Dr Ken Loi, Bariatric (Obesity) Surgeon, Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeon, Kogarah, Hurstville, Miranda, Caringbah, Sydney, NSW » Conditions » » Obesity » What is Obesity?

What is Obesity?

Obesity is not simply a result of eating too much. Obesity is recognized as a serious, chronic disease.

Causes of Obesity

  • Eating and exercising habits
  • The genes you inherited from your parents
  • How well your body turns food into energy
  • Your surroundings
  • Psychological factors

Consequences of Obesity

If you are severely, or morbidly obese may experience the following health problems:

  • Shorter Life Expectancy

    Compared to normal weight people, obese people have a 50-100% increased risk of dying prematurely

  • Obese people are at more risk of:
    • Diabetes (type 2)
    • Joint problems (e.g., arthritis)
    • High blood pressure
    • Heart disease
    • Gallbladder problems
    • Certain types of cancer (breast, uterine, colon)
    • Digestive disorders (e.g., gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, or GORD)
    • Breathing difficulties (e.g., sleep apnoea, asthma)
    • Problems with fertility and pregnancy
    • Incontinence
    • Psychological problems such as depression
  • Risks to psychological and social well-being
    • Negative self-image
    • Social isolation
    • Discrimination
  • Difficulties with day-to-day living
    • Normal tasks become harder when you are obese, as movement is more difficult
    • You tend to tire more quickly and you find yourself short of breath
    • Public transport seats, telephone booths, and cars may be too small for you
    • You may find it difficult to maintain personal hygiene

Treatment Options

Non-surgical intervention

Many people who are unhealthily overweight have tried various ways to lose excess weight. There are hundreds of market is slimming diets, cures and products that available. However many studies show that diets and slimming aids rarely succeed in helping people achieve the desired result of long lasting weight reduction.

In fact, many people who have tried dieting gain back more than they lost when they go off the diet.

Obesity Surgery

Obesity surgery is available for those people who have tried to lose weight with diets, exercise, cures, tablets or medicines without success.

Obesity surgery is designed to reduce the amount your stomach can hold and therefore decrease your appetite so you eat less.

Click here to find out more about Obesity Surgery from www.obesitysurgeons.com.au

Several Types of Obesity Surgery

There are several types of obesity surgery available; following is a brief overview on each of them. For more information please contact our practice.

Gastric Banding Surgery

Gastric banding is a procedure that restricts stomach volume, without the use of staples or cutting. Via laparoscopic incision, a soft band is placed around the stomach to form a small pouch with an opening to the rest of the stomach. The procedure is easily reversed; your doctor will simply remove the band via laparoscope.

The Midband gastric band as it is the simplest to install, the softest, with less post-operative pain and quicker recovery time (it could be as little as 4 weeks rather than the usual 8 weeks for other bands).

It is a soft silicone ‘belt’ that is placed around the upper portion of the stomach. The band is a smooth all in one construction, with an inflatable ‘balloon’ section that is connected by tubing to an ‘injection reservoir’. The reservoir is just below the skin and is easily adjustable by your doctor when adjustments are needed.

The band is placed around the upper portion of the stomach, dividing it into two parts. The diameter of the inner part of the band – the ‘balloon’ – is adjusted, according to how much weight you want to lose.

The Midband creates a feeling of fullness. It doesn’t interfere with the absorption of nutrients as some other procedures can. Weight loss is simply achieved by reduction of food intake.