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In recent decades, the prevalence of obesity has increased worldwide. Estonia also has an overweight population of around 20%. Obesity is considered a chronic disease that can be a lifelong problem and also require surgical intervention. Dr Martin Adamson, a bariatric and abdominal wall reconstructive surgeon at the Weight Loss Clinic, explains when to consult a surgeon if you are overweight and what the surgery entails.
If you are concerned about your weight, it is worth seeking specialist advice
If weight is a concern, it is a good idea to start with a nutritionist who can explain how to eat properly to achieve a healthy weight. It is also very important to combine a healthy diet with increasing physical activity and moving more.
If the weight gain is significant and a nutritionist or specialist has not been able to help, it is worth contacting a family doctor. You should not be afraid or ashamed of consulting a doctor because of your weight. It is good to be concerned about your health. If it seems that what your family doctor has done is not enough and you would like to get an overview of your health, you can order a health assessment package from a private medical company. You can also choose individual samples, which are not very expensive, but give you peace of mind.
As a rule, if you are unable to lose weight on your own, your body mass index is at a critical level of 35-40 or more and you have a comorbid disease such as diabetes or high blood pressure, surgical intervention should be considered.
Be sure to consult a doctor if:
- weight gain is accompanied by a general feeling of discomfort;
- excess weight restricts an activity that was not a problem before;
- you have developed an illness related to excess weight;
- your BMI indicates that you are obese.
What will change after the surgery?
Your lifestyle must definitely change immediately after surgery. After bariatric surgery, small meals are eaten more frequently and alcohol consumption is kept to a minimum. Continuing to take vitamins is essential, as the surgery causes problems with the absorption of certain nutrients.
Problems with loose skin can occur. About half of the patients develop this problem, but about a third of them go for corrective surgery, as they find that it affects their quality of life.
Triinu, who underwent gastric bypass surgery, says that her decision stemmed from a feeling of discomfort, which negatively affected both her professional and personal life. The reason was the large amount of weight, which she managed to lose with various diets, but the next moment everything had come back just as quickly. She says that she has followed many different diets and worked out in the past, both on her own and with trainers. “I finally did a genetic test and it turned out that it was genetic,” she says. “It is a yo-yo effect where I can lose weight, but I can also eat it back very quickly.” “I decided to have the surgery so that something would put an end to it.” On the morning of the surgery, she weighed 86 kg and now weighs 53 kg.
Read more about Triinu’s experience HERE.
