Dr. GallagerWelcome DR. LAURA LYN GALLAGHER | Board-certified general and bariatric surgery specialist

Home/Blog / How Common Is Weight Loss Surgery?

How Common Is Weight Loss Surgery?

Bariatric surgery continues to improve itself as time goes on. This is quite fortunate, as America and the rest of the world continues to get fatter as time goes on. It is estimated that one third of the population of the United States is now obese, and the number of bariatric surgery procedures to counter this has risen from 13,000 in 1998 to over 200,000 today.

Bariatric Surgery is Becoming More Popular

More people than ever are looking to bariatric surgery as a legitimate method to lose weight and keep it off. Studies have shown that simple diet and exercise only work for 5% of the obese population, and bariatric surgery has a much higher percentage of success for the same population of people. As procedures come down the pike that are less invasive, less expensive and more effective, we can only expect this number to increase as time goes on.

Less Accidents Today Than Previously Reported

One of the most important things to note about bariatric surgery is its ability to maintain its integrity. There are many less cases of accidents such as malabsorption and detrimental hormonal changes because of new techniques that are minimally invasive such as laparoscopic surgery. However, even common bariatric procedures such as the gastric bypass and the sleeve gastrectomy have their advantages.

Weight Loss Surgery Works

It is reported that patients of bariatric surgery can lose anywhere between 30 to 50% of their extra weight within six months. Recovery periods are also much less uncomfortable. There are many food companies that are beginning to come out with products that are geared specifically to help patients of bariatric surgery get through those first few weeks of liquids and puréed foods. The disadvantages of bariatric surgery continue to dwindle in the face of the improvements in the quality of life of people who incorporate the procedures into their lives.