How Much Weight Will I Lose After Gastric Bypass Surgery?
Now more than ever people are struggling to shed excess pounds that they have put on as a result of stress and inactivity. Being overweight can limit physical activities and make it even more difficult to lose unwanted weight. For individuals who are medically obese, bariatric surgery may be the best option.
Gastric bypass surgery reduces the size of the stomach and restricts calorie absorption to encourage fast and effective weight loss. Many people wonder how much weight can be lost after gastric bypass surgery. The bariatric surgery team at Oasis of Hope Bariatrics, serving Tijuana, Mexico, and surrounding areas, prepares patients for typical weight loss results after surgery.
Average Weight Loss Results
When individuals are preparing for bariatric surgery through our Tijuana clinic, they are often anxious to hear exactly how much weight they can expect to lose after gastric bypass surgery. Will it be 50 pounds? 100 pounds? Maybe more? The exact amount of weight that a person loses after bariatric surgery depends on a number of different factors, including their weight prior to surgery, their ideal weight, and how committed they are to healthy lifestyle changes, like adopting a good diet and exercise routine.
Assuming that patients follow their post-operative instructions, and continue to practice healthy diet and exercise habits, they can expect to lose around 70 percent of their excess weight.
Calculating Anticipated Weight Loss
It is impossible to calculate exactly how much weight a person will lose following gastric bypass surgery, but to get a good estimate, people can calculate 70 percent of their excess weight. To start, individuals must determine their ideal weight. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Adult BMI Calculator estimates a person’s ideal body mass index (BMI) based on their height and weight.
After an individual has determined their ideal weight, they can calculate the amount of excess weight they hold by subtracting their ideal weight from their current weight. For instance, if a person weighs 350 pounds, and their ideal weight is 150 pounds, then they are holding on to 200 pounds of excess weight.
Finally, to calculate anticipated weight loss results from gastric bypass surgery, people should multiply their excess weight by .70 (to determine 70 percent of their excess weight). In the example above, the patient with 200 pounds of excess weight could expect to lose around 140 pounds after gastric bypass surgery, provided they follow all post-surgical care instructions and make healthy lifestyle changes. Of course, this calculation is just an estimate, and not a guarantee of exact weight loss.
Maintaining Weight Loss Results
Gastric bypass through our Tijuana clinic assists people in losing a significant amount of weight in a short amount of time, but patients need to take proactive steps to maintain weight loss results over time. For long-term weight loss maintenance, we offer these tips:
- Eat a diet that is high in nutrients and lean proteins
- Aim for several small meals and snacks throughout the day, rather than three large meals
- Stay well hydrated
- Eat only until full
- Aim for at least seven to eight hours of sleep each night
- Maintain an active lifestyle
Contact Oasis of Hope Bariatrics
If you are wondering if gastric bypass surgery is right for you, the team at Oasis of Hope Bariatrics can determine if you are an ideal bariatric surgery candidate. To schedule a surgical consultation, contact our clinic online, or call (619) 690-8417.