MANILA, Philippines?Obesity has taken center stage in the healthcare industry over the recent years. With the increasing number of overweight to obese people worldwide, the understanding of the disease and all the medical complications it brings has been greater than ever before.
Obesity is now more of a life and death issue rather than just simply looking ?bad.?
Misconceptions
There is a misconception that obesity is simply just going beyond one?s ideal weight in terms of pounds and inches. Studies have shown that obesity leads to a number of serious heath conditions like diabetes, hypertension, infertility and heart disease. These collective health risks can therefore cause obese people to have a shorter life span as compared to non-obese individuals.
According to Philippine Obesity Control Surgery Team (POCST), obese people are in a much higher risk to develop type 2 diabetes. This type of diabetes is a result of a high blood sugar level. POCST also highlights how obesity can lead to early heart attacks. Heart attacks become 5 to 7 times more probable and knows no age. Other cardiovascular complications are also brought about by obesity, especially among older adults.
Other misconceptions are that certain illnesses are solely attributed to negative lifestyle habits like excessive alcohol intake, cigarette smoking and stress. Cirrhosis of the liver is a complication normally associated with alcoholics. But it is another red flag for people battling obesity. This is because of the added stress on the liver as a result of insulin resistance and the excess fat.
Health risks
Lack of sleep used to be seen as a disorder brought about by stress and environmental factors, but the recent studies have shown that sleeping disorders like sleep apnea can also be caused by obesity. Sleep deprivation can lead one person to have a low energy level which deters them from doing physical activities during the day and ultimately gain more weight. This cycle traps an obese person even more.
Unfortunately, even if an obese person decides to do a complete lifestyle overhaul like eating healthier, stopping vices and begin exercising, it sometimes is not enough. Deciding to lead a healthier lifestyle is a good start but obesity cannot be cured all by one?s self.
Should a person suffering from obesity decide to do an exercise regimen, certain physical conditions will not allow him/her to do so. Osteoarthritis is a condition wherein weight-bearing joints like the ankles, knees and hips become more susceptible to premature wear and tear because of the additional pressure in supporting the excess weight.
The threats that obesity can bring to a person does not end with these conditions. Aside from the direct health risks, certain types of cancer like ovarian and colon cancers are even more difficult to treat.
The chances of surviving obesity are very slim if not acted upon immediately. For morbidly obese people, exercise and strict diet regimes have little or no effect in reducing weight. People should bear in mind that obesity is not only about overeating, but also about genetics, hereditary background and the environmental that the person finds him/herself in.
A fighting chance
Thankfully, modern science has paved the way for people suffering from morbid or clinically significant obesity to have a fighting chance. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is a procedure wherein a gastric band is placed on the stomach pouch to restrict food intake. This procedure has been a successful and safe way to fight obesity when dieting and exercise don?t do the trick.
The dietary habits are changed after the laparoscopic surgery because it gives the person the feeling of being full even after a light meal. Weight is therefore kept off and more important a healthier lifestyle is achieved. This procedure and its strict program afterward ultimately reduce all the health hazards of obesity. The surgery has less than 1 percent morbidity and 0.05 percent mortality, making it a relatively safe and completely reversible procedure.
The procedure promotes sustainable weight loss and a healthier lifestyle as the patient becomes habituated to eating less. However, keep in mind that it is still best to consult with a doctor before undergoing any medical procedure to determine if you are a viable candidate for the operation.
