• April 23, 2024

According to data from the National Survey of Health and Nutrition (Ensanut) 2012, in Mexico, 32.4% of Mexicans suffer from severe and morbid obesity; However, this situation reverses with the benefits of bariatric surgery.

The doctor Gilberto Ungson Beltrán, director of the Bariatric Surgery and Diabetes Clinic of CIMA Hospital, Obesity is an aggravating factor for more than 30 diseases, which leads to medical, psychosocial and economic impacts.

Bariatric surgery, effective in reducing diabetes and hypertension

For his part, the doctor Juan Pablo Pantoja, specialist in endocrine surgery, advanced laparoscopy and bariatric surgery , details that this type of process is a safe and effective alternative to resolve morbid obesity and its associated comorbidities such as sleep apnea, diabetes and hypertension.

In the meeting with media organized by Johnson & Johnson , Juan Pablo Pantoja mentions that through bariatric surgery solves or improves this type of ailments in patients, which generates a decrease in the consumption of drugs for their treatment.

The doctor states that there are three techniques used for the treatment of obesity:

1. Restrictive: vertical gastroplasty with band, gastric sleeve resection, adjustable gastric band, non-adjustable and long.
2. Mal-absorptive procedures (which limit the absorption of energy and nutrients): biliopancreatic diversion
3. Mixed procedures: biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch and Roux en Y gastric bypass.

The ideal candidates for this type of procedure are those older than 18 years, who have a BMI greater than 40 kg / m2 or a BMI between 35 and 40 kg / m2 with some comorbidity and when conventional treatment (diet-exercise) has not given result

However, the specialist clarifies that bariatric surgery is not an aesthetic treatment, since it is indicated under the supervision of a multidisciplinary team, to improve the quality of life of patients.

Despite the effectiveness, only 0.04% of people with morbid obesity receive surgical treatment in public health institutions per year (less than a thousand surgeries)

How obesity is measured

Meanwhile, the doctor Gilberto Ungson Beltrán It states that to measure the degree of obesity, the Body Mass Index (BMI) is used, which is calculated by dividing the weight of a person in kilos by the square of the height in meters (kg / m2).

The specialist points out that a person is considered within the range of obesity when he has between 30 and 34.9 of BMI; a person who registers the severe stage is between 35 and 39.9; while a patient with morbid obesity will have more than 40 BMI.

Video Medicine: Gastric Bypass Complications - Mayo Clinic (April 2024).