Obesity-related disorders
"Obesity-related disorders" pose significant challenges to both the physical and mental well-being of individuals, as well as impacting society and the economy. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) report, in 2016, there were 1.9 billion adults worldwide who were overweight or obese. It is estimated that by the year 2035, this number could rise to as high as 4 billion, or 50% of the global population.
In Thailand, data from the Ministry of Public Health revealed that the prevalence of overweight and obesity was as high as 45.6% in 2020, increasing to 46.2% in 2021, and further to 46.6% in 2022.
Obesity contributes to various health risks, including an increased likelihood of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, fatty liver disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and osteoarthritis. Additionally, obesity raises the risk of developing several types of cancer, such as colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and uterine cancer. Treatment options for obesity vary and may include dietary control, exercise, weight-loss medications, endoscopic procedures, and surgery.
Indications for surgical intervention in the treatment of obesity include a BMI greater than 35, regardless of the presence of obesity-related comorbidities, or a BMI greater than 30 with comorbidities such as metabolic syndrome. In Asian populations, individuals with a BMI greater than 27.5 may also be considered for surgery.
Surgical procedures for obesity
- sleeve gastrectomy
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
- Sleeve gastrectomy with gastric small intestine anastomosis.
Following surgery, patients typically experience significant weight loss, with reductions ranging from 25% to 45% of excess body weight. Additionally, improvements in physical and mental health are observed, along with a reduction in obesity-related comorbidities. Overall, surgical treatment for obesity leads to an improved quality of life and increased life expectancy for patients.
26 Dec, 2023
Jakkraphan Siriwongmongkol, M.D.
Expertise
General Surgery