Is bariatric surgery for everyone? Is it the panacea for a ‘fat’
nation?
There are a few points one should consider before coming to
any firm decisions. I cannot speak for everyone. The much vaunted adage that we
should take each case on its merits holds true for me. Who am I to say that ‘you’
or a whole nation should head to the surgeon and offer up one’s body to the ‘knife’
albeit very small ones?
In New Zealand the operation can be free for those under 50
years of age, but the process is one that has many checks and balances. Various
criteria operate, including having a history of trying to lose weight and
related health issues, including type two diabetes, sleep apnoea, high blood
pressure , compromised heart health, just to mention a few. If you are in that ‘morbid
obesity’ category, that may give you reason to consider the procedure.
‘Not for me,’ you say. That’s fine. It is after all your decision,
once you have satisfied the above criteria and received the big tick from a psychologist.
If you have to pay, like I did, then the considerations are basically the same.
I don’t know what ‘rules’ in other countries, so you will have to find out for
yourself.
Given the ‘fattening’ of many nations, not just in the West,
bariatric surgery is being increasingly seen as the answer to the many health
issues associated with being majorly overweight. One could establish a position
whereby the savings from using this procedure (there are several different
ones) could be a reason for justifying the ‘state’ paying. Let’s face it; the
complications resulting from obesity cost public health systems a great deal of
money, for many years as an individual’s health issue become more serious.
Could one justify the ‘state’ (or in my case—me, along with a little help from
health insurance) paying for a one off operation (about $NZ 17,000--$21,000,
depending on the procedure) in order to avoid the huge bills that are coming
the way of the above systems as the population ages and ‘fattens?’
On a solely fiscally driven basis, one could say a big yes,
but that is not the only consideration. There would be many who would say that
other options are available; like public education about nutrition and
exercise. I would say that given the long history of the ‘fat-busting’ industry
and the attempts to change our collective diets, away from the sugar, fat, high
carb and salt laden intakes along with a ‘sit on your butt’ mentality, then their
efforts have failed miserably. There are a huge number of businesses and
individuals who depend on our propensity of a large number of us to continually
fail and gradually put on more weight after so many failed attempts to lose and
keep weight off.
It would be a bit too radical to suggest that the above
efforts should be consigned to the great big ‘bin behind the gym.’ I expect to receive
hate mail from the countless thousands of people who slavishly go along several
time s a week to ‘fat busters,’ weight watchers, Jenny Craig and to the many
options available re exercising. If we could survey the millions around the
world in an unbiased manner, I suspect that answer would be that the vast
number of ‘attendees’ have failed, because more often than not, the y have
reverted to their old habits. I am not going to go into the reason for this ‘massive
failure.’
Anyone reading this could give examples of people they know
who have been successful in their ‘journey to better health,’ but if they were
really honest, and had access to real figures, they would face an unpalatable
truth: failure is the norm!
So, am I just a ‘mouthpiece’ for what some would say is the ‘next
big thing?’ Are we really entering a world in which one just has to submit oneself
to the surgeon in order to achieve a balanced and healthy personal health
regime? I would hope not. I still say it is better to prevent obesity and to be
successful in this there are many considerations, many of which most governments
around the world are unwilling to confront. We have heard of ‘fat taxes,’
public health initiatives aimed at getting us moving and making better food
choices, but we still see the population becoming fatter as we move away from
good home cooked meals and become more sedentary in our employment and our social
activities.
Unless we grapple with the huge challenge that our modern way
of living has delivered to us, then we are indeed going to need to look for ‘quick
fixes,’ some of which may have ramifications down the track that consign humans
to a questionable future. For me, my discussion has so far been one that I can embrace,
but if I ‘knew then what I have since learned,’ I wonder if I would have ever
arrived at my ‘new me.’ That said---I am happy. Would you be? I don’t know---I
am not you!’
