Your NY Bariatric Surgeon Explains BMI Categories

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When patients come to see Dr. Rosen at Weight Zen, they know they’re meeting with a leader in bariatric surgery in New York. Many patients who come to us wondering if bariatric surgery is right for them often turn to their body mass index (BMI) as an indicator. What is BMI, and why is it useful for determining candidacy for bariatric surgery? Today, we’ll dive into these questions.

What Is Body Mass Index (BMI)?

BMI refers to the ration of your weight and height. When calculating your BMI, the number at which you arrive yields a certain range, taking into consideration height and weight, and how that ratio relates overall to your body mass. It should be pointed out that BMI is not always an accurate measurement of obesity or health because numerous factors are involved, it is simply a measure of surface area. However, for the majority of people, BMI gives a reliable range for weight and height with regard to relative unhealthiness and fitness.

BMI Numbers & Classifications

There are several different ranges and classifications based on BMI numbers. The classifications are below:

BMI Classification
> 18.5 Underweight
18.5 – 24.9 Normal Weight
25.0 – 29.9 Overweight
30.0 – 34.9 Obesity
35.0 – 39.9 Severe Obesity
40.0 – 49.9 Morbid Obesity
< 50.0 Superobesity / Extreme Obesity

While there are certainly anomalies when it comes to health, weight, and BMI, the majority of people who have a BMI of 30 or higher are more likely to experience severe health issues related to obesity, such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea, joint pain, and much more.

Let’s Break Down The Numbers

It’s easy to see some serious issues for people as their BMI number increases once we get into the numbers and their classifications. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) offers the following population breakdown in percentages via BMI for adults older than 20 years of age:

  • 31.2 percent are of normal weight or underweight (BMI is 24.9 or below)
  • 33.1 percent are overweight with a BMI of 25.0 to 29.9
  • 35.7 percent are considered obese with a BMI of 30.0 or more
  • 6.3 percent suffer from morbid obesity with BMIs at or greater than 40.0

As you can see from the data above, a significant amount of the population of America is either obese or suffering from extreme obesity.

Is Bariatric Surgery Right For You?

Generally, bariatric surgery is a great option for those who suffer from obesity and the more severe classifications of obesity. However, your BMI alone is not an indicator of whether or not you’re an ideal candidate for bariatric surgery. Your health and wellness will also be taken into account. We invite you to contact Weight Zen today to set up a consultation with us. We look forward to connecting with you and helping you improve your overall lifestyle.

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What You Need To Know About Carbs After Gastric Sleeve Surgery

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Dr. Rosen has helped countless patients struggling with obesity achieve a slimmer and trimmer frame thanks to the advanced bariatric surgery options at Weight Zen. Patients come from all over New York for the Gastric Sleeve surgery procedure. Just like any other bariatric surgery, a patient’s diet is going to change. Today, we’re going to specifically look at which types of carbs you’ll be able to include in your diet after you’ve undergone Gastric Sleeve surgery.

Can You Still Eat Carbs After Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

Yes!

However, just because you can eat carbs doesn’t mean you should indiscriminately eat carbs with every single meal, or eat any kind of carbs. It’s important that you know what types of carbs you’re ingesting because some are going to better for your health – and weight – than others.

Not All Carbs Are Created Equal

Both simple and complex carbohydrates can cause a number of issues after you’ve had Gastric Sleeve surgery.

  • Complex Carbohydrates: These are your grains and starches. They absorb water as they sit in your stomach, expanding and potentially causing some serious discomfort.
  • Simple Carbohydrates: These are sugars. They will increase your chances of dumping syndrome, which can cause quite a bit of discomfort, too.

Even though these carbohydrates aren’t great for you after Gastric Sleeve surgery, your body still needs them.

Reach For Healthy Carbs

Healthy carbohydrates can be found in fruits and vegetables and should be consumed rather than complex and simple carbohydrates if possible. Fruits and veggies won’t cause as much abdominal discomfort as the complex and simple carbohydrates will. Plus, they contain a ton of fiber and vitamins and minerals that are important to maintaining good overall health and wellness.

Avoid Unhealthy, Processed Carbs

While you’re consuming those healthy carbohydrates that your body needs on a daily basis, it’s a great idea to avoid unhealthy simple – processed -carbohydrates as much as you can. This means staying away from white bread, white pasta, white rice, junk food and candy.

Your Diet Will Mostly Be High In Protein

After you’ve undergone bariatric surgery of any type, your main concern will be consuming a healthy, protein-rich diet. In the early stages post-surgery, the protein will help your body heal faster and with less complications. After you’ve made a full recovery, your high-protein diet will help your body perform protein synthesis, as well as prevent protein breakdown in your body. Basically, a protein-rich diet is going to help your body function the way it should while you lose weight.

Discuss Everything With Your Bariatric Surgeon

While the challenges you’ll face after bariatric surgery are real, they’re also worthwhile. In order to understand the advantages and disadvantages of bariatric surgery and to discuss the above issues in greater detail, it’s imperative that you speak with a trusted bariatric surgeon, such as Dr. Rosen.

Are you interested in weight loss surgery? Do you want to learn more about your bariatric surgery options? Make sure you contact Weight Zen today, and schedule a consultation with us. Dr. Rosen and Nutritionist Megan Wolf will work closely with you to help you find the best path towards a healthier weight and a healthier you. You can use the form below to get in touch:

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Which Pain Medications Are Safe After Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

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Dr. Rosen has established himself as a leading bariatric surgeon in New York. One of the biggest reasons patients trust Dr. Rosen is because of his commitment to patient wellness and education. With that in mind, we’re here today to explore the issue of pain and pain relief after your Gastric Sleeve surgery while focusing on which pain medications are safe for those who have undergone bariatric surgery.

Pain & Discomfort Are Common After Bariatric Surgical Procedures

Any kind of bariatric surgery is going to put your body through a lot of changes, and that shouldn’t be taken for granted. Even a low-maintenance, less complex bariatric surgery like the Lap-Band or Gastric Sleeve may result in some form of post-surgical discomfort. You’ll be able to recover at home after early monitoring, and pain relievers can be taken to help with the discomfort and soreness. However, there are some types of medications that you should not take.

Avoid Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

Bariatric surgery patients should never take NSAIDs. This includes:

  • Aspirin (Excedrin, Bayer)
  • Naproxen (Aleve)
  • Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin)

This also includes prescription NSAIDs:

  • Vimovo
  • Lodine
  • Relafen
  • Daypro
  • Voltaren
  • Indocin

Why Should You Avoid NSAIDs After Bariatric Surgery?

NSAIDs affect your stomach’s ability to create mucous, which protects your stomach’s lining from gastric fluids. When your stomach lining is exposed to these gastric fluids, your chances of ulcers, stomach bleeding, and even stomach perforations increase. These things can cause major medical complications after bariatric surgery.

Approved Pain Relief: Opioids

Opioid drugs such as hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (Percocet, OxyContin), codeine, and morphine (Avinza, Kadian) can be taken after bariatric surgery. However, these medications should be prescribed and taken with caution.  Here at Weight Zen, we take great care when prescribing these types of pain relievers.

Approved Pain Relief: Acetaminophen

Pain relievers that are acetaminophen-based, such as Tylenol, are approved for patients who have recently undergone bariatric surgery. It isn’t uncommon for opioids and acetaminophen drugs to be prescribed together to help with pain and discomfort.

How Long Will The Pain Last?

The pain and discomfort you experience after bariatric surgery can last as long as a few weeks; although, you will notice a significant decrease in pain after the first couple weeks. It’s important that you get a lot of rest and avoid any type of strenuous physical activity.

Follow All Recommendations From Your Bariatric Surgeon

It’s important that, as you recover, you follow all recommendations from your doctor pertaining to diet and activity level. This will help you with the healing process and allow you to make the transition into your new life and body. Follow every instruction to the letter, and never hesitate to call your bariatric surgeon should you have questions.

For more information on bariatric surgeries, such as the Gastric Sleeve surgery, and how they can help transform your life, contact Weight Zen today using the below form, and ask to schedule a consultation with us. We look forward to working with you and discussing your treatment options.

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Gastric Sleeve VS Duodenal Switch Surgery

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Here at Weight Zen, Dr. Rosen works with hundreds of patients looking to get their lives back. Are you exhausted by fad diets and exercise routines that simply don’t work? Dr. Rosen helps individuals who suffer from obesity and similar issues through bariatric surgery in New York. We offer such bariatric surgery options as Gastric Bypass, Gastric Sleeve, the Lap-Band, Duodenal Switch, and the Orbera Gastric Balloon.

Today, we’re going to take a specific look at the difference between the Gastric Sleeve and Duodenal Switch surgical procedures for weight loss.

What Is The Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

Simply put, Gastric Sleeve surgery is a type of bariatric surgery intended to help those with their weight loss efforts. During the procedure, the size of the stomach is dramatically reduced, meaning that the patient becomes full sooner when eating and thus eats fewer calories overall.

What Is The Duodenal Switch Surgery?

The Duodenal Switch surgery, also known as a biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS), reduces the size of your stomach by up to 70 percent. Additionally, this weight loss surgery reroutes part of your small intestine to create two different pathways from your stomach: one brings in food from your stomach to a common channel of your small intestine, and the other helps carry bile to the same common channel from your liver. This helps to prevent your body from absorbing calories from the food you eat (part of the digestive process).

Two Different Mechanisms For Weight Loss

As you may have noticed, these weight loss surgeries offer two different types of weight loss mechanisms: malabsorptive and restrictive.

Malabsorptive bariatric surgery limits the amount of calories your body absorbs during the digestive process, whereas restrictive bariatric surgery limits the amount of calories you can consume while reducing the sensation of hunger.

Gastric Sleeve surgery is a clear, restrictive weight loss procedure, while the Duodenal Switch combines restrictive and malabsorptive mechanisms within the surgery.

Advantages Of The Gastric Sleeve Surgery

This is a far less complicated surgery compared to the Duodenal Switch weight loss surgery as it only requires a change in the overall size of your stomach rather than a total rerouting part of your small intestine. Not only does the Gastric Sleeve surgery help with weight loss efforts, but it is also low-risk with regard to post-surgical complications.

Advantages Of The Duodenal Switch

The Duodenal Switch is much more complicated than the Gastric Sleeve surgery and has increased risks. However, the Duodenal Switch has been proven to be successful at helping patients lose more excess body mass and weight. This is due to the fact that this procedure incorporates both malabsorptive and restrictive weight loss.

The Duodenal Switch Can Be Used After A Gastric Sleeve

If you aren’t seeing the results you and your doctor want from the Gastric Sleeve surgery, the sleeve is able to be transformed into a duodenal switch to help with weight loss efforts.

Contact Weight Zen Today To Discuss Bariatric Surgery Options

It’s okay if you’re not sure which bariatric surgery is right for you. Contact Weight Zen today to schedule a consultation with us. We will be able to assess your situation and make recommendations based on our years of experience and expertise.

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Can The Gastric Sleeve Help Your Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome?

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When you visit Dr. Rosen at Weight Zen, you can count on getting premium, safe and caring care. We offer a variety of bariatric surgery procedures, including the Gastric Sleeve surgery, in New York. Our bariatric procedures are aimed at providing a way for individuals to beat obesity and become healthier. While bariatric surgery is a great treatment for obesity, many people don’t know that it’s also really helpful in combatting other health issues, specifically diabetes, high blood pressure and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

What Is PCOS?

PCOS is a condition that affects women of reproductive age when their hormones are imbalanced. In most cases, women experience small cysts on their ovaries. Approximately 10 percent of women experience PCOS. Not only can PCOS affect fertility, wellness, and overall appearance if left untreated, but it can also result in diabetes and other co-morbidities. Obesity is a potential risk factor for PCOS.

Signs Of PCOS

Common signs include:

  • Irregular or infrequent periods
  • High levels of androgen (male hormone)
  • Enlarged ovaries

The hormone imbalances associated with PCOS can result in the following:

  • Severe acne
  • Thinning hair on the scalp
  • Excess body hair
  • Excess facial hair

How Can Gastric Sleeve Surgery Address PCOS?

Gastric Sleeve surgery and other types of bariatric surgeries can help address problems with weight that might have been caused or be simply related to PCOS. Moreover, by reducing your weight and moving towards a healthier body mass index (BMI), you may experience fewer symptoms related to PCOS. This can include a significant drop in weight and reduced blood pressure and risk of heart disease.

Basically, Gastric Sleeve and other bariatric surgeries for weight loss help by promoting total wellness. In turn, this addresses many symptoms that may be associated with a myriad of health problems and systemic conditions.

Will My PCOS Affect The Gastric Sleeve Surgery Results?

It’s not likely that your PCOS will affect your Gastric Sleeve surgical recovery. During the consultation process with Dr. Rosen and Nutritionist Megan Wolf at Weight Zen, we will look at all risks, including but not limited to any heightened possibility of serious side effects or complications resulting from various wellness issues.

Gastric Sleeve Surgery & Other Bariatric Surgeries Promote Total Wellness

Are you experiencing any type of systemic condition that may be due to obesity or related to obesity? If so, the Gastric Sleeve surgery may be the answer you’ve been searching for. Patients who undergo Gastric Sleeve surgery at Weight Zen in New York routinely report seeing excellent results and feeling better overall in the years following the surgery.

Learn More About Bariatric Surgery & If It’s Right For You

If you’re interested in improving your health and overall quality of life and want to know more about how Gastric Sleeve or another type of bariatric surgery can help you lose weight, make sure to contact Weight Zen. Dr. Rosen, Nutritionist Megan Wolf and the entire team at Weight Zen are looking forward to connecting with you and discussing all of your options with you. It’s time to take control of your life. Start today.

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