Surgeries that make changes to your digestive system to help you lose weight are collectively called ‘Bariatric Surgery‘, also known as ‘Obesity Surgery‘. Bariatric surgery is applied when you cannot lose weight with a diet and exercise or when you have serious health problems due to your weight. Some types of surgery limit how much you can eat. Other types work by reducing the body’s ability to absorb nutrients. Some procedures allow you to lose weight by doing both.
Bariatric surgery is the only proven method to achieve long-term and permanent weight loss. However, the patient must permanently comply with the recommended healthy lifestyle changes afterwards.
Obesity is an increasing public health problem all over the world. Obesity, in its simplest definition, is excessive fat accumulation in the body. The reason for this is that the energy balance is disturbed as a result of the energy intake being more than the energy expended and there is an increase in body weight.
Obesity is classified scientifically. The most commonly used measurement is the classification according to ‘Body Mass Index’ (BMI).
BMI is the result of dividing body weight (kg) by the square of height (m) (kg/m2). For example, the BMI of a person who weighs 85 kg and is 1.65 m tall is 85/1.65×1.65= 31.2 kg/m2.
According to BMI, people are categorised as ‘underweight’, ‘normal weight’, ‘overweight’, ‘obese’, ‘morbid obese’ and super obese’. BMI (kg/m²):
- below 18.5 kg/m² = Underweight
- between 18.5-24.9 kg/m² = Normal Overweight
- between 25-29.9 kg/m² = Overweight
- between 30-39.9 kg/m² = Obese (fat)
- over 40 kg/m² = morbidly obese
- over 50 kg/m² = Super obese
Body mass index (BMI) provides information about the amount of fat in the body. However, where this fat accumulates is as important as the amount of fat in the body. Fat accumulated around the abdomen carries more risk than fat accumulated in other parts of the body. Therefore, waist circumference is also measured in the assessment of obesity. Waist circumference measurements above certain limits increase the risk of health-threatening chronic diseases caused by obesity. A waist circumference over 94 cm in men and 80 cm in women is considered ‘increased risk’; a waist circumference over 102 cm in men and 88 cm in women is considered ‘high risk’.
Obesity impairs one’s the quality of life. It negatively affects the psychology mostly due to low self-esteem. More importantly, obesity causes chronic disorders that generally increase the risk of death. These are heart diseases, stroke, hypertension, fatty liver, sleep apnoea and type 2 diabetes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Obesity is a complex disease that develops as a result of excessive fat accumulation in the body. The reason for this is that the energy balance is disturbed as a result of the energy intake being more than the energy expended and there is an increase in body weight. Obesity is not only a cosmetic concern. It is a medical problem that increases the risk of other chronic and life-threatening diseases and health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and some cancers.
The ideal weight varies according to gender and height. There are various formulae to calculate this. You can find out whether your current weight is within normal limits by calculating your body mass index (BMI). Those with a BMI between 18.5-24.9 kg/m² are ‘normal weight’.
BMI is the result of body weight (kg) divided by the square of height (m) (kg/m2).
You can find out if your current weight is within normal limits by calculating your body mass index (BMI). A BMI between 18.5-24.9 kg/m² is ‘normal weight’.
Surgeries that make changes to your digestive system to help you lose weight are collectively called ‘Bariatric Surgery’ or ‘Obesity Surgery’.
Surgeries that allow you to lose weight by making changes in your digestive system are called ‘Bariatric Surgery’.
You should first try to lose your excess weight with diet and exercise. If these are unsuccessful and your body mass index (BMI) is >40 or BMI>35 and you have at least one obesity-related health problem such as type 2 diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension, sleep apnoea, you can only have obesity surgery.
People with a body mass index (BMI)>40 or BMI>35 and at least one obesity-related disease such as type 2 diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension, sleep apnoea are suitable candidates for bariatric surgery.
Bariatric surgery should be applied when you cannot lose weight with diet and exercise or when you have serious health problems due to your weight.
Some types of bariatric surgery limit how much you can eat. Other types work by reducing the body’s ability to absorb nutrients. Some procedures do both, allowing you to lose weight.
People with a body mass index (BMI)>40 or BMI>35 and at least one obesity-related disease such as type 2 diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension, sleep apnoea are suitable candidates for bariatric surgery. Of course, you must not have been able to lose weight with diet and sports before.
Bariatric surgery is the only proven method to achieve long-term and permanent weight loss. However, in order for the weight loss to be achieved in this way and the improvement in the accompanying health problems to continue, the person must comply with the recommended healthy lifestyle changes for life.
In Turkey, bariatric surgery is performed by general surgeons specialised in this field.
The most common weight loss (bariatric surgery) surgeries are gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and gastric balloon application.
Some types of bariatric surgery limit how much you can eat. Other types work by reducing the body’s ability to absorb nutrients. Some procedures do both, allowing you to lose weight.
A waist circumference below 94 cm in men and 80 cm in women is considered a good waist circumference for obesity.
The most common bariatric surgery is sleeve gastrectomy.
Your doctor will recommend the appropriate surgical method for you by evaluating your body mass index and any additional health problems.
Bariatric surgery operations take an average of 1-1.5 hours depending on the type.
The bariatric surgery with the fastest recovery period is sleeve gastrectomy surgery.
It is not possible not to lose weight after bariatric surgery. However, if the recommended healthy lifestyle changes (healthy, balanced and regular nutrition; exercise; avoiding bad habits) are not followed, some of the weight lost may be regained.
Bariatric surgery is only recommended for people with a certain BMI.
The rate and amount of weight loss after bariatric surgery varies according to preoperative BMI and type of surgery.
Bariatric surgeries, especially the most common sleeve gastrectomy, are extremely safe operations with very low complication rates.
After the surgery, you should follow all the recommendations of your physician, including the medications recommended, and do not disrupt your follow-up programme. Implementing the recommended healthy lifestyle changes throughout your remaining life will ensure that the weight loss and improvements in health problems you have achieved will be permanent.
Your dietician will prepare the appropriate nutrition programme for you according to the type of bariatric surgery and your health problems, if any. Protein, mineral and vitamin supplements are started immediately. Only liquid foods are taken in the first days. Afterwards, soft foods in the form of pulp and puree are recommended.
The best bariatric surgery is the method recommended by your doctor after your evaluation. In general, 60-80% of the excess weight is lost in sleeve gastrectomy surgery, while this rate is 70-100% in gastric bypass surgery.
The complication rate in sleeve gastrectomy surgery is lower than other methods.
Failure occurs only when the patient does not make the recommended lifestyle changes permanent after the operation. Otherwise, the success rate of bariatric surgeries is 60-100%.
Absorption of some vitamins and trace elements is adversely affected after bariatric surgery. Replacing these is important for health. Calcium, B vitamin complexes and iron supplements are recommended.
Weight stabilisation after bariatric surgery occurs after 1-2 years.
It takes 1-2 years to stabilise the weight after bariatric surgery. If the person can make permanent lifestyle changes, aesthetic operations can be planned after the 2nd year.
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