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A Load off his Mind and the Weight off his Body

DUBAI - Losing a whopping 253 kilogrammes in over two years was no easy task for 27-year-old Naser and a team of doctors at Rashid Hospital.

It took a lot of cajoling, convincing, therapy and finally surgical intervention to bring ‘super obese’ Naser to a more bearable weight at which he currently stands — 142kg. His target — now in sight — is 110kg.

“I was 15 when I started gaining weight. At that time, I was ready to eat anything, anytime,” says the shy UAE national. “Burgers, fries, kebabs were among my favourite foods,” he recalls.

Since his dietary habits were unchecked, Naser gained weight rapidly. “I started hiding from people because I could hardly walk and take part in any normal activity,” he says.

“Naser came to us weighing 395kg. He couldn’t walk more than 10 metres at a time and had swelling in his legs,” explained Dr Faisal Badri, Head of General Surgery Department at Rashid Hospital. “He had become withdrawn and nocturnal and, in depression, he ate more,” said Dr Badri.

The only way doctors could save Naser’s life was through stomach stapling. However, before any surgery could be carried out, his weight had to be brought down.

For six weeks, Naser was put on a strict dietary regime. “His daily intake of 2,500kg/cal was gradually reduced to 800kg/cal and during this time he was losing up to 2.5kg every week,” said Dr Badri. Six weeks later and weighing 250kg, two surgeries were carried out on Naser — the Duodenal Switch and Sleeve Gastrectomy. “This could be done only after a special operating table was organised for him,” adds Dr Badri.

Naser now weighs 142 kg and proudly struts around the hospital which has become a second home. “You should now get married, teases one of the hospital staff. “I feel lighter and 100 per cent better than before,” says Naser. “I can think about work and leading a normal life like any youngster now,” he adds.

However, Naser still has to undergo four other surgeries to remove loose flab. “Two weeks ago he weighed 155kg. Now he weighs 13kg less after flab was removed from his breasts through plastic surgery,” says Dr Badri, adding that every four weeks Naser will undergo a similar surgery to remove extra flab from his back, sides, legs and arms. Though chances are less that Naser will regain what he has lost, he will have to continue with regular fitness check-ups 2-3 times a year. Since Naser’s case was highlighted, Rashid Hospital has carried out 18 similar surgeries successfully.

As a result, following surgery, such patients only absorb approximately 20 per cent of the fat they intake. The sleeve gastrectomy is a irreversible bariatric (gastric bypass) surgery where a part of the stomach is removed.

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