Weight loss surgery is one of the few methods for safe, rapid weight loss.
He says that while every pound matters, most patients suffering from severe obesity should consider methods such as weight loss surgery that have been proven to help patients lose larger amounts of weight at a much more rapid rate.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) August 26, 2015
According to an article published August 20 on Tech Times, a study recently released in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that obese and overweight patients with type 2 diabetes who took the medication liraglutide lost more weight over a one year period than a similar group who took a placebo. Specifically, those patients who took the drug lost 14 pounds over one year, compared to an average of four pounds lost with the placebo group. According to Los Angeles bariatric surgeon Michael Feiz, M.D., F.A.C.S, the ten pounds that the drug helped the patient lose is surely nothing to scoff at, but it is not a sufficient amount of weight loss for many severely obese patients who are often battling multiple obesity-related co-morbidities. He says that while every pound matters, most patients suffering from severe obesity should consider methods such as weight loss surgery that have been proven to help patients lose larger amounts of weight at a much more rapid rate.
Procedures such as the sleeve gastrectomy, Dr. Feiz explains, have been shown time and time again to help severely obese patients lose the significant amount of weight necessary to positively affect health. Citing a study that was published in 2014, Dr. Feiz points out that sleeve gastrectomy patients lost an average of 61.5 percent of their excess BMI when surveyed one year after their procedure. This means, for example, that a patient with a BMI of 42 would have dropped down to a BMI of around 32 after the first year of weight loss (assuming that a BMI of 25 is the ideal weight determined by the patient and their physician).
Dr. Feiz does note, however, that the amount of weight lost with the drug matches with the fact that the FDA approved the drug for use in people with a BMI of 27 and over. Considering that a BMI of 25 is the borderline between normal and overweight, liraglutide is intended for people who are obese, but also those who are just slightly overweight. As a comparison, he notes, weight loss surgery is only approved for patients with a BMI of 40 and over, or those who have a BMI of 35 in concert with other co-morbidities such as heart disease or diabetes.
While the new drug may turn out to be a viable option for those who are overweight and need to lose 10, 20 or even 30 pounds, those who have a BMI of 35 or over may want to turn their attention to weight loss surgery with a talented surgeon like Dr. Feiz. Anyone interested in learning more about weight loss surgery or scheduling a consultation with him today to get started on their weight loss journey, can call Dr. Feiz & Associates at 310-855-8058 or visit the medical office online at http://www.DrFeiz.com.