Today, obesity is an emerging health problem globally. It is widespread among people and is associated with various health risks. Concerning the risks of obesity, it has serious consequences that go beyond weight gain and can lead to the development of many diseases obesity causes. In this blog post, we will examine the health risks of obesity in detail and discuss what we can do with surgical methods to prevent this problem.
Risks of Obesity: Factors Threatening Your Health
- Cardiovascular Diseases: Obesity poses significant threats to the cardiovascular system. Excess weight can elevate triglyceride and bad cholesterol levels, lower good cholesterol, and lead to hypertension, potentially resulting in atherosclerosis and an increased risks for obesity and heart attacks.
- Type 2 Diabetes: Obesity risks factors can increase the threat of diabetes type 2. Fat tissue in the body can reduce the effectiveness of insulin, which can make it difficult to control blood sugar. In people who develop insulin resistance, the risk of type 2 diabetes rises significantly.
- Respiratory Problems: Obesity can cause breathing problems, such as sleep apnea. Excess fat tissue can block the upper airways, which may cause inhalation difficulties through sleep. Sleep apnea disrupts sleep patterns and can reduce energy levels during the day.
- Joint Problems: As another effects of obesity on body, being overweight can negatively affect joint health. The extra load, especially on the knee and hip joints, can contribute to the development of joint diseases such as osteoarthritis. This can cause pain, swelling and movement restrictions.
- Cancer Risk: Obesity risk factors may also cause several types of cancer. Excess fat tissue is thought to cause hormonal imbalances in the body.
- Mental Health Problems: Obesity can also affect an individual’s mental health. Problems such as exposure to stigma in society, low self-esteem and depression may be more common in obese individuals and can be considered effects of obesity on mental health.
The health risks of obesity are manifold; however, it is possible to prevent effects of obesity on health and lead a healthy life. Obesity treatment usually involves a range of modalities, and which treatment modality to use is determined depending on the individual’s health status, the severity of obesity and other factors. Obesity treatment in Turkey usually requires a multidisciplinary approach and may include diet, exercise, medication and surgery.
Surgical Treatments
Surgical interventions are usually considered when other methods against obesity are ineffective or when obesity causes serious health problems. In Turkey, popular surgical obesity treatment methods include “gastric sleeve” and “gastric bypass,” known as stomach reduction surgeries.
Gastric Sleeve (Sleeve Gastrectomy)
It is a surgical procedure used to reduce stomach capacity so that the patient consumes less food.
- Surgery Preparation: A period before the surgery is advised for dietary and lifestyle modifications. The days that follow may see the completion of some preoperative tests.
- Effect: The primary goal of this procedure is to reduce the stomach’s capacity, allowing the patient to consume less food.
- Results: Gastric sleeve surgery often aids patients in their recovery from diseases caused by obesity and facilitates weight loss.
- Next Steps: Following the procedure, your doctor might want to keep an eye on you in the hospital. This could change depending on the healing process or from patient to patient. It typically lasts for a few weeks.
Gastric Bypass (Gastric Bypass Surgery)
This procedure bypasses a portion of the intestines in an effort to decrease food absorption in addition to decreasing the size of the stomach.
- Surgery Preparation: A period of time prior to surgery is typically advised for dietary and lifestyle modifications. The days that follow may see the completion of some preoperative tests.
- Effect: This procedure’s primary goal is to reduce the stomach’s capacity, which encourages weight loss by lessening the intestines’ ability to absorb food. Furthermore, altering the small intestine’s connection to the stomach may result in hormonal changes that lessen appetite.
- Results: Patients who undergo gastric bypass surgery frequently experience rapid weight loss.
- Next Steps: After the procedure, your doctor will monitor your progress in the hospital, adjusting the care plan based on the healing process and individual patient needs. This monitoring typically continues for a few weeks.
If the risks and benefits of surgical interventions are considered, the most appropriate treatment plan can be determined accordingly.
