Morbid obesity

JUAN ANTONIO LUJÁN MOMPEAN
General surgery, digestive system and morbid obesity.
EXPERIENCE

MORBID OBESITY

What is it?

The obesity is the result of a quantitative and qualitative ingestion superior to the individual’s needs who ingests more calories than the ones they burn. These ones stock as fat in the body. The causes of obesity are numerous and imply hereditary origins, an inadequate diet and a sedentary lifestyle. Obesity has turned into a chronic disease that obviously makes patients’ life expectancy shorter.

The problem of obesity

Morbid obesity is not only an esthetic problem but it is also a real chronic disease whose treatments usually fail short or long term. Besides the physical limitation in daily life, the obesity favours maladaptation and the loss of self-esteem. In Spain, the obesity affects 30% of the population and among them 15% suffer from morbid obesity that is considered as the pandemic of the XXI century.

What are the complications of obesity?

The obesity might be fatal as it affects the circulatory system with high blood pressure and heart problems. The great presence of fat in the abdomen and thorax makes the lungs work more which causes respiratory fatigue, besides intense snore and sleep apnea. Most patients suffer from reflux from the stomach to the oesophagus or mouth on the digestive scale and bladder calculi. The women suffer from menstruation absence or alterations and are more likely to develop uterine cancer. Most of these symptoms disappear when the patient regains his/her normal weight.

Do I need a surgical treatment?

To think about surgery, you should have a BMI up to 40 or 35 or suffer from diseases related to high blood pressure, diabetes, articulation problems, sleep apnea…Previously, you should:

- have excluded any disease causing obesity

- have tested a dietary medical treatment without getting the expected result

- be aware that the surgical treatment does not have any esthetic results but will make you healthier

FURTHER INFORMATION