If you’re obese, you’re not alone — there are 93 million other Americans who also suffer from obesity. But that doesn’t mean your day-to-day life doesn’t feel lonely. Carrying extra weight is hard, for many reasons.
That said, if you’re ready to take a stand and reclaim your life, you have support in losing the weight. Eviva has helped thousands of people in their weight loss journeys, often through weight loss surgery. The idea of weight loss surgery can seem scary, but the truth is, most of the reasons not to explore it are based in inaccurate and incorrect information.
Here are seven of the most common misconceptions about obesity and weight loss surgery:
Myth #1: You cannot die from obesity.
Obesity shortens a person’s lifespan by 5 to 20 years and brings with it an increased risk for other diseases, like diabetes, sleep apnea, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Obesity isn’t simply a cosmetic issue; it’s a life-threatening medical condition for which people need to seek treatment.
Myth #2: It’s your fault if you’re obese.
Obesity is a disease, not a lifestyle choice. The odds and biology are stacked against you. Less than 5 percent of people struggling with obesity can get and keep the weight off long term. Doctors haven’t determined the exact causes of obesity, but we have identified a variety of factors that influence it, including genetics, hormones, neurotransmitters, eating behaviors, and the industrialization of our food. Unfortunately, very few of those factors can be changed or controlled—at least not without medical support.
Myth #3: People with obesity just need diet and exercise.
For the vast majority of people who suffer from obesity, diet and exercise alone don’t work in the long term — as noted already, the rate of effectiveness with is less than 5 percent. Instead, most patients experience a yo-yo effect with diet and exercise – they lose weight, and then regain it all, plus more. The cycle is frustrating, emotionally and physically painful, and difficult to break without medical assistance.
Myth #4: Weight loss surgery is dangerous.
The data is clear on weight loss surgery: the benefits far outweigh the risks. Any surgery is potentially dangerous. However, when weight loss surgery is performed properly, the rate of major complications is just 1 to 2 percent. On the other hand, without weight loss surgery, people with obesity will live with a compromised quality of life, suffer from more health problems, and die younger than they should.
Myth #5: Weight loss surgery is “the easy way out.”
Weight loss surgery is fundamentally different from other operations where something is removed or fixed and then the problem goes away. Instead, weight loss surgery is the beginning of a journey that makes weight loss possible. After surgery, patients need to start eating the right things in healthy amounts to lose weight. But this change takes constant attention and work, especially for patients who have spent years with unhealthy eating behaviors. A supportive team of professionals, including doctors and nutritionists, is essential to success.
Myth #6: Weight loss surgery is unnecessary.
Anyone suffering from obesity understands how seriously the disease impacts life. Feeling short of breath or uncomfortable by minor physical activity, feeling ashamed and hopeless, and suffering from associated health conditions seriously decrease a person’s quality of life. Patients with obesity understand that their weight is making them unable to do the things they want to do. But surgery can help them to change that.
Myth #7: Weight loss surgery is expensive.
Weight loss surgery costs less than half of what a new car costs. And, unlike a new car, it pays for itself within a matter of years and doesn’t depreciate in value over time. In the end, we’re talking about the value and quality of someone’s life — and that’s worth everything.
Bottom line: For many people with obesity, weight loss surgery is a necessary and life-saving option. Considering weight loss surgery? At Eviva, we’ve helped thousands of people lose the extra weight and reclaim their lives. Learn more about our bariatric procedures and medical weight loss services on our website.