The problem of obesity has to do a lot with sedentary lifestyles and eating habits. The body's weight is a maintained by a tight balance between how many calories one eats and how many calories one burns. For instance, if one consumes 3000 kcal per day and utilise 2400 kcal, the remaining 600 kcal get stored as fat in the body, to be used later. In the absence of physical activity, this excess body fat never gets burnt. The problem of eating excess calories is the most common cause of obesity. However, there are other factors also that control the body weight - namely, hormones like leptin and ghrelin, genetic risks. There are some medical conditions like hypothyroidism and Cushing's syndrome which can lead to obesity.

Obesity is not merely a problem of external appearance. It is a true medical problem with extreme effects on one's health. A 25-year-old morbidly obese man has a 22% reduction in life expectancy, or 12 years of life lost, compared with a normal-sized man. Untreated, obesity is responsible for a significant proportion of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including heart disease, diabetes, liver disease, stroke, osteoarthritis and many types of cancer. Excess fat gets deposited in the blood vessels, form an atheroma and can block blood supply. Fat in the cells of the body makes them resistant to the action of blood sugar regulators - leading to diabetes. Fat releases free radicals which damage cells, cause mutations and lead to cancers.

Obesity needs to be considered as a serious health problem and one has to take measures to reduce weight. Brisk exercise like walking or jogging for at least 30 minutes a day can go a long way in reducing weight. A conscious effort is needed to make sure you eat only healthy, freshly cooked food with zero trans-fat. Some people who are morbidly obese (BMI > 40) will need Obesity Surgery(bariatric surgery) to reduce weight. Medical causes of obesity need to be evaluated by a specialist and managed efficiently. However, whatever the situation may be healthy eating habit is a must and if combined with a bit of daily dose of exercise, then it can do wonders.

Obesity Surgery or Bariatric surgery is known to bring multiple benefits. It is very important that your doctor monitors you regularly post-surgery.

What Is Obesity Surgery?

Weight loss strategies

Weight gain is the result of cumulative positive energy intake. If the cumulative intake of calories is more than the expenditure then there is a net weight gain over a period of time. Similarly if the intake is less than the expenditure there is a net weight loss.

Diet

Various diets exist to achieve a net energy loss resulting in weight loss. The basis of all these diets is subjecting the body to a cumulative calorie deprivation, forcing it to utilize the stored body fat. Well motivated people have lost significant weight with diet alone, but sustaining the diet pract ices for a long term have proved challenging. Once the period of dieting ends, there is a rebound weight gain. Moreover, as one loses weight, the body goes into an energy conservation mode by lowering its basal metabolic rate, thus making it more difficult to lose further weight.

Exercise

Regular exercise prevents accumulation of excessive fat, strengthens muscles and bones and promotes a sense of well-being. However, obesity with the attendant heart and lung problems restricts physical movement resulting in inability to exercise. A graded exercise protocol monitored by trained physiotherapist is recommended.

Bariatric surgery

As mentioned above, diet and exercise may not be possible in morbidly obese patients when bariatric surgery may be the only option. With the help of bariatric surgery one can reclaim the quality of life as well as longevity. With this strategy, one can lose up to 50 – 60 % of body weight over a period of 3 months to one year. This weight loss is sustained over a long period with lifestyle rehabilitation.

What are the different kinds of bariatric surgery?

Do you require bariatric surgery?

If you feel you are overweight/obese, please check your BMI (check your weight and height and use the formula given above or use the link - https://www.calculator.net/bmi-calculator.html). If you belong to class III or even class II with multiple comorbidities, then you are likely to benefit from bariatric surgery. You then need to contact 080-4969 5152 for an appointment to know more about the options.

Are you fit to undergo bariatric surgery?

The doctors will assess you thoroughly for your fitness to undergo surgery. Our cardiologist, pulmonologist, endocrinologist, nutritionist and physical therapist will evaluate you to ensure the procedure is done safely.

Health Benefits

Gastric sleeve results in complete solution (cure, as long as weight loss is maintained) of many obesity-related health problems, including those listed below.

and at least 10 other conditions

Gastric sleeve weight loss improves joint health. For every pound of weight lost, there is a 4 pound reduction in pressure on the knee. This improves mobility and reduces pain in the knees. 88,000 participants were involved in data collection on cancer research. Results state that patients who undergo weight loss surgery have 33% less risk of developing cancer. Risk rates were even further reduced for obesity-related cancers, including:

Colon cancer   |   Postmenopausal breast cancer   |   Endometrial cancer   |   Pancreatic cancer

Note that patients who have a strict follow-up schedule with their surgeon at 3-, 6-, and 12-months post-op see greater improvements in or remission of their diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension), and high cholesterol than patients who skip these visits.

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