For many people, weight loss can feel like an endless uphill battle. Despite genuine effort, good intentions, and repeated attempts, the results often fail to last. At Bay Surgery, we regularly meet patients who feel frustrated, exhausted, and confused about why weight loss seems so much harder for them than for others.

The truth is that weight gain — and weight loss — is far more complex than simply eating less and moving more.

When “eat less, move more” isn’t enough

Obesity develops when more calories are consumed than the body uses over time. In theory, reducing food intake or increasing physical activity should reverse this. In reality, the human body is highly adaptive and resists long-term weight loss through powerful biological mechanisms.

These include:

• Hormonal changes that increase hunger

• A slower metabolic rate after weight loss

• Increased efficiency at storing calories

• Strong appetite signals that persist even after dieting

This is why traditional dieting and exercise often work only temporarily.

Why long-term weight loss is so difficult

Lifestyle changes can lead to short-term success, but research consistently shows that for many people — particularly those with severe obesity — the body fights to regain lost weight.

Studies demonstrate that:

• People relying on diet and exercise alone may lose up to 10% of their body weight initially

• Most regain around two-thirds of that weight within 12 months

• Nearly all regain the full amount within five years

For individuals with a BMI over 40, achieving sustained long-term weight loss through lifestyle changes alone is extremely rare.

The wider health impact of obesity

In New Zealand, around 32% of adults are classified as obese, making it a major public health concern. Obesity significantly increases the risk of serious health conditions, including:

• Type 2 diabetes

• Heart disease and stroke

• High blood pressure

• Joint and mobility problems

• Reduced life expectancy

Beyond physical health, obesity can also impact mental wellbeing, confidence, and quality of life.

When more effective treatment is needed

For some people, particularly those above a certain BMI threshold, the body’s biological resistance to weight loss makes long-term success almost impossible without medical intervention. In these cases, weight loss surgery can be a powerful and effective tool.

Surgical procedures work by altering the gastrointestinal system — the stomach and intestines — to:

• Reduce calorie intake

• Change hunger and satiety hormones

• Support long-term weight control

Unlike dieting alone, surgery addresses the underlying biological drivers of obesity.

Personalised guidance and informed decisions

The decision to consider weight loss surgery is significant and deeply personal. It is not about taking the “easy option” — it is about choosing the most effective path to better health when other methods have failed.

At Bay Surgery, Dr Daniel Mafi specialises in gastric sleeve and gastric bypass surgery, offering expert guidance tailored to each individual. The choice of whether surgery is right for you — and which procedure may be most appropriate — is made together during a comprehensive weight loss surgery consultation in Tauranga.

A healthier future is possible

If weight loss has felt impossible despite your best efforts, you are not alone — and it is not a personal failure. With the right support, understanding, and treatment approach, it is possible to regain control of your weight and move towards a healthier, longer, and better quality life.

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