The vertical sleeve gastrectomy is one of the most beneficial weight-loss options out there, so it’s no wonder that it’s also the most popular bariatric surgery available! However, there are still people who believe that dieting is an equal, if not better, way to lose weight. Today we’re going to set the record straight by shedding a little light on the top 8 reasons the sleeve gastrectomy is better than a diet for many people. Remember, candidates for the sleeve gastrectomy typically have a BMI greater than 40, which is about 100 lbs. overweight for an average height adult.
1. It Actually Works!
The gastric sleeve was originally developed as the first surgical step patients underwent before their procedure, usually the gastric bypass or duodenal switch. As it turned out, many surgeons noticed that their patients would lose such substantial amounts of weight that their secondary procedure was no longer necessary.
Today, the sleeve gastrectomy is performed primarily as a standalone procedure that helps patients lose anywhere from 55 to 70% of their excess body weight. Scientific studies and patients themselves report that surgery helps to improve energy, quality of life, and symptoms of weight-related conditions. In fact, bariatric surgeries like the sleeve gastrectomy are named by the ASMBS as a treatment option for type 2 diabetes—with some patients finding their condition completely resolved after surgery!
That’s just one example of the power of the sleeve gastrectomy; studies have also shown the surgery’s positive effects on conditions such as joint pain, hypertension, and sleep apnea, among others. Gastric sleeve procedures are effective for losing weight and improving health, but what makes them so much better than diet and exercise alone? Well, we’re glad you asked!
2. It Decreases the Size of the Stomach
For starters, dieting relies exclusively on mental and habitual changes to promote weight loss. This fails to take into account the other aspects of health that could be at play, such as metabolic factors or genetic predispositions. Many diets are also nutritionally unsustainable in the long-term—there are any number of reasons a person might fall back into old habits.
The sleeve gastrectomy is different because it combines the psychological support patients need with physical changes to anatomy that promote long-term weight loss.
This procedure removes about 75% of the stomach, creating a banana-shaped pouch. This change in stomach size helps patients eat smaller portions while still feeling full, which many patients say helped them develop new, healthier habits. This anatomical change also affects the body’s metabolism and hormones, leading to our next point:
3. The Gastric Sleeve Changes Stomach Anatomy—AND Biology!
The sleeve gastrectomy doesn’t just change the size and shape of the stomach, it changes how the stomach work for the better! Studies show us that dangerous dieting techniques can cause our bodies to enter “starvation