(1) What is fat? Am I fat?
Fat is called obese in menstrual terminology. If a patient looks at fat, he or she is fat. This is known as eyeball test. Doctors calculate BMI (body mass index) to know how much excess weight person have in relation to their height.
BMI
25-30 Overweight
30-35 Obesity Class I
35-40 Obesity Class II
40-45 Obesity Class III
> – 45 Super Obese
(2) How does being fat harm?
Obesity shorten the life span as well as lead to a poor quality of life by causing diseases like diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, breathlessness, sleep apnea, joint pain and backache, liver diseases like fatty degeneration and, ACDT, Hiatus hernia, edema feet and deep vein thrombosis. It can also lead to cancer of endometrium of uterus breast and kidney prostate in women. It can cause menstrual irregularities and infertility.
(3) How do I lose weight?
Lifestyle modification with regular healthy food and exercise helps in reducing weight to a certain extent, however studies world over have over shown poor maintenance of the weight. When the BMI has crossed 35, weight loss surgery in such cases give a significant and sustained weight loss. Where other measures have failed.
(4) Which is better option, Tummy tuck or weight loss surgery?
Liposuction or Tummy tuck is cosmetic surgery and only indicated when BMI is less than 30. These do not control obesity-related diseases. Weight loss surgeries are undoubtedly the best deal as far as morbid obesity is concerned.
(5) How does surgery help to reduce weight?
Surgery can be restrictive. It reduces the capacity of stomach and hence food intake. Malabsorptive it decreases the absorption of food by bypassing a portion of small intestine or it can be both. Surgery reduces the hormone ghrelin responsible for hunger hence the person gets satisfied in small quantity of food.
(6) How rapidly will I lose weight after surgery?
Depending on the type of surgery, 75 to 90% of the excess body weight will be lost in 6 months to two years. Majorly of weight is lost in the first six months after surgery. The weight loss will taper and continue for the subsequent years. Some patients to achieve 100% loss of their excessive weight.
(7) What is the expected hospital stay for surgery and when can I get back to work?
As thus surgery is done laparoscopically, it requires a very short hospital stay of about 2-3 days after the surgery. If they do not have any complaints and are tolerating the liquid diet one can resume routine activity within a week of surgery as it does not have any major stitches.
(8) What diet is recommended after surgery?
Diet starts with clean liquids and then gradually soft diet and routine diet are advised after surgery. Depending on the type of surgery. General dietary guidelines like changing the food. Regular small and 4-5 meals a day with plenty of fluids in between, more proteins moderate carbohydrate and less fat are advised after surgery.
(9) What is the life after surgery?
Over the years it has been observed that patients who have undergone surgery are satisfied with their decision of surgery and happy with the improved quality of life. The freedom from diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol and joint pain can be refreshing. One would be more energetic and active. Also you would be having a new look 10 years younger.
(10) When can I have children after surgery?
Female patients are advised to wait till their weight stabilize which would take around 2 years.
(11) Will the complication due to my obesity go away after the surgery?
Yes, obesity associated diseases show complete cure for significant improvement after surgery. Surgery cure diabetes 2 in 85-90% of patients and is now considered the best treatment of diabetes associated with obesity. High cholesterol and blood pressure improves in 75-80%. Marked Improvement is also seen in joint pain, breathlessness and sleep apnea, menstrual irregularity and infertility and it helps in restoring the confidence.
Banner Source www.freepik.com