Obesity is a condition that results in an increase in body fat. In order to objectively define obesity, we use various indicators such as the Body Mass Index (BMI). However, the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1997 recognized obesity as a global epidemic, while in 2016 overweight adults reached 1.9 billion worldwide, where there are still increasing rates in Europe and in Greece.
Morbid obesity is defined as a serious chronic disease, characterized by an increase in body weight with accumulation of body fat, to a very large extent that significantly affects human health. Based on BMI, morbidly obese is defined as a patient with a BMI > 40 kg/ m2.
When a person reaches the state of morbid obesity, you create a multitude of serious health problems, making weight loss imperative to manage to balance their condition. This is achieved by two methods:
- Nutritional monitoring and exercise resulting in smooth and natural weight loss
- Bariatric surgery
In the first case, the patient, through his collaboration with the Dietitian-Nutritionist who creates a personalized nutrition program and in a natural and healthier way, loses the percentage of fat at a normal rate. At the same time, collaboration with a Gymnast and often with a Psychologist is very important.
In the second case, a patient finds a way out in bariatric surgery because he has difficulty adhering to a diet plan or is unable to maintain any weight loss efforts. It should be noted here that such surgery is not performed primarily for aesthetic reasons, but primarily to improve health, as well as to reduce morbidity and mortality rates.
What is bariatric surgery?
It is called the operation (laparoscopically) that reduces the amount of food the patient can consume and increases the time for which they feel full. This is achieved by reducing the part of the stomach that stores food. In essence, it leads to weight loss using one of the following methods:
- Gastric adjustable band (Lap-Banda)
- Gastric bypass or gastric by pass
- Vertical compartmentalization (according to Mason)
- Sleeve gastrectomy (gastric "sleeve")
Bariatric surgery is intended for certain patients who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater, or for patients with a BMI of 35 to 39.9 and serious health problems. However, it is necessary for the patient to meet specific medical criteria for such surgery.
It is also very important to emphasize that:
- The patient must be 100% conscious and aware of the entire surgical procedure.
- Like all surgeries, there is a small percentage of risk here.
- The patient must be determined to make radical changes in relation to their previous habits.
- He should strictly follow the doctor's instructions.
- After surgery, the Dietitian-Nutritionist, the Gymnast, and the Psychologist will in some cases be important collaborators of the patient.