Obesity is a disease involving an excessive amount of body fat and it is not a cosmetic concern, but associated with increased risk of other multiple medical problems involving almost all parts of the body such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain cancers. Obesity is a pandemic.

Obesity is a problem both in children and adults.

Key facts of Obesity

• Worldwide obesity has nearly increased by three times in the last 30 years.

• More than 1.9 billion adults  were overweight ( BMI >25). Of these over 650 million were obese.

• Overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight.

• 38 million children less than 5yrs of age were overweight or obese.

• Over 340 million children and adolescents aged 5-19 were overweight or obese in 2016.

• Obesity is preventable.

What are 5 causes of obesity?

9 Most common causes of obesity

• Reduced Physical activity  ... 

• Overeating. ... 

• Genetical- runs in family. ... 

• A diet rich in simple carbohydrates like coke or sugar/ sweets. ... 

• Eating very often and snacking ... 

• Medications- certain medication will make you gain weight including diabetic medication ... 

• Psychological factors like depression ... 

• Medical conditions like hypothyroidism, insulin resistance, polycystic ovary syndrome, and Cushing's syndrome are also contributors to obesity.

What are the three types of obesity?

These ranges of BMI are used to describe levels of risk:

• Overweight (not obese), if BMI is 25.0 to 29.9.

• Class 1 (low-risk) obesity, if BMI is 30.0 to 34.9.

• Class 2 (moderate-risk) obesity, if BMI is 35.0 to 39.9.

• Class 3 (high-risk) obesity, if BMI is equal to or greater than 40.0.

What Obesity does to your body.

People with obesity are more likely to develop a number of potentially serious health problems, including:

• Heart disease and strokes. 

• Type 2 diabetes. 

• Certain cancers. .

• Digestive problems.

• Gynaecological and sexual problems. 

• Sleep apnea- snoring and low oxygen levels during asleep

• Arthritis. 

• Severe COVID-19 symptoms. Obesity increases the risk of developing severe symptoms if you become infected with the virus like COVID and risk increase of being admitted to hospital as well as Intensive care.

What foods prevent obesity?

What to Eat

• Whole grains like oats, wheat etc…

• Vegetables- not potatoes

• Whole fruits (not fruit juices)

• Nuts, seeds, beans, and other healthful sources of protein (fish and poultry)

• Plant oils (olive and other vegetable oils)

Treatment strategies for weight loss.

Lifestyle modification including healthy eating, reducing calories intake and increasing physical activity by at least twice weekly heavy exercise.

Despite lifestyle modification, certain patients don’t lose weight, and they need assistance, which include stomach volume reduction or creating malabsorption either by endoscopic measures or surgical methods.

 Endoscopic methods of reducing the volume include Gastric Balloons or Endoscopic suturing called Endosleeve.

Endoscopic procedures for weight loss

These types of procedures don't require any incisions in your skin. After you receive anesthesia, flexible tubes and tools are inserted through your mouth and down your throat into your stomach.

Advantages of Endoscopic weight loss procedures.

1. Day case procedures, more often you don’t need to stay in hospital.

2. No scars, 

3. no surgery, 

4. painless

5. Least complications, 

6. Reversible

7. No longterm complication (unlike the surgical bariatric )

Endoscopic Sleeve -This procedure involves placing stitches in your stomach to reduce its size by 80%, so the consumption of food is reduced and the amount of food you can comfortably consume.  

Gastric Balloon- A small balloon into your stomach. The balloon is filled with water to reduce the amount of space available in your stomach. This helps you feel fuller faster.  

These procedures are usually approved for people with BMIs of 30 or above when diet and exercise alone have not been successful. The expected weight loss varies among procedures from 5% to 20% of total body weight loss.

Bariatric Surgeries---

These are group of surgeries which alter the anatomy of the stomach by invasive process.

1.Gastric Band- 

2. Gastric Sleeve-

3. Gastric By pass-

    By

Dr. Chandra Sekhar P