What is Obesity?

Obesity is a complex disorder involving an excessive amount of body fat. Obesity isn’t just a cosmetic concern. It increases your risk of diseases and health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Being extremely obese means you are especially likely to have health problems related to your weight.

What is metabolic syndrome?

The metabolic syndrome is constellation of risk factors in an individual which predisposes the person to greater risk of developing T2DM and CVD. Presence of 3 or more of the following variables make you qualify into metabolic syndrome.

Variable Definition
Central Obesity
Men: waist circumference > 102 cm

Women: waist circumference > 88 cm
Hyperlipidemia
LDL – C > 150 mg /dl and /or HDL – C < 40mg/dl in men; < 50 mg/dl for women
Hypertension and hyperglycaemia
Blood Pressure > 130/85 mm Hg and fasting blood sugar > 110 mg/dl
Hyperinsulinemia
Fasting insulin compared with GTT

What is the concern with being Overweight or Obese?

Being obese is a health hazard with mental, psychological, social physical and economic co- morbidities. If not treated properly, it might become a cause of premature death. Morbid obesity or clinically severe obesity is associated with co- morbidities like adult onset of diabetes and high blood pressure, which can contribute to heart attack, heart failure and stroke. Health concerns such as asthma, sleep apnea, severe acid reflux, lower back pain, urinary stress incontinence are also by – products of increased weight.

best weight loss surgeon in delhi

How do we measure Obesity?

BMI or Body Mass Index is used to calculate a person’s excess weight. It is calculated by following formula.

       BMI = Weight (kilogram) / Height (Meter2)

Asia – Pacific guidelines

Obesity Grade

NORMAL BUILT

18 - 22.5
Normal

OVER WEIGHT

22.5 – 27.5
Overweight

OBESE

27.5 – 32.5
Obese

MORBIDLY OBESE

32.5 – 37.5
Severe Obesity
Above 37.5
Morbid Obesity

What is Bariatric or weight loss surgery procedure?

Weight Loss surgery is a treatment option for patients with severe obesity. It can cause significant weight reduction by altering your body’s food digestion and absorption pattern. The choice of procedure should be decided after a discussion with your Bariatric surgeon. Bariatric surgery is now performed laparoscopically (‘key hole surgery’) which leads to early recovery as it minimizes trauma of surgical access.

Who needs Bariatric or weight loss surgery?

  • BMI is >37.5 without co-morbidities.
  • BMI is between 32.5 – 37.5 with serious weight related problems such as type 2 Diabetes, High blood pressure, Arthritis or Sleep apnea.
  • In some special cases, you may qualify for certain types of weight loss surgeries if BMI is 30 and above and you have serious co-morbid health problems.
  • All other methods of weight loss (exercise, dietary, medicines etc.) have failed to deliver a lasting solution.
  • Unable to do routine activities due to severe obesity.
  • Patients who have understood the surgical procedures for weight loss, the risks and after-effects of surgery and have consented for the same.
Appointment with Dr. Ashish Vashistha

Weight loss surgery procedures

There are two basic mechanisms of weight loss surgery:

Restrictive Procedures

Decrease in food intake by creating a small upper stomach pouch or sleeve to limit food intake.

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB)

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (LSG)

Mal – Absorptive Procedure

Decrease in food intake by creating a small pouch of stomach by staples. In addition to this, initial segment of small intestine is By- passed, which facilitates reduced calories and nutrients absorption.

Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass (LGB)

 
 
 

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB)

In this procedure a silicon band lined with an inflatable balloon is placed laparoscopically around the stomach near its upper end creating a small pouch (15 to 30 cc vol.) and a narrow passage leads into the larger remainder of stomach.

When a patient eats, the feeling of satiety or fullness of stomach is experienced early and therefore food consumption is reduced, leading to significant weight loss.

This balloon is connected to a small reservoir that is placed under the skin of the abdomen through which the diameter of the band can be adjusted by injecting fluid into it as an outpatient procedure.

Best Weight Loss Surgeon in Delhi

best bariatric surgeon in delhi ncr

Weighit loss surgery / Bariatric Surgery

Highlights of the Procedure

  • Performed laparoscopically with 5 small incisions ( less than 5 mm and one of 15 mm size).
  • Adjustable ‘silastic’ gastric band used.
  • Operative time approximately one hour.
  • Short hospital stay of 1 to 2 days.
  • Liquids can be taken orally from 1’st post-operative day.
  • Quick recovery: back to work in one week.
  • Resumption of strenuous activity in 2 weeks.

Advantages of LAGB

  • Eliminates feeling of being always hungry.
  • Food is absorbed normally.
  • No vitamin and protein deficiency.
  • No cutting or stapling of the stomach.
  • Adjustable without additional surgery.
  • Fully reversible: stomach returns to normal size if the band is removed.

Disadvantages of LAGB

Some risk of Band complication: leakage, infection, slipping and migration.

 

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (LSG)

Sleeve Gastrectomy is a technique that offers the same results as the Gastric Bypass but with less risk.

The Gastric ‘Sleeve’ is a new procedure that induces weight loss by restricting food intake (a restrictive procedure).

With this procedure, the surgeon removes approximately 80 percent of the stomach laparoscopically and with the help of staplers so that the stomach takes the shape of a tube or ‘sleeve’, or a very slim banana which measures from 30 to 50 cc depending upon the surgeon performing the procedure.

In addition to being restrictive, this procedure has seen that the hormone that regulates the appetite, the Ghrelina, diminishes, causing the patient to have less desire to eat.

Highlights

  • Performed laparoscopically with 5 small incisions (most less than 5 mm, two of 12 mm).
  • Endostapler used to divide stomach.
  • Takes about 1 to 2 hours to complete.
  • Stay in hospital for 2 -3 days.
  • Liquid diet for 2 weeks after the operation.
  • Return to work in 1 to 2 weeks.
  • Resume strenuous activity in one month.

Advantages of LSG

  • It is performed laparoscopically.
  • It does not require disconnecting or reconnecting the intestines, as in bypass.
  • No implant and adjustment required as in band surgery.
  • Food is absorbed normally.
  • No vitamin and protein deficiency.
  • It is a technically simpler operation than the gastric bypass.
  • Weight loss surgery of choice for high risk patients, especially those with anaemia, severe asthma, for patients on steroids, inflammatory bowel disease.

Disadvantages of LSG

  • Remaining stomach may stretch out.
  • May require follow-up weight loss surgery for the morbidly obese.
  • Not reversible.
 

Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass

In a laparoscopic gastric bypass, the stomach is made smaller by creating a small pouch (30 ml) at the top of the stomach using surgical staples. The smaller stomach is connected directly to the middle porting of the small intestine (Jejunum), bypassing the rest of the stomach and the upper portion of the small intestine (Duodenum). The small stomach makes you feel full more quickly and part of small intestine bypass causes reduced calories and nutrient absorption, which ultimately leads to weight loss.

Highlights

  • Performed laparoscopically by 5-6 small 5 mm incisions, one of 15 mm.
  • Hospital stay is required for 3-5 days.
  • Liquid diet for two weeks after the operation.
  • Return to work in 1-2 weeks.
  • Normal activities in 1 month.

Advantages of LGB

  • Eliminates feeling of being always hungry.
  • You eat small amount of normal food.
  • Diabetes and other co-morbidities are usually resolved early.
  • Sustainable long term weight control.

Disadvantages of LGB

  • This operation is more risky than the band or the sleeve gastrectomy.
  • Usually not reversible.
  • Long term diet supplementation with vitamins and minerals is required.
 

Mini Gastric bypass

The Mini Gastric Bypass (MGB) is a Short, Simple, Successful, Reversible Laparoscopic gastric bypass weight loss surgery. The operation usually takes approx 60 to 90 min. The Mini Gastric Bypass (MGB) is low risk, has excellent long term weight loss, minimal pain and can be easily reversed or revised. MGB is short, simple and revisable; it is powerful like the RNY but unlike the RNY it is easily revisable (60 minutes.)

The MGB cuts hunger by over half in contrast to the band which leaves patients hungry and vomiting when they eat healthy foods.
 

How is a Mini Gastric Bypass procedure performed?

The Mini-Gastric Bypass surgical process involves using a small section of the stomach forming a small pouch at the top of the stomach, by bypassing the major section of the stomach, the food passes from the small pouch into the small bowel where it meets the digestive juices . This surgery alters the ghrelin hormone involved in the appetite control. It is a restrictive and malabsorptive procedure.

 

What are the advantages and benefits of the Mini Gastric Bypass?

It can be reversed or repaired if necessary. This procedure can be performed quicker and is less invasive than traditional bypass surgery

 

Who is a good candidate for this procedure?

Indication for usage of Mini Gastric Bypass procedures are the same as for other operations for overweight patients and for Metabolic Syndome, it is important to talk to you doctor to learn about the advantages and potential risks for all of the various procedures. All gastric bypass surgeries are designed to help you lose weight and bring corrections in Metabolic Syndrome. But, it doesn’t end there; you must be prepared to make substantial eating habits and lifestyle changes while continuing to be monitored by the specialist treating you.

 

Check-list before surgery

The thorough medical check by medical and surgical team to decide the type of surgery and assess your readiness for the operation and to rule out the following conditions is required:

  • Endocrine related causes of obesity.
  • Severe or uncontrolled psychological and mental illness.
  • Alcohol or drug abuse.

One to two weeks prior to surgery, the patient is kept on a very low calorie liquid diet to make the surgery technically easier.

Benefits of Bariatric Surgery

The medical and emotional benefits of weight loss procedures begin almost after surgery:

  • Significant weight loss
  • Improvement of Type Ⅱ Diabetes
  • Lower blood pressure
  • Lower cholesterol
  • Relief in sleep apnea
  • Relief in acid reflux
  • Decreased joint pain, improved mobility
  • Improved mood and self-esteem

Risks of weight loss surgery

Weight loss surgery, as with any major surgery, has some associated risks of which you should be made aware of, these may include:

  • Leakage of digestive juice into the body cavity.
  • Wound infection at incision sites.
  • Hernias-a weakening of abdominal wall.
  • Development of gall stones-due to rapid weight loss.
  • Blood clots-may cause a more serious condition called a pulmonary embolism
  • Vitamin deficiencies-may be preventable by taking daily vitamin supplements.

Life after Bariatric Surgery

After surgery there are three phases through which your diet progression will take place:

Stage-Ⅰ     Liquid diet     1-15 Days

Stage-Ⅱ     Semi-solid diet     15-30 Days

Stage-Ⅲ     Low fat solid diet     After 4 weeks of surgery

  • Medications for your co-morbidities i.e.diabetes, hypertension may need adjustment in consultation with your doctor.
  • Lifestyle adjustment.
  • Patient must learn to eat food in small amounts and to chew it well and slowly.
  • Follow-up is necessary every month for 3 month after surgery and then as advised by your surgeon for dietary/nutritional counseling, for best results.
  • Weight loss starts soon after surgery and continues for one and half to two years.
  • Obesity surgery is not a cosmetic surgery. It leads to improved stamina, mood and self esteem with significant weight reduction.