Hyderabad :
Hyderabadis are increasingly turning to weight loss surgeries to get rid of obesity. Specialists say highest number of weight loss surgeries in the country are being done in Andhra Pradesh,with a major chunk of them happening in Hyderabad. And with the American Medical Association recently declaring obesity as a disease, city doctors too want the concerned body in India to reconsider its stand on obesity from that of a lifestyle disorder to a disease.
More than half a dozen surgeons, specializing in weight loss surgery in the city, are doing about 60-70 operations every month. New Delhi follows AP with around 50 surgeries and Maharashtra comes third with about 40 surgeries most of which are being performed in Mumbai. A good 60% of the patients are women, experts said.
Dr Mahidhar Valeti, the first surgeon to start weight loss surgeries in AP way back in 2005, says the acceptance for weight loss surgeries is more in AP. According to Dr Valeti who is associated with ApolloHospitals,6,000 weight loss surgeries were performed across India in 2012 of which about 800 surgeries were in AP. Interestingly, the starting age for these surgeriesis12 years.
Also, Dr P V Rao, head, endocrinology, Nims, says that like diabetes, it is time obesity is declared a disease. “Gradually, we are realizing that obesity is not just a lifestyle disorder but has other risk parameters,” says Dr Rao adding “In 30% of obese population, lifestyle is not to be blamed for it.” Estimates suggest that 16% of the urban population and 2.5% of rural population in AP is obese.
Obesity a major health concern
Doctors say one may appear lean but have big bellies. The fat in the peritoneal region of the abdomen directly enters the liver and some of the tissues in the human body and causes damage. Unlike Indians, westerners do not have big bellies but have fat in hips and shoulders which does not cause much damage, they say.
Experts maintain that Hyderabad having more obesity surgeons and physicians, providing the residents more access to surgical management of obesity, shows that we are already recognizing obesity as a major health concern. Doctors further claim that the comorbid conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, joint pains and infertility are likely to get reverted with the weight loss surgery that costs around Rs 2 lakh.
Dr K Shyam, bariatric physician, Sunshine Hospital, says the surgery addresses two issues – it makes one feel full soon and reduces hunger levels. “Weight has become a new problem for our society, especially urban India,” he says.
There are three major weight loss procedures – gastric band, gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy. While gastric bypass is much more popular among Americans and is picking up in Europe, in India sleeve gastrectomy is the majorly done weight loss procedure.
source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Hyderabad> City> Urban Population / by Bushra Baseerat, TNN / June 30th, 2013