India has become the 3rd most obese country in the world, according to a recent Lancet study, with an alarming 70% of population falling in obese or overweight category. This obesity epidemic, fuelled by a physically inactive lifestyle, unhealthy eating habits, has contributed to the emergence of other health issues such as, diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver and cardiovascular diseases.
Alarmingly, almost 90% of type 2 diabetes patients in India are either obese or overweight, highlighting the strong connection between obesity and diabetes, a phenomenon scientists refer to as ‘Diabesity’.
The good news is that ‘Diabesity’ is preventable, and its side effects can be reversed with the right measures. Modern science offers solutions ranging from lifestyle changes to bariatric surgery, providing hope in the fight against this health crisis. As we delve into these solutions, it’s important to understand obesity step-by-step and how bariatric surgery can be an effective and long term treatment option for managing it.
What is Obesity?
How to manage it surgically and non-surgically!
Body Mass Index or BMI measures a person’s weight with respect to his or her height. BMI, is the most standard way for measuring obesity and often, correlates with total body fat. This means that as the BMI score increases, so does a person’s total body fat. WHO defines obesity as a disease with BMI >30kg/m2. Early in the course, diet, lifestyle changes and exercises may help in managing it effectively.
However, if morbid obesity sets in, with a BMI over 40 kg/m2, there is a high chance that medical and conventional therapies might fail. In such cases, Bariatric Surgery has emerged as a pivotal medical intervention in the battle against obesity, offering a beacon of hope for individuals struggling with severe weight management issues. This surgical procedure, designed to promote weight loss by altering the digestive system’s anatomy, has transformed the approach to long-term weight management and the treatment of associated health complications like Diabetes etc. Obese individuals may be eligible for Bariatric Surgery with lower BMI in presence of high blood sugar levels, as surgery helps in remission of Diabetes also.
What is Bariatric Surgery?
Bariatric Surgery is a procedure which facilitates weight loss by restricting the amount of food the stomach can hold, causing malabsorption of nutrients, or by a combination of both gastric restriction and malabsorption. Bariatric procedures also cause desirable hormonal changes for effective health benefits.
Bariatric surgery is generally performed using a Laparoscopic technique (Minimal Invasive / Key Hole surgery) which has several benefits such as: faster recovery time, shorter hospital stay and minimum incision / scarring.
The most commonly performed surgeries include: Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy and Gastric Bypass Surgery.
Visit Weight Loss Clinic at SHALBY Sanar International Hospitals for Expert Opinion!
SHALBY Sanar International Hospitals has a specialised weight loss clinic dedicated to addressing the complex challenges of excess weight and its associated health concerns. The Clinic is managed by a multidisciplinary team of experts comprising of a Bariatric Surgeon, Endocrinologist, Nutritionist, Physiotherapist and Clinical Psychologist, offering a range of evidence-based invasive and non-invasive interventions that go beyond diet and exercise approaches.
Conclusion
Bariatric Surgery can lead to a significant weight reduction to the tune of 30-40 kgs or even more. This weight loss can be sustained for long term and has the potential to improve or even cause remission of Diabetes.
In the context of diabetic patients, this surgery can be ground-breaking. It can help diabetic patients to control their blood sugar levels, thereby reducing their dependence on medication. The surgery not only enhances the quality of life but also increases the lifespan of high-risk obese patients battling diabetes.
Dr. Vinay Kumar Shaw, Head of Department & Sr. Consultant, GI, General, Minimal Access & Bariatric Surgery SHALBY Sanar International Hospitals, Gurugram
