Effect of bariatric surgery is permanent or temporary

1. Effect of bariatric surgery is permanent or temporary

2. Author: Dr. AparnaGovilBhasker A person is classified as being affected by clinicallysevere obesity when their body mass index (BMI) is greater than 40 Kg/m2 (37.5 for Asians), or they are more than 100 pounds over their ideal body weight. Additionally, individuals who have a BMI of 35 Kg/m2 (32.5 for Asians) or greater with an existing co-morbidity (i.e. diabetes, hypertension, etc.) are also classified as being severely obese. Obese individuals have a much higher set point that determines their weight. Bariatric surgery is currently the most effective treatment option and the only proven method for sustained weight loss in people suffering with clinically severe obesity. Along with weight loss, it also leads to a significant improvement in co-morbidities and quality of life. Best results after bariatric surgery are obtained when the bariatric team and the patient work together as partners towards a common goal of healthy weight loss. Diet and lifestyle modification pre and post bariatric surgery is of utmost importance to achieve this goal. Surgery basically helps to lower the physiological set point for weight determination and hence works better than any other therapy for weight loss. .

4. If you are suffering from obesity and, you are looking for a weight loss surgery in Mumbai. Dr. AparnaGovilBhasker is best bariatric surgeon in Mumbai. What doctors and patients need to understand is that obesity is a chronic progressive disease just like hypertension, diabetes or heart disease. Chronic diseases like these, need life-long intervention. For example, when a person is diagnosed with diabetes, he/she is put on medications. As the disease progresses, medications may need to be increased or decreased as per the requirement. A single intervention at any given point of time does not serve as a cure for the disease. Same is the case with cancer, cure of the disease depends on the stage at which cancer is diagnosed. At times surgery may be curative but at other times, a patient may need additional therapy in the form of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Similar is the case with treatment of clinically severe obesity. Obesity is a chronic progressive disease. Bariatric surgery leads to massive weight loss which cannot be achieved by any other form of therapy and helps to lower the set point. Having said that, good results after surgery depend on many factors such as: age of the patient, gender of the patient, stage of the disease, associated co-morbidities, post-operative diet and lifestyle modification etc.

6. While some patients manage to maintain their weight in the long term, weight regain may be experienced by others. The degree of weight regain varies and may depend on many factors. The thing to understand here is that like any other chronic progressive disease, some of these patients may need long term support and intervention. Fortunately, nowadays some new drugs like topiramate, liraglutide, phenteramine, lorcaserine etc. may be used in conjunction with surgery to keep the weight off. Patients have shown good results with many of these combination therapies. Rarely, a revision surgery or conversion to another procedure may be required in case of weight regain. I think that the question whether bariatric surgery is permanent or temporary is not the correct question. Bariatric surgery is one of the most important steps in the treatment pyramid of clinically severe obesity but at times it may need to be combined with other therapies to get the best results. We must also refrain from blaming either the surgery or the patient if the results are sub-optimal in some cases as the disease is multifactorial and the outcome is dependent on many factors. It is time to accept that obesity may need life-long intervention and support in some patients.