Understanding Obesity: A Bariatric Surgeon’s Guide

Understanding Obesity: A Bariatric Surgeon’s Guide

Dr. Harsh Sheth, Mumbai’s best bariatric surgeon, answers some frequently asked questions about the obesity problem.

What exactly is obesity?

According to Dr. Harsh Sheth, a bariatric and laparoscopic surgeon at the Saifee Hospital, Bhatia Hospital, ACI Cumballa Hill Hospital, Apollo Spectra Hospital (Tardeo), Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai Central, and Conwest & Manjula S Badani Jain Charitable Hospital, obesity, and overweight are defined as excessive fat accumulation in the body to the extent that it becomes a health risk.

Obesity’s leading causes:

Obesity is a multifaceted condition with many contributing variables. It isn’t simply a function of energy input and output. Obesity is caused by a combination of genetic, hormonal, environmental, dietary, and behavioral factors. Our surroundings have changed dramatically, along with significant changes in our diet and lifestyle, which has grown sedentary. It takes a lot longer for our genes to adjust.

Our genetic makeup has traditionally been tailored to conserve energy. Our genetic constitution is currently unable to cope with high energy consumption. Dietary considerations play a role as well. Sugar and preservatives are overused as a result of an overemphasis on convenience foods. Another factor is a low intake of protein and high consumption of carbohydrate-rich foods. Continued confinement has only exacerbated everyone’s predisposition to acquire weight in recent months.

Which diseases are associated with obesity?

Obesity has a negative impact on the human body from head to toe. Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease, joint aches, sleep apnea, gout, liver and kidney disease, and other conditions are all caused by it. It causes PCOS and infertility in women, as well as a slew of issues during pregnancy. Obesity also increases the risk of cancers like breast and endocrine cancer in women, as well as colon and pancreatic cancer in men.

What should one eat to avoid becoming obese?

Maintain a well-balanced, low-carbohydrate, low-sugar diet. Carbohydrates heavy in trans fats, as well as starchy foods, should be avoided. Obesity can also be avoided by engaging in regular exercise.

What kind of workout should I do?

Adults should get at least 150-200 minutes of moderate to intense exercise every week, according to a Mumbai bariatric surgeon. This, however, may vary depending on a person’s clinical state and physical fitness. People who are extremely busy should incorporate physical activity into their daily routines, such as climbing stairs or walking an extra mile.

Is surgery the only way to deal with obesity?

For people suffering from severe obesity, bariatric surgery is the only effective therapeutic option. Bariatric surgery is advised when a person weighs 30 to 35 kgs or more above their optimal body weight, and other weight-loss strategies such as diets and lifestyle changes have failed.

The most common bariatric procedures are sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass surgery. Other surgeries include gastric bands and duodenal switches, as well as endoscopic procedures.

When do you start losing weight following surgery?

Following bariatric surgery, weight loss begins almost immediately. In the first six months, patients lose a lot of weight. It takes roughly 12 to 18 months to lose all of your weight.

Are fat persons at a higher risk of contracting the coronavirus?

Obese people have been shown to have a more severe infection with Covid 19, as well as a higher rate of hospitalization. They also have a better risk of being admitted to the intensive care unit.

Is it true that weight loss surgery ensures long-term weight loss?

No. A tiny minority of patients will regain a significant amount of their lost weight. This happens most often when the patient does not follow the dietary recommendations in the months and years after the treatment.

Is it still possible for me to go out to eat?

Absolutely. You’ll want to order only a small amount of food and eat slowly. Try to finish at the same time as your table companions. You might want to let your waiter or waitress know that you cannot eat very much.

What about pregnancy?

Becoming pregnant can be more accessible after losing weight, says the Mumbai-based bariatric surgeon. Your menstrual cycle may also become more regular. However, we don’t recommend becoming pregnant during the weight loss phase after your surgery (up to 18 months after the operation). Should you become pregnant, we encourage communication between your obstetrician and bariatric surgeon.

How Does Weight Loss Surgery Affect Nutrition?

After weight loss surgery, the body has difficulty absorbing certain vital nutrients, including: