What is Obesity & How Bariatric Surgery Helps You?

September 29, 2021 / Published by : Dr.T. Lakshmikanth

What is obesity and why is it a major health issue?

Obesity is a complex health problem that results from a combination of factors such as behavior and genetics and individual factors. Behaviors include physical inactivity, diet, medication, and other factors. Additional environmental factors include food environment, education, cultural issues, etc. Bariatric Surgery Obesity is a serious health problem because it impairs mental health and quality of life. It has been linked to major causes of death worldwide, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain types of cancer.

Symptoms

Body Mass Index or BMI is often used to diagnose obesity. To calculate your BMI, divide weight in kilograms by height in meters squared.

However, Asians especially Indians, with a BMI of 23 or higher, may be at increased risk of health issues. Most doctors also measure a person’s waist circumference to help guide treatment decisions. Weight-related health problems are more common in men with a waist circumference over 40 inches (102 cm) and in women with a waist measurement of 35 inches (80 cm)

Causes and risk factors

Although there are genetic, behavioural, metabolic, and hormonal influences on body weight, obesity occurs when you take in more calories than you spend through your daily activities and the excess calories are stored as fat. Obesity tends to run in families. The genes you inherit from your parents may affect the amount of body fat you store, and where that fat is distributed.

   Unhealthy diet: A diet that’s high in calories, lacking in fruits and veggies contributes to weight gain.

   Liquid Calories: People can drink many kinds of beverages without feeling full, especially alcohol. Regular consumption of other drinks such as soft drinks can also lead to obesity.

   Inactivity: If you have a sedentary lifestyle, you are highly prone to developing obesity. Looking at computer, tablet, and phone screens is a sedentary activity.

Obesity can occur at any age, even in young children. But as you age, hormonal changes and a less active lifestyle increase your risk of getting obese. In a nutshell, if you do not consciously control what you eat and become more physically active as you age, you are more likely to put on weight.

Diagnosis and treatment for obesity

To diagnose obesity and recommend appropriate treatment, the best bariatric surgeon in hyderabad your doctor will typically perform the following.

   Taking your healthy history

   A general physical exam ( height, heart rate, BP, abdomen)

   Calculating your BMI

   Measuring your waist circumference

   Checking for other health issues

Remember, the goal of obesity treatment is to reach and stay (very important) at a healthy weight. This improves overall health and lowers the risk of developing complications related to obesity.

What is Bariatric Surgery?

Unfortunately, physical exercise and diet alone prove ineffective for many people with extreme obesity. For such people, weight-loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, is an effective option. The basic idea of bariatric surgery is to restrict food intake and decrease the absorption of food in the small intestine. Bariatric surgery is performed by experienced surgical gastroenterologists, such as Dr. T.Lakshmikanth Bariatric Surgery for Morbid Obesity surgeon in Hyderabad. While this surgery offers many benefits, the patient must make permanent changes to diet and exercise regularly to ensure long-term success.

Who is it for?

Bariatric surgery isn’t for everyone who is severely overweight. You may need to meet certain medical criteria to qualify for it. And that decision is solely made by experienced bariatric surgeons like Dr. Lakshmikanth Best bariatric surgeon, However, in general, bariatric surgery could be an option for you if: Your BMI is 40 or higher (severe obesity)

Your BMI is between 35 and 40 and you have comorbidities such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or severe sleep apnoea.

How is the surgery performed?

Weight-loss surgery is mostly done laparoscopically (minimally invasive surgery), which requires only small incisions, under general anesthesia. Laparoscopic surgery entails fewer risks than open surgery and may cause less pain and scarring. Shorter hospital stay and fast recovery are the additional benefits. Nonetheless, some patients, with a high level of obesity, may need open surgery, and the decision is made by the surgeon depending on the patient’s medical condition.

What are the different types of bariatric surgery?

1. Sleeve Gastrectomy

In this surgical procedure, approximately 80% of the stomach is removed. The remaining stomach is the size and shape of a banana.

2. Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB)

RYGB, often referred to as ‘gastric bypass’, is a reliable and long-lasting procedure that is extremely effective in treating obesity.

Mini Gastric Bypass:

Mini gastric bypass (MGB or Loop Gastric Bypass)is a malabsorptive procedure with good short-term and long-term weight loss. Here the lesser curvature of the stomach is detached from the stomach and attached to the loop of the small bowel.It causes both restriction and malabsorption, causing good long term weight loss

About Dr.T.Lakshmikanth

Dr.T.Lakshmikanth is a senior consultant surgical gastroenterologist, practicing in Hyderabad. He has over 20 years of experience in Bariatric Surgery for Morbid Obesity surgeons in Hyderabad and is renowned in the field of minimally invasive surgical procedures (Laparoscopic Surgery). He has a fellowship in gastrointestinal surgery from the prestigious Kameda Medical Center in Japan. best bariatric surgeon in Hyderabad He has performed thousands of bariatric surgical procedures bringing smiles to his ever grateful patients. Dr.T.Lakshmikanth was honored with the Vaidya Ratna Award in the field of Bariatric Surgery in 2015. For all your weight-loss surgical queries, look no further than Dr.T.Lakshmikanth, one of the best bariatric surgeons in Hyderabad.

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