Bariatric surgery will be life-changing for the person who has become overwhelmed by their weight. A surgery that offers them a chance of going back to a healthy body is a lifesaver.
In this blog, we give you a brief insight into differences in gender as far as bariatric surgery is concerned in an attempt to look at why approaches have to be personalized in order for the best outcomes to be achieved.
We want to start with two important differences between male and female bariatric surgery: visceral fat distribution and metabolic activity. While men have more visceral fat, metabolically active fat that can be lost easier after surgery, women have more subcutaneous fat beneath the skin and are less responsive to attempts at weight loss, even with the help of surgery.
This difference in fat distribution means that men may see faster and more significant weight loss initially compared to women. However, women often catch up over time, especially if they remain committed to post-surgery lifestyle changes. Additionally, women’s bodies undergo hormonal shifts that can impact weight loss, particularly for those who are premenopausal or postmenopausal.
Talking about hormonal balance, there is a wide variety of female hormones, such as estrogen, which plays an important role in the deposition of fat and again may be influenced by weight loss after the surgical intervention. A good example of such changes includes the shifts in estrogen at different times in life: menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause.
This compares with men, who have relatively stable levels of hormones, which may make the rate of weight loss after surgery more predictable. On the other hand, men may face some other complications, such as potential increased sleep apnea and heart conditions, complicating their recovery process. Overall, these hormonal factors do point toward gender-specific approaches to weight loss surgery.
The emotional and psychological considerations of bariatric surgery will also be different for men and women. Since women usually have more appearance and self-esteem issues, they are more concerned with an improved look after surgery, while for men, the idea of pure health improvement may serve as a better factor. Such a difference in motivation, accordingly, determines how each gender approaches surgery and continues life afterwards.
Women may also face higher social and emotional expectations with respect to body image, which dictate postoperative outcome. They are more prone to suffer from disorders like body dysmorphia, where they still perceive themselves to be overweight even after losing much weight. Men, on the other hand, may face less societal pressure in terms of living up to any perfect body images but could still have different struggles asking for help or support during weight loss.
Everyone should remember that motivation, emotions, and psychology are not just gender-related. Research works and papers are based on overall statistics, but each case may be different for each specific person.
Nutritional needs after bariatric surgery may vary because of the metabolic pathway and body composition. Bariatric surgery in the case of men may require more protein to maintain the lean mass. While, in the case of women, bariatric surgery balances the bone density by putting particular emphasis on post-menopausal women, as they have more chance of getting complications like osteoporosis.
Women may need added iron or calcium following surgery due to various deficiency issues. Generally, however, men and women will have to be stricter in supplementation for vitamins and minerals as the bariatric surgical intervention changes nutrient absorption across the human body.
Most of the time, the success rate of bariatric surgery among men and women depends upon their capacity to sustain lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise. Although men may shed off those extra pounds much faster, studies seem to prove that women are generally more compliant with the rules of living after the surgery, which provides them with far better long-term results in many instances.
Both males and females can receive a lot of positive effects from regular physical activities, though the type of exercise can differ because of different body types and needs. Men can be more focused on resistance exercises to keep up with muscle mass, while women might be incorporating more cardio and flexibility to address fat loss and joint health.
Bariatric surgery offers a powerful tool to those who would like to regain control over their health, and clearly, this can be a different journey between men and women. Gender differences in bariatric surgery—from fat distribution and hormone fluctuations to psychological and emotional factors—vary so much that an operative plan tailored to the individual is in order. Understanding such differences means every patient will be attended to with due care to help them succeed for a long period of time.
We at Bariatric Surgical Center of Tuscaloosa advocate for the deep understanding of the special needs of both men and women when it comes to weight loss surgery. Bariatric surgery is considered safe most of the time, but only when performed by experienced professionals. Our team has both the passion and experience needed for providing personalized care at every step of the journey.
If you’re ready to start your journey toward a healthier life, don’t wait! Today, contact us to schedule a consultation and take that first step toward lasting changes!