The popularity of bariatric (weight loss) surgery has soared in recent years. One study found that the number of bariatric surgeries increased five-fold between the period of 1998 to 2006. The study, published in the journal Health Matters, stated that there were 71,733 bariatric surgeries performed in the U.S. in 2002, a significant increase from the 13,386 surgeries performed in 1998.

By 2004, the number of bariatric surgeries in the U.S. had increased to a staggering 140,000, more than ten times the 1998 figure. This year, in 2008, there will probably be more than 200,000 of these surgeries performed in the United States.

Why are there so many more bariatric surgery procedures today than a few years ago? Several reasons, really:

1. More Surgery Options

For one thing, there is a wider variety of surgical procedures today than there were ten years ago. In the past, weight loss surgery basically meant a gastric bypass, with few other options. But today, patients considering a bariatric surgery have more options available to them, such as the increasingly popular gastric banding procedures.

2. More Publicity

Increased media coverage has also fueled the growth of bariatric weight-loss surgery in the United States. There are even spokespersons for it today, which is not something we saw in the past. For example, Muhammad Ali’s daughter Khalia Ali represents the LAP-BAND (r) System of weight loss surgery. As a result of all this media coverage, the American public is much more aware of the various weight loss surgery options, and thus more likely to pursue them.

3. Increased Need for Surgery

The third reason bariatric surgery is increasingly popular has to do with the rising number of obese people in this country. It is estimated that 30% of the American population is obese, a much higher percentage than ten years ago. Our increasingly sedentary lifestyles have likely contributed to these numbers.

These are disturbing trends for many reasons. For one thing, the criteria for screening bariatric surgery patients seem to have broadened quite a bit over the years. For years, this type surgery was reserved for people who were morbidly obese, patients who were so severely overweight that it was likely to kill them if drastic measures were not taken.

These days, however, it seems that anyone who is a bit overweight can find a bariatric surgeon ready and willing to alter their digestive process. We are even seeing this in children as young as 13, who are nowhere near the definition of morbid obesity. Does anyone remember the concept of lifestyle changes anymore?

It’s important to remember that weight loss surgery is still surgery, and as such it requires careful consideration and education on the part of the potential patient. It should not be considered a “quick fix” to being overweight, because there is no such thing. Bariatric surgery also fails to address the psychological factors that lead to overeating. This is why many post-surgery patients end up compensating with other vices such as alcohol abuse.

What’s my point? Simply that bariatric surgery should only be used as a last resort, and only for people who are morbidly obese. For people who are merely overweight, but not yet in the morbidly obese category, lifestyle changes should be the first plan of attack. Bariatric surgery is not a glamorous new trend in medicine. Nor is it a “fix all” solution to overeating. It is serious surgery that requires serious consideration.

Brandon Cornett is the publisher of Bariatric City, an online resource that provides bariatric information specific to certain cities across the U.S. (such as this latest guide to New York City bariatric procedures). Learn more by visiting http://www.bariatriclearningcenter.com/city

Summary: In this new addition to our Q&A series, we will talk about bariatric surgery alternatives and how, in most cases, they are a superior alternative to actual surgery.

Do you have questions about bariatric surgery for weight loss? Hopefully, you do. Having questions is a sign that you are considering something carefully, and that’s exactly what you must do with bariatric weight-loss surgery … you must consider it carefully before making any decisions.

But what kinds of questions should you be asking? Well, we have assembled a list of about 20 of the most important questions about this subject, and in this blog series we are expanding on that article to look at each question in more detail.

This is the full article on the subject:
Surgery for Weight Loss - 21 Questions to Ask

So let’s tackle today’s questions about bariatric surgery procedures, which is…

What About Alternatives to Bariatric Surgery?

Once upon a time, weight loss surgery used to be strictly reserved for people who were morbidly obese — which meant it was a last resort for those who would otherwise die from their severe obesity.

Lately, however, it seems that weight loss surgery has become a trend. Consider the fact that the number of bariatric surgeries has increased tenfold in the last ten years! Did our population grow tenfold? Of course not. This number simply means that weight loss surgery is being used in more cases, even for people who are nowhere near the definition of morbid obesity, much less obesity in general.

Only in extremely rare cases is surgery the only option for weight loss. In the vast majority of cases, surgery is just one option out of many options. And it should be the option of last resort. In fact, nine times out of ten the bariatric surgery alternatives such as diet and exercise are the absolute best option for overweight individuals. (Weight loss surgeons might dispute this with me, but they’re hardly unbiased … are they?)

The question is … have you exhausted these other non-surgical options for weight loss? Have you pursued with vigor these bariatric surgery alternatives in the past?

Think about it this way. If you undergo a bariatric weight-loss procedure, you will have to adjust your lifestyle anyway. After a gastric bypass surgery, for example, you cannot eat nearly as much as you did before. So why not try to change your lifestyle in the first place, before resorting to surgery? It’s less expensive, it’s safer,  and it addresses the core issue directly (the unhealthy lifestyle).

The best bariatric surgery alternatives are those that avoid surgery altogether. The best alternative to weight loss surgery are those that address the causes of the disease (lifestyle) and not just the symptoms (weight).

Everyone who considers bariatric weight-loss surgery comes from a different background and has unique concerns and circumstances. But with that being said, there are certain frequently asked questions about bariatric surgery that many patients ask, and it will help you to understand the answers to these common questions.

So, we have decided to begin a new series of blog posts on the subject of the most frequently asked questions about bariatric surgery (and related topics). This blog series is actually adapted from a article we published several months ago.

This is the full article on the subject:
Surgery for Weight Loss - 21 Questions to Ask

So let’s move on to the frequently asked bariatric surgery question of focus…

Do I Really Need Surgery for Weight Loss?

Is bariatric surgery the only option for you, in terms of losing weight and increasing your health? Or is there a better, safer path to weight loss?

This is a vital question that anyone considering bariatric should ask. Thankfully, it’s also a frequently asked question about surgery for weight loss … as it should be. After all, despite all of the glossy brochures and websites with skinny, happy models smiling back at you, this is still surgery we are talking about here. So you should consider other non-surgical options in the course of due diligence.

There’s no doubt about it. Bariatric surgery for weight loss has exploded in popularity in recent years. I’ve seen a few statistics that say the number of bariatric surgeries has risen nearly tenfold in the last few years! But what you must realize is that this is real surgery with real risks associated with it. Thus, What you have to remember is there is nothing simple about surgery.

For more on this frequently asked question about bariatric surgery and related questions, check out this helpful article.