The thought is, people can actually save money after weight loss surgery. But why? How can we make such a strong statement?
Of the adult population in the US, about one third can be considered obese. According to a 2008 Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) study, the obesity rate was estimated to be about 32.2% for men and 35% for women. The situation did not get better over the years as the CDC roughly confirmed the figures in 2009-2010. Obesity is one of the leading causes of preventable death because of the several conditions that can be attributed to it. These include Type 2 diabetes, cancer, stroke and heart disease.
When Prevention Doesn’t Work
It is not a surprise when we say that prevention is always better than curing obesity. However, many people really struggle with maintaining a healthy weight through changing their diet as well as incorporating a consistent exercise routine. Therefore, the best solution for people who have struggled with maintaining a healthy and stable weight might consider undergoing a long-lasting solution by undergoing weight loss surgery. Weight loss surgery is one of the most viable, long-term, and healthy solutions for those who have tried traditional (non-surgical) methods.
If you have been struggling with obesity and you have realized that many of your health issues are the cause of your weight, then it might be in your best interest to investigate and possibly consider weight loss surgery – whether it be gastric bypass, or gastric sleeve.
Saving Money After Weight Loss Surgery
One of the main reasons people don’t undergo weight loss surgery is the overall cost. For example, gastric bypass can cost $10,000-$20,000 in the United States. Even if you decide to save some money and go to Tijuana, then you will still be looking at $6,000 – $10,000. We get it, surgery can be expensive, especially if you don’t have help from insurance and you are paying everything completely out of pocket.
Although we understand the upfront cost it might be beneficial to consider all of the items that you are actually saving money on by electing to undergo a weight loss surgery. We don’t have the exact math worked out because every individual is so different, but before you decide to not get surgery because of the initial cost, you might actually be saving money!
Food
Most post-operative bariatric patients will quickly realize that they can split meals with their partners, or only order side or even kids meals. Most patients cannot consume an entire portion of a regular meal at restaurants and home-cooked meals. We’ve had reports of patients savings $100s each month by having extra leftovers, ordering smaller meals, or splitting meals.
You are spending more money as somebody who is obese than if you had just had weight loss surgery.
You will notice quickly that you will not be consuming as many calories as you once were. Many patients even express they have a tough time going out to eat because they don’t want to waste food, so they just eat small meals at home.
No More Pricey Diet Plans
A proper diet consists of appropriate portioning and choosing nourishing foods for your body, and when you think of sustainable diets, diets help keep us on track. The downside, however, is that diet plans can be costly, and you may find yourself spending hundreds of dollars a month that may not get you your desired results.
As much as diet plans are recommended to eat healthily, they may not entirely give you your desired weight loss results because several other factors may contribute to obesity such as hormones and family history, making it just that more difficult to lose the weight.
The ADA’s 218 Standards of Care and Treatment of Diabetes has continued to suggest weight loss surgery as a leading treatment for type 2 diabetes. This is an advancement in medicine and some patients even stop needing their medication after the surgery.
Miracle Solutions
If you have struggled with losing weight, chances are, you have come across solutions that claim to help you lose all that weight in record time. These random diet pills and fad diets can cost you quite the penny.
Let’s even talk about the new fad, Semaglutide (such as Ozempic). Many of our patients consider going down the injection route, because they want to save money. However, Semaglutide is something that you will have to be on the rest of your life! Many people have reported gaining all of their weight back after getting off of the drug. Purchasing Semaglutide (if insurance doesn’t cover it) can cost upwards of $300-$500 a month! That will add up to the cost of weight loss surgery pretty quickly.
Weight loss surgery does away with all this by circumventing metabolic changes that come with weight loss and even helps rewire the body, such as resetting the satiety hormone Leptin. Meaning you do not feel the constant urge to eat.
Gym Equipment and Memberships
Although we recommend you still continue exercising, you might not be as inclined to continually purchase fad exercise equipment and specialized classes to try to get the weight off. Many of our patients have been reported being able to save money on gym memberships and equipment because they are not spending all of their money trying to find the “perfect” fix for their weight issues.
Medical Bills
The cost of healthcare is sky-rocketing in the country, and there seems to be no apparent end in mind. Obesity has been linked to diseases such as hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, joint pain, cancer and others. Studies show that over 181,000 people die every year as a direct result of obesity. Many conditions can be managed by medication. There are prescriptions that can help lower heart rates, lower blood pressure, and even help stabilize blood sugar. Many people are quick to find a solution to manage their condition as opposed to finding a solution to get rid of their condition.
We understand that many conditions, illnesses, and even diseases are caused by obesity. Obesity related illnesses are the number one issue that plagues Americans. Imagine the amount of health issues that would be eradicated from our society if obesity wasn’t quite an issue as it is today.
Weight loss surgery has been shown to not only improve these conditions, but it can also help them resolve completely.
Clothing
Many of our patients are very obese and require more expensive clothes because they need to get them specifically customized to their specifications. We have met many people struggling with obesity who need to have clothes tailored to fit their needs. If you are in more traditional sizes then you don’t need to have anything custom – you can just shop at “normal” stores.
Purchasing an Extra Seat
Have you ever been on vacation and you have had to purchase an extra seat in order to travel comfortably? We have many patients who have to purchase two seats on an airplane, bus, or even an event in order for them to be able to enjoy their experience without causing issues with other passengers. This is not only expensive, but then it also can be embarrassing. We know that you don’t want to have to spend the extra money.
Higher Rate on Life Insurance
There are many type of life insurance, or other health insurance coverages that are more expensive for those who are struggling with obesity. You might know that you need to get life insurance so that if something happens to you or your spouse you won’t be burdened with the financial blow. However, it is much more expensive to obtain once the agency knows that you are obese. It will effect your premiums.
Make Less Money
Did you know that people who are overweight actually make less doing the same job as somebody who is “skinny?” You heard us right, you are making less than your “smaller” counterparts.
A new study published by the British Journal of Medicine suggests “that heavier, shorter people have a lesser socioeconomic status and make less money on average, reported Money. The study examined over 120,000 people in the U.K. and found that height was the most decisive factor for men, and weight for women. Men who were only 2.5 inches taller than their shorter peers made $4,200 more per year. For women, just 15 extra pounds meant $1,600 less in annual income. Money reported that heavier women were also less likely to own cars or homes or be employed.”
There are many different theories as to why this might be the case. It is thought that people who are taller and skinnier are smarter and more capable and therefore get taken more seriously in the workforce.
Analyze Your Costs
If you really want to know if you are going to save money after the surgery then really analyze how much money you are spending due to your weight. How much are spending on unnecessary food? Do you have to get specialized clothing tailored to fit your body? How much are you spending on medical costs due to obesity related illnesses? Are you falling victim to fad diets, or spending monthly money on weight loss injections?
Only YOU can really determine if you are going to save money by undergoing weight loss surgery. If you are spending a considerable amount of money trying to maintain your weight then weight loss surgery could potentially be saving you money.
