VIJAYAWADA: Obesity is a condition when the amount of fat stored in the body exceeds healthy limits, said Dr Nandakishore Dukkipati, chief surgeon & managing director, LivLife Hospitals and described obesity itself as a disease. He said there is a solution to obesity in the form bariatric surgery or weight loss surgery. A Q&A with the surgeon.
Q. Why do some people need bariatric surgery?
A. Obese individuals are at a far greater risk than others of dying of obesity-associated diseases (such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, respiratory disease and others). Obesity accounts for more than 2,80,000 deaths annually in the United States; it will soon overtake smoking as the primary preventable cause of death, if the current trends continue. This trend is alarmingly rising in India. Weight-loss surgery can help the morbidly obese achieve long-term success.
Q. What is the difference between overweight and being obese?
A. By definition overweight is a body mass index (BMI) of 25-29 and obesity is defined as a BMI greater than or equal to 30.
Q. What are the various surgical options?
A. Adjustable Gastric Band, Gastric Sleeve and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. All these procedures can be performed in a minimally invasive fashion (laparoscopic). Choosing between the procedures involves many factors, including the patient’s preference and consideration of the patient’s eating habits. A final decision is best made after a discussion between the patient and the surgeon.