Obesity

Obesity & Bariatric Surgery

Obesity is a chronic health condition marked by excessive accumulation of fat in the body, often due to consuming more calories than burned. This fat, known as adipose tissue, gets stored and leads to weight gain, increasing the risk of various metabolic, cardiac, and gastrointestinal complications.

Understanding Body Mass Index (BMI)

BMI (Body Mass Index) is a simple method to assess whether a person has a healthy body weight:

• Underweight: BMI less than 18.5

• Healthy Weight: BMI 18.5 – 24.9

• Overweight: BMI 25 – 29.9

• Obese: BMI 30 or above

Health Risks Associated with Obesity

Obesity significantly increases the risk of developing life-threatening diseases, including:

• Cardiovascular Disease & Stroke: Excess weight contributes to high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and arterial blockages.

• Type 2 Diabetes: Obesity affects insulin function, increasing the risk of insulin resistance and diabetes.

• Cancer: Linked with multiple cancers such as breast, colon, liver, kidney, pancreas, and gallbladder.

• Sleep Apnea: Fat deposits around the neck may narrow the airway, causing interrupted breathing during sleep.

• Fatty Liver Disease: Excess fat leads to liver inflammation and can progress to cirrhosis.

• Gallbladder Disease: Including gallstones and inflammation.

• Joint Problems: Osteoarthritis caused by the strain on weight-bearing joints.

• Digestive Issues: Including acid reflux and gallbladder dysfunction.

Diagnostic Methods

To diagnose obesity and related complications, the following may be performed:

• BMI calculation

• Skinfold thickness test

• DEXA scan, Ultrasound, CT or MRI to measure fat distribution

• Blood Tests to assess glucose, cholesterol, liver, thyroid, and cardiac health

Treatment Approaches

Lifestyle & Dietary Modifications

• Reducing portion sizes

• Eating high-fiber, low-fat diets with whole grains, fruits, and vegetables

• Avoiding sugar-laden and high-calorie foods

• Incorporating daily physical activity such as brisk walking, cycling, or swimming

Medical Management

If lifestyle changes are not sufficient, weight-loss medications may be prescribed. These include appetite suppressants or drugs that affect fat absorption or hormone pathways that regulate hunger.

Surgical Interventions for Weight Loss

When other treatments are ineffective, bariatric surgery becomes an effective option for long-term weight reduction. This includes:

• Gastric Bypass (Roux-en-Y) – Creates a small pouch to reroute food and limit absorption

• Sleeve Gastrectomy – Removes part of the stomach, reducing its size and appetite-regulating hormones

• Adjustable Gastric Banding – Places a band to divide the stomach into two pouches, limiting food intake

• Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch – Reduces stomach size and bypasses much of the intestine

These surgeries promote weight loss by limiting food intake, reducing absorption, or both. Long-term success requires commitment to dietary changes and follow-up.

Preventing Obesity

• Eat balanced meals with whole foods and lean proteins

• Avoid processed and sugary foods

• Engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity daily

• Maintain healthy sleep and stress levels