Bariatric surgery | Best Solution for Obesity
Obese is the term that describes a person who is overweight. Obesity is a growing health issue these days. To a layperson, obesity means someone who is very fat because they eat a lot and do not exercise. However, this is not always the truth. There are many ways to reduce unwanted weight.
What is obesity?
Obesity is a health condition in which a person has accumulated too much body fat. This fat adversely affects the body because this weight gain leads to many health issues. That is why for health purposes, it is essential to reduce the unwanted weight from the body.
Before going into details of ways to reduce unwanted weight, let’s see some of the harmful effects of obesity or overweight.
Harmful effects of obesity
1. Health risks
Obesity makes people prone to cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, stroke, type 2 diabetes mellitus, respiratory problems, and gallbladder issues. It may also be the cause of cancer. According to CDC, 13 types of cancer are associated with obesity. Some of these types are:
- Meningioma
- Adenocarcinoma
- Multiple myeloma
- Breast cancer, etc.
2. Social hazard
Obesity or being overweight is also a social hazard. It causes many problems, such as sleep issues, chronic body or back pain, osteoporosis, etc. In addition, an overweight person will face difficulties such as climbing stairs and having limited mobility. Obesity will also restrict their ability to exercise.
3. Emotional and mental issues
Obesity affects the emotional and mental well-being of a person. For example, an obese or overweight person loses self-confidence and thinks they are not good enough to do anything. These situations lead to depression and anxiety, and individuals facing these issues isolate themselves from society.
4. Fertility issues
Obesity also leads to infertility. Females who are overweight have difficulty getting pregnant. Likewise, overweight males may not be able to produce healthy sperm for reproduction.
Ways to reduce unwanted weight
One can opt for conventional methods to reduce unwanted weight, like a healthy diet and exercise. But unfortunately, for some people, these methods don’t work. In cases like these, weight loss surgery or bariatric surgery is a standard procedure people turn to when conventional approaches are ineffective.
What is bariatric surgery?
Bariatric surgery or weight loss surgery is a type of surgery to help individuals lose weight. Individuals who are obese and have not been able to lose weight with a healthy lifestyle go for weight loss procedures. Healthcare providers discuss bariatric surgery with people if they are morbidly overweight or heavy and have obesity-related health issues. These health problems may get better with weight loss.
Who can be a candidate for bariatric surgery?
Research has shown that weight loss surgery benefits people with BMI between 35 and 39.9 with obesity-related health issues such as diabetes, sleep problems, asthma, high blood pressure, and arthritis. Do you want to know what is your BMI? Check your BMI from here. A person could be a candidate for surgical weight loss if they meet any of the following criteria:
- The weight of a person must be 100 lbs. more than the ideal body weight
- BMI over 40
- BMI of over 35 with obesity-related health issues
- People who are unable to achieve a healthy body weight for a sustainable period, even after a healthy diet and exercise
Types of bariatric surgery
The most common types of bariatric surgery are
- Adjustable gastric banding
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- Gastric bypass
- Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS)
1. Adjustable gastric banding
Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is another name for adjustable gastric banding. During this procedure, the bariatric surgeon places an adjustable band around the top of the stomach. This band around the stomach reduces the amount of food that you can eat at a time.
2. Sleeve gastrectomy
In sleeve gastrectomy, up to 85% of the stomach is removed. Gastric sleeve or vertical sleeve gastrectomy are other names of sleeve gastrectomy. This surgery turns the stomach into a narrow tube that looks like a sleeve. This sleeve holds much less food, and, a person feels full faster. The stomach also makes fewer hormones that cause hunger.
3. Gastric bypass
Gastric bypass surgery or Roux-en-Y surgery is another common type of bariatric surgery. This surgery reduces the amount of food one can eat at a time and the number of calories and nutrients absorbed by the food. In this surgery, a pouch is created by separating a part of the stomach. This pouch is then attached to a part of the small intestine. The small stomach pouch holds less food. It means a person feels full faster than usual. As the food eaten bypasses the rest of the stomach and part of the small intestine, fewer calories and nutrients are absorbed.
4. Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS)
In this less standard procedure, a part of the stomach is removed to create a gastric sleeve and then attached to the small intestine. The results of this procedure are the same as Sleeve gastrectomy. However, after this procedure, the stomach holds less food and fewer calories. So, the nutrients are absorbed from the food eaten.
All of the above-described procedures are minimally invasive. These procedures are called Laparoscopic surgeries, in which small incisions are made which avoid massive scarring. A small camera and small tools are used in these surgeries.
Bariatric surgery in Pakistan
In Pakistan, the pandemic of obesity is now threatening to spin out of control. Pakistan is witnessing unprecedented growth in the number of overweight and obese individuals in its population, an issue of considerable public health concern. Conventional medical therapies for obesity and obesity-related complications have proven to be less effective. Weight loss surgery in Pakistan is an emerging field and has proven to be the solution for those individuals who want to get rid of obesity.
Bariatric surgery is emerging as an ideal therapeutic alternative for obesity. More and more people are seeking the help of an experienced and verified best bariatric surgeon in Pakistan. The weight loss surgeon guides the people and ensures they get the best possible healthcare. In Pakistan, weight loss surgery is highly successful and cost-effective. ALSA provides advanced and appropriate solutions to patients with laparoscopic surgeries. The best bariatric surgeon in Pakistan, Dr Tahir Yunus, is part of ALSA Pakistan.
