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MY SUN DAY NEWS

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Cutting your weight

Huntley doctor discusses the pros and cons of weight loss surgery

By Kelsey O'Kelley

HUNTLEY – While some methods of weight loss might mean putting down the fork, other times it’s a matter of going under the knife; but at what cost?

According to Dr. Heydari Amir, the decision to undergo weight loss surgery is a complex one.

“I don’t think that weight loss surgery should be the first option for anybody,” said Heydari. “Having said that, I do believe that there is a certain percentage of the population that will definitely benefit from these surgeries.”

Centegra’s Dr. Amir Heydari believes weight-loss surgery is an ideal option for some individuals struggling with obesity. The key is assessing every patient individually. (Photo by Chris LaPelusa/Sun Day)

Centegra’s Dr. Amir Heydari believes weight-loss surgery is an ideal option for some individuals struggling with obesity. The key is assessing every patient individually. (Photo by Chris LaPelusa/Sun Day)

For Heydari, a Centegra surgeon in Huntley who specializes in bariatrics (the study of obesity), weight loss surgery comes in a variety of types and is used for a plethora of purposes. The most minimally invasive surgeries include roux-en-y gastric bypass, laparoscopic adjustable band surgery, and revisionary operations.

Who is a potential candidate for these procedures?

“If a patient’s BMI (body mass index) is over 40, then surgery is a very recommended option for them, regardless of their health. That person might be healthy on paper, but they are still morbidly obese and their chance of sudden death is very high,” Heydari said.

However, the decision to undergo surgery is not always so clear. People with lower BMIs or with myriad individual factors are often best suited to other approaches.

“First of all, I think every patient is different. I have to evaluate them to see if surgery is the correct approach for them,” said Heydari.

Should a Centegra patient decide that weight-loss surgery is the right choice, he or she must attend numerous appointments with nurses, doctors, and behavioral specialists, as well as enroll in six hours of educational classes.

“By the time they have surgery they are very ready,” Heydari said.

Above all else, however, Heydari believes that obesity prevention is critical. While surgery is one method of prevention, Heydari includes diet, exercise, behavioral patterns, and medicine in this approach as well.

“For many diseases, prevention is key. And if we agree that obesity is a disease, we have to think about ways to prevent it,” he said.





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