Key points:
- Obesity.
- What is it? And what is bariatric surgery for?
- Who can have this procedure?
- Types of bariatric surgery.
- Life after surgery.
Obesity is a chronic disease characterized by the excessive accumulation of fat that is detrimental to health and whose complications considerably reduce the daily quality of life of those who suffer from it.
It is currently considered a pandemic that has a significant impact on health systems. At least 35% of adolescents in Mexico are overweight or obese and up to 73% of adults (20 years and older) have the same pathologies.
Bariatric surgery as a treatment for obesity
Diseases derived from obesity complications can be a risk of developing type 2 diabetes, systemic arterial hypertension, multiple cardiovascular diseases, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, and some types of cancer.
Bariatric surgery is an alternative to surgical treatment, which allows significant improvement in some of these diseases.
The procedure consists of reducing the stomach’s capacity through a minimally invasive laparoscopic surgical intervention and the construction of an intestinal bridge that reduces the absorption of some of the nutrients that food provides, this favors progressive and controlled weight loss.
Candidates for this type of surgery are people between 18 and 70 years old with an excess weight of 40 kilos or more, who have followed a diet and an exercise regimen without achieving the desired results, or those who have other complications derived from their overweight that generate a significant health risk.
There are three types of weight control bariatric surgery:
Gastric bypass
This procedure is the most common method and is usually irreversible; it manages to decrease the amount of food you can eat and reduces the absorption of nutrients.
Gastric sleeve
In this process, 80% of the stomach is removed, which takes the form of a long tube-shaped bag; since the stomach is smaller, it cannot hold as much food. In addition, it produces less ghrelin, a hormone that regulates appetite, which can help reduce the desire to eat.
Bariatric surgeries can cause long-term weight loss, the amount of weight you lose depends on the type of surgery and a change of habits, if these are carried out correctly, you can lose half or even more excess weight in about two years.
It is important to modify your eating habits after bariatric surgery, as well as add an exercise routine to maintain optimal weight and health.
Among the most important habits, the following stand out:
- Drink at least 2 liters of water a day.
- Get at least 30 minutes of daily exercise.
- Consume protein.
- Take vitamins prescribed by your treating physician.
At ABC Medical Center, we have specialists at our Nutrition & Obesity Center ready to help you take this big step towards a new lifestyle.
At ABC Medical Center’s Nutrition & Obesity Center, we can provide you with specialized care. Contact us!
Fuentes:
https://www.imss.gob.mx/prensa/archivo/201808/219
https://www.medigraphic.com/pdfs/medintmex/mim-2013/mim135g.pdf
https://www.mayoclinic.org/es/tests-procedures/bariatric-surgery/about/pac-20394258
