Weight Loss Surgery in Wyoming

Obesity is a public health crisis in Wyoming. Across our state, the number of overweight and obese individuals is rapidly increasing. In the Cowboy State more than 60% of the population is overweight or obese. According to recent data from the U.S. Public Health Service Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the cost to taxpayers for obesity--related expenditures in the State of Wyoming alone amounts to over $85 million annually.

And of course the costs of obesity are not limited to dollars and cents. Obesity costs lives – lives taken or limited by related illnesses, including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and even cancer. 

Do you weigh more than is healthy? It’s easy to tell. First multiply your weight in pounds by 703. Next, multiply your height in inches by itself. Finally, divide the first figure by the second. This will determine your body mass index, or BMI. (BMI = weight in pounds x 703 / [height in inches]2). If your BMI is more than 25, you are medically overweight. If your BMI is 30 or higher, you are considered obese.

Living with obesity is a struggle. Many people who suffer from this condition try to lose excess weight through sheer willpower, turning to fad diets, rigorous exercise programs, or “miraculous” weight-loss pills, drinks and powders. Some folks do lose significant weight this way, but the vast majority quickly regain it after they suspend their weight loss program and go back to their normal lifestyle.

The Surgical Option

The inability for people to lose weight through willpower alone has given rise to the popularity of weight loss surgery. Bariatric surgery, which is the surgical treatment of obesity, was created to help individuals with a BMI of 35 or above overcome the physical challenges of weight loss. Weight loss surgery can be malabsorptive, restrictive, or combination in nature, and each type presents different risks and benefits. All work by physically limiting the amount of food the patient can eat

The Lap-band procedure has become very popular since it was approved by the FDA several years ago, particularly because it is minimally invasive and generally has a faster recovery time compared to gastric bypass surgery. However, any form of surgery, including bariatric surgery, presents the possibility of major postoperative complications.

Considering Surgical Weight Loss

Weight loss surgery can be a true lifesaver, but it’s no more a cure than were the fad diets. It’s only one part of a complete treatment program. If a patient doesn’t follow the postoperative instructions from their surgeon, they are almost guaranteed to regain any weight lost or quickly hit a plateau. For surgery to be successful, patients need to make a life-long commitment to behavioral changes. In addition, anyone considering bariatric surgery to overcome obesity should research the different treatment options and examine the possible risks together with their physician before making a decision.

On, Wyoming!

The Cowboy State has much to recommend it. It will become even more attractive as a business and tourism destination if its citizens are fit and healthy. Weight loss surgery and other treatments for obesity can help our state slim down. Let’s join forces and defeat obesity, Wyoming!