Obesity surgery
Obesity, commonly referred to as overweight, is a health issue that arises due to an excessive accumulation of fat in the body and requires treatment. Obesity develops when the energy intake exceeds energy expenditure.
Obesity is a health problem that adversely affects many systems in the human body and leads to various diseases. Cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, respiratory problems, joint disorders, menstrual irregularities, infertility, erectile dysfunction, gallbladder diseases, stone formation, and certain types of cancer are some of the diseases caused by or exacerbated by obesity.
How Is Obesity Measured?
The most common way to measure obesity is by using the Body Mass Index (BMI).
BMI is obtained by dividing body weight (in kilograms) by the square of height (in meters).
This value is not dependent on age or gender. BMI values are categorized into normal weight, overweight, and obese.
How Is Obesity Treated?
Obesity can be treated using the following methods:
✔ Dietary treatment
✔ Exercise
✔ Medication
✔ Surgical methods
Dietary Treatment:
In this treatment, the patient is guided to follow a calorie-controlled diet program under the supervision of a specialist. It is recommended that the patient does not go hungry and eats small, frequent meals.
Exercise:
Engaging in physical activity for a minimum of 3 days a week, lasting for 45 minutes each time, is known to be highly beneficial for weight loss in patients. Overweight individuals are advised to start a simple and regular exercise program that does not strain their bodies and joints.
Medication:
If there is any metabolic or hormonal disorder contributing to or causing the patient’s weight problem, medication should be prescribed to address that disorder.
Treatment with Surgical Methods
Treatment with Surgical Methods: Obesity surgery serves two main purposes. Firstly, it reduces the volume of the stomach, and secondly, it decreases the absorption of food.
Patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 and above, who have not been able to lose weight through methods such as diet, exercise, and medication, or patients with a BMI of 30 and above who have conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, or heart disease that affect their quality and duration of life, are suitable candidates for obesity surgery.
In Obesity Surgery, four different surgical methods can be applied:
✔ Gastric balloon
✔ Gastric banding (Gastric band)
✔ Sleeve gastrectomy
✔ Gastric bypass
Gastric Balloon
The biggest advantage of this method is that it can be done endoscopically without requiring general anesthesia.
The gastric balloon has a volume of 400-700 cc, which can be inflated with liquid or air. This volume reduces the size of the stomach, preventing the desire to overeat.
The gastric balloon is not a surgical method. It is an alternative method for patients who do not want surgical treatment but cannot lose enough weight with diet and exercise. However, this method has a limited duration; the gastric balloon can stay in the stomach for a maximum of 6 months. It needs to be removed after this period. The gastric balloon is a repeatable method.
Gastric Banding (Gastric Band):
The biggest advantage of this method is that it can be done endoscopically without requiring general anesthesia.
The gastric balloon has a volume of 400-700 cc, which can be inflated with liquid or air. This volume reduces the size of the stomach, preventing the desire to overeat.
The gastric balloon is not a surgical method. It is an alternative method for patients who do not want surgical treatment but cannot lose enough weight with diet and exercise. However, this method has a limited duration; the gastric balloon can stay in the stomach for a maximum of 6 months. It needs to be removed after this period. The gastric balloon is a repeatable method.
Sleeve Gastrectomy (Gastric Sleeve):
In this surgery, a large portion of the stomach is removed, leaving behind a stomach tube with a volume of 100-150 ml. Weight loss in this procedure relies on two mechanisms:
Restrictive Effect: Reducing the size of the stomach makes the patient feel full with less food, and it slows down stomach movements.
Endocrine Effect: By lowering the level of the hormone known as ghrelin, which is secreted from the remaining part of the stomach and is called the hunger hormone, the patient can stay full for a longer time.
Gastric Bypass
This method is the most preferred surgical method for the treatment of obesity worldwide. In this method, both the stomach volume is reduced and food absorption follows a shortened path in the small intestine.
Thanks to this method, patients typically lose 70-80% of their excess weight within an average of 1-2 years. This result is highly successful.
Furthermore, it is observed that patients can more easily adapt to new eating habits after this method.
