Why do obese men get bariatric surgery far less than women?

[B-52 7,113]

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-04-obese-men-bariatric-surgery-women.html

[Guest nickyv35]

Hmmm. Because we think we look good no matter what. Women on the other hand often put themselves down and despite the positive re-enforcement they give each other, seem to find some fault with themselves. Guys on the other hand, well we think we look good in ill-fitting jeans, XXXL shirts, and when the discussion of personal looks comes up we quickly switch topic. Call it denial or delusion, we quite often need motivation from our spouses before making a major life change like bariatric surgery.

The only reason I even considered the surgery is because my orthopedist told me that I needed to lose the weight before hip surgery. When an orthopedic surgeon tells you that you are going to be miserable and have a complicated recovery unless you get bariatric surgery first, you know it is time to make a change.

I call it the "I'm too sexy for my circus-tent clothes syndrome."

[AussieSam 234]

I think it's probably because men think they can exercise it off better then women can and probably because men look in the mirror less.

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

I'm not a man, so I don't really *know* what all the issues are, but I do see some men on WLS forums and in youtube v-blogs complaining that after they lost weight they feel they get less respect from other men since they lost weight, compared to when they were heavier.

I bet there isn't one woman in 100 who's lost weight who feels that way.

Dominance. It's a bitch.

j/k

[James Marusek 5,244]

Carrying around extra weight didn't bother me too much over the past 50 years. But when medical complications began to appear, it meant time for a change. Dieting doesn't work long term. WLS (weight loss surgery) appeared to show a better track record.

I think another reason why I chose to have WLS is because my wife recommended it. I do tend to listen to her. She doesn't wish for me to die prematurely. She has my interest at heart.

I don't think men obsess with their weight as much as women.

[Babbs 14,681]

I know it's like pulling teeth to get my husband to go to the doctor sometimes. I know a lot of wives feel the same way. There's just something about the whole "doctor" scene men hate.

But I digress. My husband decided to have the surgery almost 9 years ago because he was just tired of the toll the extra weight had taken on his body. He initially lost 120lbs, but has successfully kept off 100 ( with a little up and down) for 8 years. If you ask him, he will tell you it's the best thing he's ever done. Well, besides marrying me

[ThreeFifty 166]

Easy answer, men just don't go to the doctor as much as women. Im willing to bet it isn't just WLS, its probably everything from the flu shot on.

most men only go to the doctor if something is broke or need stitches, or work requires it or like the person above said, a wife forces them too lol and they don't even do it then unless they get in a situation where they cant get out of it anymore.