Question

Gastric bypass surgery has been shown to be effective at helping extremely obese people lose weight. Some patients have lost as much as 300 pounds after undergoing the surgery, thereby substantially prolonging their lives. Despite the success of the treatment, most doctors have not embraced the surgery as a weight loss option. Which of the following statements, if true, best accounts for the lukewarm reaction of the medical community to gastric bypass surgery?

• A. Gastric bypass surgery carries a high risk of serious complications, including death.
• B. Obesity is one of the leading contributors to heart disease and hypertension, two leading causes of death.
• C. Obesity rates among the American population have been increasing consistently for the last three decades.
• D. Many patients report that losing weight through diets is ineffective, since they usually gain the weight back within six months.
• E. Most health insurance plans will cover the cost of gastric bypass surgery for morbidly obese patients at high risk of heart disease.

Hint:

When evaluating arguments, consider both the benefits and the risks associated with the proposed solution to understand the reasons for hesitancy or opposition.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understand the argument.
The argument is that despite the success of gastric bypass surgery in helping obese people lose weight, doctors have not embraced the procedure as a weight loss option. The question asks us to find the statement that best explains why this is the case. Step 2: Analyze each option.
- (A) This option suggests that the surgery carries high risks, which would logically cause doctors to be hesitant to embrace it despite its benefits. This is a strong explanation for the lukewarm reaction.
- (B) While obesity contributes to heart disease and hypertension, this does not explain why doctors are not fully embracing gastric bypass surgery as a solution to obesity.
- (C) Increasing obesity rates do not provide an explanation for the lukewarm reaction of doctors to the surgery.
- (D) While this option discusses the ineffectiveness of dieting for weight loss, it does not explain why doctors might hesitate to endorse gastric bypass surgery.
- (E) The fact that insurance plans cover the cost of the surgery does not address why doctors are hesitant to embrace it as a weight loss option.
Conclusion:
Thus, (A) is the best explanation for the medical community's lukewarm reaction to gastric bypass surgery, as it highlights the risks involved in the procedure.