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Obesity is an ever-increasing problem in India. It has been estimated that 1 in 16 women and 1 in 25 men are obese in India as per the statistics of the National Family Health Survey. This accounts for nearly 5% of the population being obese. Not only adults, obesity is also affecting children at an alarming rate. Various factors such as improper dietary habits, lack of physical activity, inadequate sleep, high stress levels, genetic predisposition, and others have been implicated in the cause of obesity. Obesity is not just a weight problem; it is associated with a lot of other diseases. Thus the treatment of obesity is essential. Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about obesity and its treatment.
Why Obesity is Considered a Disease?
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared obesity a disease. Obesity is a disease that affects almost every organ of the body causing and increasing the risk of many other obesity-associated diseases. These diseases cause diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, high cholesterol levels, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), fatty liver disease leading to cirrhosis, polycystic ovaries, infertility, increased risk of cancers (breast cancer, large intestine cancer, uterus cancer, etc.), arthritis, aches, and pains in body, anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses. This association with so many diseases makes obesity “the mother of all diseases”.
How do we Assess the Severity of Obesity?
The severity of obesity is assessed based on Body Mass Index (BMI) taking an individual weight and height. It can be easily calculated by BMI calculators available online. Normal BMI is considered to be 18-25. Those with a BMI more than 25 are considered overweight and those with more than 30 are considered obese. Those with a BMI more than 40 are considered morbidly obese, which is obesity that severely affects their health. A general “thumb rule” is that women with a weight of more than 90 kg and men with a weight of more than 100 kg should seek help for the treatment of obesity. Obesity is also considered severe in those individuals who are overweight and have developed obesity-associated diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, OSA, etc.
What is Bariatric Surgery?
Bariatric surgery is laparoscopically (keyhole surgery) performed by laparoscopic surgeons in Kolkata and is a weight loss surgery. It is not liposuction (a common misconception). Bariatric surgery is of a few types, the most among them are gastric bypass surgery and gastric sleeve surgery. In gastric sleeve surgery, the stomach of the patient is made small, and in gastric bypass surgery, the stomach is made small as well and part of the intestine is bypassed from food passage. After bariatric surgery, patients start losing weight at an even pace till they lose much of their excess weight in about one-year time.
Who can Undergo Bariatric Surgery?
As per guidelines for Asians, whoever has a BMI of more than 37.5 without any obesity-related diseases as mentioned above; and those with a BMI of more than 32.5 with obesity-associated diseases can undergo bariatric surgery after proper evaluation. People with uncontrolled diabetes can undergo bariatric surgery at an even lower BMI.
How does Weight Loss Happen After Bariatric Surgery?
Weight loss after bariatric surgery happens over the next year at a pace of 3-5 kg per month. During this entire period, a team of a specialist guides the patient through the process.
What are the Additional Benefits of Bariatric Surgery?
After bariatric surgery, obesity-associated diseases also improve dramatically. More than 80% of patients with diabetes do not require medicines after bariatric surgery. The same is the case in more than 70% of patients with high blood pressure. There is also a significant improvement in cholesterol levels. Symptoms of sleep apnea are also resolved in the majority of the patients. Women suffering from PCOS and infertility also have significant improvement in symptoms. Many patients who were suffering from infertility before surgery can conceive and become mothers. There is also a reduction in the chances of developing cancers. All these eventually increase the longevity of the patient. Apart from medical benefits, the patient leads a more active life and his/her self-image and confidence also improve.
Is Bariatric Surgery Covered Under Mediclaim?
Bariatric for obesity and health disparities in Saltlake is now covered under Mediclaim which has brought relief to a lot of deserving patients.
