Bariatric Surgery is Safe, Says an Evidence-based Study at Aastha Health Care

MUMBAI, June 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Obesity prevalence is the highest it has ever been. Obesity is no longer regarding looks or physical appearance of a person, it is now rightly considered as a disease and a grave medical problem. It is in fact called the mother of all diseases.

Obesity has multiple causes right from genetic, hormonal, environmental, etc. There is no doubt that obesity is a major cause for a number of serious and potentially life-threatening diseases. It can lead to type 2 diabetes (Diabesity), complications of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and it has also been linked to some cancers, including breast cancer and colon cancer. Obesity may cause multiple problems ranging from Sleep Apnoea, Hypertension, Arthritis, Infertility, etc. and can severely damage a person's quality of life, leaving them immobile and often triggering depression.

Thus, here is a disease with multiple causative factors, multiple complications and so also multiple treatment options. The only challenge that comes up is to differentiate scientific and non-scientific treatment options so that the right treatment for the right stage of obesity is started at the right time to prevent complications occurring from obesity.

Dr Manish Motwani, Bariatric Surgeon practicing at 'Aastha Health Care', one of the top bariatric surgery centres in Mumbai and India, says, "When the BMI (Body Mass Index) is low, there are multiple options like diet plan, exercise, weight loss pills, lifestyle modification, medications, etc., but once BMI rises, options become limited and the treatment then gets limited to Bariatric Surgery or Metabolic Surgery or Laparoscopic Weight Loss Surgery." 

Bariatric Surgery means any surgery aimed at creating major weight loss in an individual. Most commonly performed bariatric surgery procedures being Gastric Band, Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy, Gastric Bypass and Mini Gastric Bypass. These surgeries are performed laparoscopically through multiports or Single Incision (SILS). With the increasing incidence of morbid obesity and increasing number of bariatric surgery procedures performed, risks have considerably decreased and results prove that the long-term risks of remaining obese is much greater than the risks of weight loss surgery.

Most reputable health/governmental organisations recommend bariatric surgery for obese individuals who qualify.

The long-term health benefits after bariatric surgery (also referred as Surgery for Diabetes and Obesity) include improved cardiovascular-related and diabetes-related outcomes. These improvements in comorbidities are associated with a decrease in mortality that ranges from 24-40% as compared to patients treated non-surgically. In appropriate patients, the health risks from obesity far outweigh the risks associated with bariatric surgery.

"Bariatric and metabolic surgery is a major decision, and patients need time to consider it and explore their options. However, if a patient waits too long in their disease progression, the benefits from surgery may be impacted," added Dr Manish Motwani.  

Medical News Today recently reported on a study published in the BMJ suggesting that weight loss surgery is significantly more effective compared with non-surgical methods, weight loss pills, etc. to lose weight.

Studies have shown that weight loss surgery is associated with fewer cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, and it has even been suggested that the procedure is linked to improved sex drive in patients.

As obesity prevalence in the United States has grown considerably over the past 30 years, currently including 35% of Americans, so has the number of people turning to weight loss surgery as an option. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has revealed that both younger and older patients dealing with obesity can add more years to their life by undergoing bariatric surgery and is equivalent to gifting a life to the obese patients.

The prevalence of obesity and obesity-related disorders is on the rise in young adults, adolescents, and even in the paediatric population. In a perfect world, primary prevention through diet, lifestyle modification and exercise would alleviate the need for any surgical intervention. Unfortunately, until we begin to see the success with primary prevention or develop equally effective medical management, obesity surgery in India will remain an important and a reasonably safe tool in our armamentarium for the treatment of obesity and Diabesity.

About Aastha Health Care: 

Aastha Health Care is a Superspeciality Laparoscopy Hospital for men and women specialising in bariatric surgery. It is the first and largest non-corporate hospital in Mumbai performing high-end bariatric surgeries since the past 15 years, thus making a difference to many. Aastha Health Care is also a leading centre for medical tourism patients from across the globe landing in India for weight loss surgery.

'Aastha Health Care' and Motwani Charitable Trust have taken upon themselves the task of spreading awareness about obesity and obesity-related complications across the country. This article is one more effort to defeat obesity and gift a life to those who feel it is the end of the world because of heavy weight and obesity.

Media Contact:
Twinkle Haria
[email protected]
+91-9321350957
Chief Nutritionist and Bariatric Coordinator
Aastha Health Care