The obvious answer is innate ability, but more importantly it takes sincere commitment, hard work, and a positive attitude. Innate ability is genetically determined, but the last three attributes are within the grasp of anyone, and can improve upon innate ability.
Genetic Predisposition and Environment
It is true that patients suffering from the chronic disease of obesity attending each information session to hear about bariatric, or weight-loss surgery have been dealt a bad hand, i.e.have a genetic predisposition to obesity. However, environmental influences work to express that genetic predisposition.
The Right Mix
Genetic predisposition to obesity is like innate ability, difficult to change, but capable of being modified by commitment, hard work, and a positive attitude (environmental influence). Add to that mix a surgical procedure or the right combination of medications and obesity can be reversed and a better life obtained.
Surgical OptionsThe surgical procedures performed for weight loss most commonly are Roux-Y gastric bypass and adjustable gastric banding. The operations take usually between 1-3 hours; the preparation and subsequent lifestyle changes take infinitely longer.
Easy Way Out?
It has been said that bariatric or weight-loss surgery is "the easy way out" and that "all someone needs is the will power." Ask any patient who has entered a program for bariatric surgery if he or she feels it was the easy way out. Commitment, hard work, and a positive attitude make the obesity treatment and the lifestyle changes successful, and, like any other major endeavor in life, support is crucial. For weight loss and bariatric surgery, support comes from family, friends, groups, and a multidisciplinary bariatric program.
The Story of the Starfish exemplifies our approach to patient care:
The Story of the Starfish
One day, a man and a woman were walking along a beach. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. Off in the distance they saw an older man going back and forth between the surf’s edge and the beach. Back and forth this person went. As they approached, they could see that there were hundreds of starfish stranded on the sand as a result of an unusual tidal surge.
The man and the woman were struck by the apparent futility of the task. There were far too many starfish. Many of them were sure to perish in the hot sun. As they walked closer, they watched as the old man continued the task of picking up the starfish, one by one, and throwing them back into the surf. When they reached the older man, the younger man said, "You must be crazy! There are thousands of miles of beach covered with these starfish." The woman added, "You can’t possibly think that you alone can make a difference?" The older man looked at them and then continued with throwing back the starfish into the ocean and said, "It sure made a difference to that one!!"
-Author Unknown
For more information about gastric bypass surgery and other obesity treatments available at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center, visit the Frequently Asked Questions page.
