week for 30 minutes.

A rapper, Paul Wall, underwent recently a gastric sleeve surgery. He was 120 pounds overweight. Since the operation, he lost over 100 pounds.

Paul didn’t feel well with the fact how big he was. He wasn’t able to hide he was morbidly obese. And he was desperate to lose weight permanently. For years, he tried dieting, exercising. Nothing worked. That is the reason he opted for gastric sleeve.

With this procedure, doctors affect hunger hormones. The result is that now Paul doesn’t feel hungry anymore. What’s more, he found out that gastric sleeve would let him lose even 80% of the excess fat.

His life changed so much since the surgery. Paul reckons he just got it back! Previously, he was so embarrassed by the way he looked. He was getting dizzy spells, while on stage felt like he was going to collapse, on the plane had to ask for seatbelt extensions. While on air, breathing was a problem.

He was desperate to be there for his family. He was aware than being 50 pounds overweight takes 15 years of your life. Paul realises that the surgery saved his life.

There is a number of weight-loss procedures available nowadays for those patients who were unsuccessful having tried other methods.

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass procedure is the most popular. In this kind of operation patient’s stomach size is decreased by separating it into two parts, using surgical stables or a plastic band. The top part is formed into a small pouch, which is then connected to a section of the small intestine. The size of the new stomach allows the patient to feel fuller quicker. What’s more, the bypassed intestine prevents the patient from absorbing additional calories.

Gastric-Band Surgery is another weight-loss surgery option. In this case, a silicone band is wrapped and tightened around the upper area of the stomach. The pouch which is then created only allows about an ounce of food to enter. In this procedure saline is used to inflate the band, and is fed into a plastic tube, which is attached to the band. During Gastric Sleeve Surgery, as much as 60-75% of the stomach is actually removed. This operation is also known as a gastrectomy, or “Sleeve gastrectomy,” and naturally limits calorie intake.

Gastric Plication Surgery or Gastric Imbrication is a reversible procedure which does not remove the stomach, re-route the small intestine, or use any stapling or cutting. During this procedure, the portion of the stomach is folded onto its other half, and held in place with non-absorptive sutures. The stomach’s size is therefore decreased to a gastric sleeve proportion, but without using any of the potentially harmful, foreign objects to do so. This procedure is considered to be a low-risk and low-cost procedure with a quick recovery.

The latest studies carried in American society show that the highest number of obesity is to be found in adults aged 50-59, 31.1%, 60-69, 30.9%, non-Hispanic blacks, 36.8%, (non-Hispanic black women in particular, 41.9%), Hispanics, 30.7% and Midwestern and Southern residents, 28.2% and 28.4% respectively. The results were also that people with no high school degree are more likely to be obese than the ones with higher education.

The cost of obesity in terms of quality of life, health and the economic pressure of costs in society are increasing. By 2015, the World Health Organisation is predicting that more than 700 million people globally will have a BMI of at least 30kg/m2. Staggering statistics like these are fuelling the idea of weight loss surgery throughout the world.

A recent study shows a 10-fold rise in bariatric surgery in the past 10 years in the UK, rising from 238 procedures in 2000 to an overwhelming 2,543 in 2007.

Weight loss surgery is not necessarily a quick fix solution, but when the method of weight loss surgery is adopted using other weight management techniques, for example a healthy diet and exercise resulting in a healthier lifestyle, reducing additional health risks and reaching your target weight

Majority of severly obese Brits try every method in order to lose weight. A large number of them turn into bariatric surgery, as more conventional ways do not bring success.

Latest figures show that gastric balloons procedures have increased by 42% since 2009. What’s interesting, 50% more women decide to undergo the surgery to gain a slimmer figure.

Another popular method is gastric banding. 31% more patients opted for the procedure than last year.

It’s not a secret that many patients make their decision based on a celebrity success.

Actress Tina Malone underwent a gastric band operation. “I’ve struggled with my weight for 25 years. I’ve been dieting ever since my daughter was three years old and I was in my early 20s. I had to put my hand up and say: ‘I need help’, and the only thing that’s worked for me is having the gastric band fitted. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.�

Cosmetic surgery doctors agree that obese patients often want to improve their looks and life-style just like celebrities they see on TV.

Weight-loss surgery is not an easy thing to do. Especially life after means changes, as the patient needs to work with the procedure. The operation gives people a fresh start to a much healthier lifestyle as well as the confidence they lost when they were overweight.

The newest study shows that the number of Australians turning to the weight-loss surgery has increased by ten times.

One in five Australians is obese at the moment. All of them try more conventional weight-loss methods at first but, as they turn unsuccessful, they opt for the surgery as their last resort.

The numbers are very definite and say: in 1999/2000 only 1,700 weight loss procedures took place, while in 2007/2008 this number was 17,000. This says that obese patients are using surgery as a preferred way of losing weight, as they feel they have no other way of shifting the pounds.

Professor Michael Cowley, a professor at the Monash University Obesity and Diabetes Institute, is of opinion that Australian government should develop “other strategies to help people lose weight- such as therapy”. Also professor Lynne Daniels from the Queensland University of Technology thinks society should change their life-style, get physically active and eat healthy food, so there is no need for the weight-loss surgery.

Other opponents say the procedure cost taxpayers thousands of dollars. In 2007 it cost the Australian government 15 million dollars.

On the other hand, though, patients who undergo the surgery, apart from losing weight and leading a normal life-style, cut off medicines use, as they health improves dramatically. They can also get back to work after some time instead of getting disability benefits. The cost of the weight-loss surgery seems high at the beginning but pays off quickly.