The Many Causes of Severe Obesity
Many factors that contribute to obesity that can be truly beyond a patient's control, reminds Dr. Michael Feiz
Apr 30, 2015, 04:36 ET
LOS ANGELES, April 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Recent news articles are telling the story of Alexis Shapiro, a thirteen year old from Texas who recently underwent successful weight loss surgery. Alexis gained attention for a variety of reasons, one of which was her age. As a weight loss surgery patient, Alexis was unusually young since surgeries of this type are rarely performed on minors. Alexis, 4'7", was also quite obese at over 203 pounds. Her severe obesity, however, was not a matter of bad parenting and a lack of restriction and discipline as some may have falsely assumed. Alexis actually suffered from a physical brain related condition following neurosurgery causing her to experience a constant state of painful hunger. Alexis's case is just one example of how an individual can become severely obese through no fault of her own. As a leading bariatric surgeon, Michael Feiz, M.D. F.A.C.S. is committed to providing insight into these matters.
Contrary to certain misconceptions, weight loss surgery is actually primarily a matter of improving the quality and length of life; it is not a cosmetic procedure. Heart failure, stroke, diabetes, and cancer are a handful of the many associated negative health impacts of severe obesity which affect virtually every area of the body. At 9 years old, Alexis was already suffering from a number of medical conditions caused by her obesity.
The reason why doctors recommend bariatric surgery for a severely obese individual is because achieving a more healthy weight is the only way to prevent these conditions, and weight loss surgery is proven to be the only method to consistently yield positive results by quieting the constant urges that beset individuals trying to achieve or maintain a significant weight loss. It's also important to note that the causes for severe obesity vary wildly, and are not often a simple matter of a person lacking discipline or care for their health. In the case of Alexis, the removal of a brain tumor, and, along with it, the hypothalamus resulted in her experiencing hypothalamic obesity, an unending sensation of hunger which resulted in her gaining two pounds a week. While this condition is obviously extremely rare, more common mental health conditions may be related to obesity, and these include addiction, depression, or anxiety.
One of the reasons why some stigmatize the notion of weight loss surgery is because they oversimplify or overlook both the causes and dangers of obesity.In reality, weight loss surgeries give patients everywhere, including Alexis Shapiro, an opportunity to improve their quality of life, and avoid numerous major medical issues.
Of course, to receive these surgeries, a patient should only trust the expertise of a highly qualified and experienced surgeon like Dr. Michael Feiz. One need only view his impressive weight loss surgery before and after online picture gallery for confirmation of his excellent work. For more information, call (800) 868-5946 or visit them online at www.drfeiz.com.
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SOURCE Dr. Feiz and Associates