Obesity is a disease that can be prevented and cured. To prevent it, it is necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle in which eating habits are correct and are combined with moderate physical exercise. But, in some cases, this is not enough. It is then when we resort to the integral treatment of obesity, which includes:
-Balanced, individualized, low-calorie diet.
-Physical exercise adjusted to each need and progressive with routines adapted to the patient.
-Medical treatment controlled by specialists.
In the case that it is required, the intragastric balloon can be used as a temporary help to the dietary follow-up and if this is not enough, surgical treatment can be used, called metabolic and obesity surgery. Let’s see in more detail what these two treatments consist of.
Intragastric balloon
It involves the placement of a balloon (made of silicone, smooth and spherical) in the stomach which is inflated with 500 cc. of liquid. The placement of the intragastric balloon is done endoscopically and with the patient sedated. It is recommended as a temporary aid for the modification of eating behavior in a selected group of patients who need to lose weight in a controlled way.
It is effective for the short-term management of obesity because it acts by reducing the sensation of hunger and giving a feeling of early satiety at meals, although it is essential to follow a series of dietary guidelines to achieve the expected weight loss.
The adaptation period is usually 48-72 hours, during which nausea, vomiting and belching will appear. And the balloon can remain in the stomach for six months, a period in which it is advisable to modify eating habits, follow the prescribed diet and regular physical exercise. With all this combined program it is possible to lose between 18 and 22 kg. in the established time.
Metabolic and obesity surgery
Metabolic and obesity surgery is based on a set of surgical procedures that seek to correct and control the pathology associated with morbid obesity. This type of surgery alters the anatomy of the digestive system to eliminate the patient’s excess weight. To do so, the caloric intake of the body is reduced by reducing the gastric capacity (decreasing appetite and food intake) and the intestinal tract is modified to avoid fat absorption. At the same time, the consumption of fat already formed in the body is stimulated and the formation of new fat is prevented.
Thus, weight reduction is achieved for the patient, who must be aware of how essential it is to maintain healthy eating patterns and a healthy lifestyle in order to obtain successful long-term results, since bariatric surgery is not a definitive solution to morbid obesity if bad eating habits are not eliminated and a healthy lifestyle is not adopted.
It should be clear that surgery for the treatment of obesity is reserved for patients diagnosed with morbid obesity, with more than five years of evolution in whom previous dietary and medical measures have failed. Regarding safety, bariatric surgery is safe, although due to the risks associated with obesity it is considered major surgery. For this reason, patients should be treated by a multidisciplinary group with the necessary experience and knowledge to achieve the best results.
After surgery the amount of weight lost depends on the patient and the type of procedure performed. Patients who manage to modify their lifestyle and follow their treatment to the letter can achieve even greater weight loss. Maximum weight loss is achieved by 18 months with all procedures.
And although many patients do not reach their ideal weight, the weight loss (between 60% and 85%) produced by surgery is sufficient to significantly reduce the risk of developing obesity-related complications. It is even possible to reach the ideal weight if an adequate diet, appropriate physical activity and a lifestyle adapted to the new situation are followed. In any case, weight loss can improve the diseases associated with obesity and improve overall mobility and endurance. It also improves self-esteem, mood, interpersonal relationships and the ability to work. It should be noted that some interventions of this type may require post-bariatric plastic surgery to solve the possible flaccidity affecting the skin.