Obesity results from the excessive accumulation of fat that exceeds the body’s skeletal and physical standards. According to the United States National Institute of Health (NIH), an increase in 20% or more above your ideal body weight is the point at which excess weight becomes a health risk.
For every 10 extra kilograms above the stipulated body weight (measured according to height), life expectancy of a person reduces by three years.
Obesity becomes morbid when it reaches the point of significantly increasing the risk of one or more obesity-related health conditions (also known as co-morbidities). This results either in significant physical disability or even death. Morbid obesity is a serious and chronic disease, and its symptoms build slowly over an extended period of time.
Obesity is a risk factor for life-threatening diseases, including:
Studies show that the risk of death from these conditions drops significantly after weight loss.
If you are someone for whom non-surgical procedures have failed to provide sustained weight loss, you can be evaluated for, and if appropriate, undergo lifesaving weight loss surgery. This surgery is known as Bariatric Surgery (also known as metabolic surgery).
Bariatric surgery is a major operation, and if you’re considering it, you must make a serious, lifelong commitment to lifestyle changes.
Our program follows the WHO guidelines for Asian patients for selection. These guidelines have also been endorsed by the Ministry of Health, Government of India. If you have a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 37.5 kg/m2 or more, or a BMI of 32 kg/m2 or more with illness related to excess weight, and have not been able to sustain weight loss through diet and exercise, you probably are a candidate for weight-loss surgery.
If you do not meet these guidelines, or we find that you are not eligible for surgery for health reasons, don’t despair. Through our intensive non-surgical weight management program, we can help you lose weight by helping you change your eating habits, modify your behaviour and increase your physical activity.
A variety of bariatric procedures have been described, all of which can be carried out laparoscopically or robotically. All of these involve the patient being under general anaesthesia, making 4-6 small cuts on the abdomen ranging from 5-12 mm in size, and lasting for about 2-5 hours.
Bariatric surgical procedures work on the principles of restriction, malabsorption or both. Restrictive procedures limit the intake of food, and malabsorptive procedures affect the absorption of food through the alimentary tract.
Risks are usually categorized as immediate risks which include bleeding, Deep Vein Thrombosis, injury to neighboring organs (like oesophagus and spleen), shoulder pain and delayed risks, such as Pneumonia, Abdominal Infections and Pulmonary Embolism. These risks are common to all abdominal laparoscopic surgeries.
The risks associated specifically with bariatric surgery are chest pain, abdominal hernia, constipation or diarrhea, stoma obstruction, stretching of the stomach and reoperation for various reasons.Since this is a metabolic procedure, the key to its long-term success lies in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Dietary habits need to change, and exercise is a must. Certain vitamin and mineral supplements will be required lifelong, but these usually have no untoward effects.
Studies have shown that interacting with those who have undergone bariatric procedures helps to stay more focused and motivated to maintain the newfound weight. Attending support group meetings gives a great platform to share your experiences and adjust to life better.
Our Unique Features
Our Weight Loss Program offers new hope and a long-term solution. For most patients, this will be a new beginning. Our dedicated team of specialists is committed to helping you throughout this life-changing journey.
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