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Know Your B.M.I.

Your Height (in C.M.):
Your Weight (in K.G.):
Your B.M.I.:
This Means:

FAQ

  1. What is Obesity ?
  2. What is the concern with being Overweight or Obese ?
  3. How do we measure Obesity ?
  4. What is Bariatric or weight loss surgery procedure ?
  5. Weight loss surgery procedures ?
  6. Bariatric surgery ?
  7. Who needs Bariatric or weight loss surgery ?



1. What is Obesity ?

Obesity is a disease that is chronic and lifelong and results from accumulation of excessive fat that exceeds the body's physical and skeletal standards.




2. 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 diabetes and high blood pressure, which can contribute to heart attack, heart failure and stroke. Health concerns such as asthma, sleep apnoea, severe acid reflux, lower back pain, urinary stress incontinence are also byproducts of increased weight.




3. How do we measure Obesity ?

BMI or Body Mass Index is used to calculate a person's excess weight. It is calculated by the following formula.
BMI = Weight (Kilogram) ÷ Height (Meter ²)

Asia-Pacific guidelinesWHO guidelines
Normal Built 18-2321-25
Over weight 23-27.525-30
Obese 27.5-37.530-40
Morbidly Obese >37.5>40



4. What is Bariatric or weight loss surgery procedure ?

Bariatric surgery is a treatment option for some 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.




5. Weight loss surgery procedures ?

a. There are two basic mechanisms of weight loss surgery:

b. 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, this facilitates reduced calories and nutrients absorption.




6. Bariatric surgery ?

The morbidly obese patients often have difficulty achieving meaningful weight loss by conventional means: i.e. with diet, exercise and behavior modification, with or without the use of medication. It is even more difficult to maintain these weight reductions after they have been achieved. For some, it may be necessary to resort to surgery to achieve the desired goal of meaningful, sustained long term weight reduction.

Bariatric or weight control surgery has been available We now offer the following options tailored to individual patient's unique requirement:

Options 1, 2 and 3 require an operation through small abdominal incisions, utilising the laparoscope. This minimally invasive approach, unlike the older methods of operating via a large abdominal incision, minimises pain, allows early recovery and shorter hospital stay. Therefore, the gastric band can be performed as a day procedure.

All patients undergoing bariatric procedures require lifelong follow up and adherence to a regime of healthy eating, exercises and other behavior modification. Up to 60 - 80% excess weight loss can be expected




7. Who needs Bariatric or weight loss surgery ?

BMI of more than 37.5 kg/m2 (Asians) and more than 40 kg/m2 (western) with or without co-morbidities.

You have BMI between 32.5-37.5 (Asians) and BMI between 35-40 (Western) with severe medical conditions e.g. diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnoea (a sleep disorder where a person experiences irregular breathing at night), high blood pressure, joint pain (arthritis), etc.

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.