Introduction
Obesity is an excess of total body fat, which results when our intake is more than our energy usage. Obesity risk is best assessed by measuring Body Mass Index (BMI).
Who is a candidate for weight loss surgery?
Inclusion criteria to qualify for bariatric operation can be one or more of the following:
- Weight greater than 45kg above the ideal body weight for sex, and height.
- BMI > 40 by itself or >35 if there is an associated obesity illness, such as diabetes or sleep apnoea. These patients should have achieved the following:
- Tried their best to reduce weight and exercise.
- Age between 18 and 65 years.
- Cleared by clinical psychologist for No psychiatric or drug addiction problems.
Consequences
If you are obese or morbidly obese, you may have Major Health Risks:
- Shorter Life Expectancy.
- Diabetes (type 2), cardiovascular disease.
- Arthritis.
- Certain types of cancer (breast, uterine, colon).
- Psychological problems such as depression, impaired self-image, loss of confidence and motivation, social embarrassment.
- Infertility and pregnancy problems.
- Urinary Incontinence.
- GORD.
- Breathing difficulties (e.g., sleep apnoea, asthma).
Causes
Obesity can be a result of a combination of the following:
- The genes you inherited from your parents.
- Metabolic rate.
- Eating and exercising habits.
Treatment
Conservative Treatment
Dieting, exercise, and medication have limited long-term success and rebound weight gain is a risk especially in emotional eaters and patients with hectic life style. In general, people lose approximately 10% of their body weight but tend to regain most of it within a year.
Surgical Treatment
To learn about surgery for morbid obesity – please refer to
