Overweight and obesity have been on the rise and has been one of the major health related problems that the world is seeing today. Obesity and overweight has a direct impact on healthy living. Heart disease, diabetes, many types of cancer, asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, chronic musculoskeletal problems, etc. are few of the health disorders that are largely seen in overweight and obese people.
Bariatric largely deals with the causes, prevention, and treatment of obesity. Bariatric surgery is more commonly known in today's context as obesity surgery and other related treatments for obese patients.
Diagnosing Obesity
Diagnosing overweight and obesity is very important and it relates to diagnosis of body fat, the body mass index (called BMI) which is accepted as a marker for excess body weight. Although this is not the ultimate mark in measuring overweight, as it can diagnose a muscular person as obese, and an elderly person with low body weight but high body fat (this can happen due to low muscle mass and bone density) may be assessed as healthy. Few other evaluations that are seen as markers for the evaluating obesity include waist circumference (associated with central obesity), and a patient's risk factors for diseases and conditions associated with obesity. Besides these indirect methods, body fat can also be measured directly.
Treatment for overweight and obesity through diet, exercise and anti-obesity drugs are considered in the first level of treatment. Treatment for severe obesity will include obesity surgery which is also called bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery is gaining popularity and is seen as a crusader in the war against obesity. Weight loss surgery helps patients in greater weight loss than conventional treatment, and helps improving quality of life and reduces the risks of obesity related diseases such as hypertension, heart attacks, diabetes etc.
To get treated for obesity through surgery patients must meet certain criteria; in which the patient has to understand about the surgery and the lifestyle changes which need to be adopted.
The Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more, which is about 45 kg (100 pounds) overweight for men and 35 kg (80 pounds) for women; or a BMI between 35 and 39.9 and a serious obesity-related health problem such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or severe sleep apnea. Patients who undergo bariatric surgery must be aware of possible complications that may arise during or post surgery. Some of the complications include gastrointestinal symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, dysphagia, and reflux. While complications such as anastomotic leaking (at the surgical connections between the stomach and the intestine), abdominal hernia, and infections cannot be ruled out.
Bariatric surgery has no doubt is seen as a great remedial source for treatment of obesity. Many countries around the world have been treating obesity and overweight patients through bariatric surgery. Hospitals in India, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and many other countries in Asia are treating obesity and morbid obesity through bariatric surgery.
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