Bariatric Surgery – Not a Cosmetic Surgery but a Lifesaving Surgery

Obesity is a disorder that involves excessive body fat that increases the risk of other severe health problems. One out of ten Indian adults are obese, and childhood obesity has more than doubled in the past 10 years. In Delhi NCR itself 45% of the males and 55% of the females are suffering from obesity.

Some of the Common Causes of Obesity

There are several factors that can lead to obesity

• Genetic disorder
• Eating disorders
• Lifestyle mismanagement
• Side effects of some medicines
• Mental health issues

Health Problems That Can be Caused by Obesity

• Heart diseases
• Diabetes
• Cancers
• Digestive problems
• Gynaecological problems
• Mental Health issues
• High blood pressure
• Kidney diseases

Treatment for Obesity:

Treatment for Morbid obesity is to reduce the excess body weight with maximum safety, minimum of side effects and complications. Treatment should focus on Control and prevention of obesity related comorbidities and long term weight loss.

Lifestyle Modification and drugs: Diet, exercise with BMI more than 23.5kg/m2

Surgery is done when BMI is > 32.5Kg/m2 with two co-morbidities and 37.5kg/m2 without comorbidities

Basic Weight Loss Practices to Combat Obesity:

• Exercise regularly
• Follow a healthy diet
• Diet contributes 80-90% for weight loss and exercise contribute 10-20% along with healthy lifestyle which is a key to weight loss

Drugs:

Certain drugs cause loss of appetite and thus act by decreasing the energy intake. Drugs induce a weight loss of only about 10% of excess weight and may therefore be the answer for patients requiring in large amount for weight loss as the first step.

Surgery:

Bariatric surgery remains the backbone of this multidisciplinary approach. This surgery has greatly evolved over the decades and today it offers the most effective means of prophylaxis against life threatening complications and severe degenerative problems of obesity. It is broadly categorized as laparoscopic mini- gastric bypass, laparoscopic gastric bypass and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

It is high time that we recognize that obesity is a disease and requires treatment. It has medical, physical, social and psychological ramifications. It is important that this disease be treated as early as possible and preventive measures taken to check its escalating numbers.

Bariatric surgery is not a cosmetic surgery but is a lifesaving surgery.

Dr. Vikas Kapur | Senior Consultant and Clinical Lead – Gastroenterology – Surgical, General Surgery | Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, Gurugram