Weight Loss Options: Surgical vs. Non-Surgical Weight Loss

When it comes to medical weight loss programs, there is certainly no shortage of options. In fact, to qualify for insurance coverage of weight loss surgery, many insurers require patients to have a history of medically supervised non-surgical weight loss efforts.

Most non-surgical weight loss programs are based on some combination of diet/behavior modification and regular exercise. Unfortunately it is estimated that less than 5% of individuals who participate in non-surgical weight loss programs will lose a significant amount of weight and maintain that loss for a long period of time.

According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 90% of all people in non-surgical weight loss programs regain their weight within one year. Sustained weight loss for patients who are morbidly obese is even harder to achieve with non-surgical medical weight loss programs. Serious health risks have been identified for people who move from diet to diet, subjecting their bodies to a severe and continuing cycle of weight loss and gain known as “yo-yo dieting.”

For many bariatric patients, the risk of death from not having weight loss surgery is greater than the risks from the possible complications of undergoing a weight loss procedure.

Learn more about the surgical weight loss options available at the Atlanta Bariatric Center: 

For patients whose weight limits their everyday activity and/or mobility, bariatric weight loss surgery can change lives. Bariatric surgery is often the most effective weight loss option for patients with a Body Mass Index (BMI) above 35. Surgical weight loss options typically result in quick and dramatic weight loss and can significantly reduce obesity-related health issues, such as diabetes.