Debunking 5 common myths about bariatric surgery

Bariatric surgery is a weight-loss option for people who are morbidly obese and have, or are at risk for developing health issues like type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure.

Well-established through studies as the most effective long-term treatment for morbid obesity, the Healthy Weight Management and Bariatric Surgery team at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health performs two main types of bariatric, or weight-loss surgery: gastric bypass surgery and vertical sleeve gastrectomy surgery.  

Unfortunately, misinformation about bariatric surgery may still cause concern for people who are candidates for this potentially life-saving surgery, including those who:

• Are at least 100 pounds above their ideal body weight
• Have a BMI of 40 or greater or a BMI of 35 with some of the health issues, or co-morbidities, mentioned above

We're taking a look at the most common myths about bariatric weight-loss surgery to help you make informed decisions as you consider a path to better health.

5 Myths About Bariatric Surgery

Myth #1: People don’t need bariatric surgery. They just need to eat less and exercise more.

While diet and exercise are important part of a healthy lifestyle, these tactics alone are often not enough to enable patients with obesity to lose a significant amount of weight. For many people, obesity is a chronic disease with biological causes and is not just a result of diet or level of physical activity. 

Myth #2: Bariatric surgery is taking the easy way out.

Surgical weight loss is often mistaken as an "easy out" for the morbidly obese individual who wants to lose weight and resolve related health issues. This misconception couldn’t be further from the truth. Surgical patients are successful because they work hard for their weight loss results. While past weight-loss methods may have led to frustration because patients could not sustain the results long term, the hard work after surgery can lead to sustainable weight loss.

The hard work includes making right food choices, avoiding skipping meals, limiting portion sizes, staying hydrated between meals, and being physically active. Equally important is following up with your bariatric surgery team. Patients who enforce healthy weight management habits and are diligent about their medical follow-up will reap tremendous benefits. Those who do not make the effort will often regain their weight after bariatric surgery.

Myth #3: I'm not healthy enough to undergo bariatric surgery.

Bariatric surgery is intended to treat the disease of obesity, as well as the many diseases linked to obesity--co-morbidities such as high blood pressure and sleep apnea. People with multiple comorbidities are often those who experience the greatest benefit from weight loss. A personal conversation between the patient and surgeon will help determine whether bariatric surgery is a viable and safe option, and what standard medical clearances are needed to undergo surgery. 

Myth #4: Most people regain their weight after bariatric surgery, so why bother doing it?

Patients may experience some level of rebound weight gain in the years after weight-loss surgery. This usually occurs when they do not stick with recommended lifestyle changes. 70-80% of bariatric surgical patients are successful in losing and keeping of a significant amount of excess weight. That means the majority of surgical patients achieve and maintain weight-loss success.

Patients can regain all of the weight they lost after surgery and the risk of health problems related to being overweight can return, if they do not change their lifestyle. The good news is, as you lose weight, physical activity becomes easier and the results more apparent. Many patients find the exercise physiologists at the Healthy Weight Management Center fitness center to be helpful resources to guide them in their personal weight-loss journeys and apply a consistent exercise routine at home. Like personal trainers, the exercise physiology team develops individualized programs for patients before and after bariatric surgery.

Myth #5: Bariatric surgery is too risky. People die after this risky surgery.

The risks of weight loss surgery are similar to other surgical procedures. Bariatric surgery, when performed in a Center of Excellence like Lancaster General Hospital, has a lower rate of complications than laparoscopic gallbladder removal, knee replacement, or hernia repair. The risks of remaining morbidly obese are far greater than the benefits gained after bariatric surgery.

Investigating Weight-Loss Options

Learn about both surgical and non-surgical weight-loss options through the Healthy Weight Management and Bariatric Surgery program at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health. A good first step is often to watch our online seminar, available in English and Spanish.