An insight into Weight Reduction Surgery

Diabetes and obesity are the two major epidemics threatening the well-being and health of billions of individuals across the planet. Because of this uncontrollable rise of the above two conditions, weight reduction surgery popularly known as bariatric surgery, has taken an important place in the medical fraternity. Bariatric surgery is at present, one of the most efficient surgery therapies wherein the average long-term loss of weight is 15%. As a result, bariatric surgery has gained significant interest as future treatment for diabetic patients too.

Obesity has become a daunting problem among individuals and while healthy lifestyle and exercise can provide relief, but only to a certain extent. As such, doctors as well as medical practitioners are now focusing on numerous treatment protocols for combating weigh reduction as well as various related lifestyle diseases. 

Weight-loss surgery procedures are specifically done to reduce fat among highly obese people, and focuses on the abdomen and stomach areas. The official recommendation for undergoing bariatric surgery is when a patient’s Body Mass Index (BMI) is more than 40.

Weight-reduction procedures for surgery can take in various forms. Opens surgeries are rarely done now-a-days as the risk is high. The most common surgery is method is laparoscopic surgery. However, researchers are also hoping to advance the surgery procedures from laparoscopic to endoscopic in near future. Malabsorptive surgery procedures are done to reduce the size of the stomach and its effectiveness depends on the condition of the malabsorption. Other forms of malabsorbtive procedures are biliopancreatic diversion and endoluminal sleeve. At the same time, some of the restrictive procedures include vertical gastroplast, gastric band, sleeve gastrostomy, gastric balloon.

The most common bariatric surgery followed is (gastric) bypass surgery involving both technologies. Bariatric surgery costs are determined by the procedure type. However, they can also vary depending on the surgical practice, geography as well as hospital category. 

Weight reduction surgeries help in positive metabolism manipulation of patients. Reports on post-weight reduction surgeries have found development in blood chemistry as well other conditions like high cholesterol, diabetes and hypertension. As a result, weight reduction surgeries are being look upon as a potential future treatment for diabetes too.