LOS ANGELES, Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr.Mehmet Oz, a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon and author, recently dedicated an entire episode of his popular TV show to the benefits of gastric bypass surgery. As Dr. Oz pointed out, only about 1% of people who qualify for opt for the procedure - a startlingly small percentage, given the great strides made in improving the safety of this life-saving surgery. Many people have understandable anxiety about going under the knife, but once they learn about just how safe this surgery is, they realize that the health risks posed by obesity far outweigh those associated with surgery. Others are also hesitant to pursue this option because of the misperception that it is a "cop out" - that it is somehow an "easy way out" for people who should be able to lose the weight on their own through diet and exercise. Dr. Oz did a wonderful job of dispelling this unfair stigma, correctly asserting that, far from a cop out, weight loss surgery is about finally taking control over your own destiny.

The episode also made an important point that it is not just people with morbid obesity who can benefit greatly from gastric bypass surgery. Many people with obesity-related diseases like diabetes and hypertension have undergone gastric bypass surgery and been able to get off their medications completely within days. Of course, Dr. Oz responsibly acknowledged that any major surgery carries with it certain risks. A competent surgeon will always inform a prospective patient about the potential benefits and risks of all possible weight loss solutions, surgical and non-surgical. The accomplished surgeons at Dr. Feiz & Associates, a leading provider of gastric bypass surgery, gastric sleeve surgery, and the , have maintained a complication rate of less than 1% (significantly lower than the national average of 3-4%), and have never had a mortality. The medical team at Dr. Feiz & Associates will carefully review a patient's history to determine if they are a good candidate for surgery. If 1) you have a BMI of 35 or higher and co-morbidities such as diabetes or high blood pressure, 2) you have made substantial efforts to shed pounds without success, and 3) you are prepared to commit to lifelong behavioral changes in order to ensure a healthy lifestyle, you may in fact be a good candidate for bariatric .

For more information about Dr. Feiz & Associates, or about undergoing gastric bypass surgery, gastric sleeve surgery, or the , visit online at .

PR submitted by

Web site: