According to the CDC, over 600,000 people in the U.S. die from heart disease. That’s about 1 in 4 deaths.  

Obesity is one of the major risk factors of developing a heart problem. When you are obese, you are more likely to suffer from hypertension and high blood cholesterol. Obesity is also associated with hidden inflammation, a risk factor for developing atherosclerosis.  

Losing about 10 percent of your existing body weight is good for your heart. When you lose weight, you reduce your heart’s workload, reduce your triglycerides level, and lower your blood pressure – all of which contributes in reducing your risk of heart disease. 

While diet and physical activity play an important role in losing weight, not everyone succeeds in these conventional methods. If this is your case, you may want to consider bariatric or weight loss surgery.
 

How Bariatric Surgery Can Improve Your Heart Health 

Bariatric surgery can help you lose weight in different ways. It can restrict the amount of food you can take, it affects how food is absorbed in your body, or through a combination of both restriction and malabsorption. 

Bariatric surgery is a great tool for achieving weight loss. Studies done on the hearts of obese men and women who undergo bariatric surgery show that the procedure caused a significant difference in the patients’ heart health, only just after a year of bariatric surgery.  

The benefits of weight loss surgery on heart health also has something to do with its way of reducing the risk factors of heart failure such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. 

 

Is bariatric surgery right for you? 

You may be a candidate for weight loss surgery if you have: 

  • BMI of 40 or higher (more than 100 lbs overweight) 
  • BMI of 35 or higher with at least one or more obesity-related co-morbidity (e.g. sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis) 
  • Inability to lose weight through conventional weight loss methods (i.e. diet and exercise) 

 

If you qualify for bariatric surgery, the next step to take is to attend a weight loss seminar. Foothills Weight Loss offers live and online seminars to address your concerns and inform you on what to expect before, during, and after a weight loss surgery. 

 

 

 

References: 

https://asmbs.org/patients/who-is-a-candidate-for-bariatric-surgery 

https://www.yourbariatricsurgeryguide.com/news/weight-loss-surgery-heart-health/ 

https://www.everydayhealth.com/heart-disease/obesity-heart-disease-whats-connection/ 

https://www.everydayhealth.com/heart-health/how-losing-weight-changes-your-heart.aspx