Weight-Loss Surgery Better Than Dieting—Wait, What?!

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“All it takes is a little hard work and dedication.” I’m sure someone has said this to you at some point in your life. And sure, yes, it can apply to a great many things: learning the guitar, mastering painting, becoming an Olympic athlete. But apparently, it’s not the case when it comes to weight loss. According to HealthDay, a new study shows that weight-loss surgery is more effective than diet and exercise when it comes to shedding unwanted pounds.

The study analyzed nearly 800 people who’d either undergone weight-loss surgery or tried nonsurgical weight-loss treatments, and found that weight-loss surgery patients lost significantly more weight than the nonsurgical patients (an average of 57 pounds more) and reported greater reduction in medication use along with greater improvements in quality of life. Also, those who went under the knife had a WAY higher remission rate of type 2 diabetes—22 times higher (!!!), to be exact.

Invasive weight-loss surgery isn’t for the Regina Georges among us who “really just want to lose three pounds”; it’s for folks whose weight poses serious risks to their health. And with over two-thirds of the current U.S. population reported as overweight or obese, that applies to a LOT of people.

“Bariatric surgery is underutilized. If we were talking about any other treatment with such a striking effect on diabetes, it would be offered to patients sooner,” Dr. Mitchel Roslin, chief of obesity surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, told HealthDay.

So, if weight-loss surgery is so effective, why aren’t more people trying it? Well, it’s expensive, for one, averaging at around $25,000. And, as with any other invasive procedure, there are risks, such as iron deficiency anemia and the need for re-operation.

Tell us, Be Wellers: Given the risks and rewards, should more people be taking advantage of surgery as a weight-loss option? Or are you sticking with Team Diet and Exercise?