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Not all obese patients should opt for surgery: DHA Twitter clinic

Consider weight-loss programmes, exercise, diet before surgery.

Bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery) is not the only cure for obesity, a doctor has said. Dr Zaid Abdulaziz Al Maazami, consultant in general and bariatric surgery at the Dubai Hospital, said: "Bariatric surgery is the most effective and successful long-term weight loss tool for the morbidly obese but not all obese patients should opt for surgery. Patients who are morbidly obese - those with body mass indexes of 40 or higher - can opt for bariatric surgery, after they have exhausted all other weight-loss options... Patients with a BMI of 30 and above, who have various co-morbidities such as diabetes etc may also opt for bariatric surgery."
Specialists from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) discussed morbid obesity and treatment options during the DHA's Twitter clinic session.
Information was disseminated to more than 78,000 followers of the DHA's Twitter page known as DHA_Dubai. He said the bariatric surgery clinic at the Dubai Hospital, first puts every patient that visits the hospital on a six-month weight loss programme with the clinical nutrition department. They also ensure patients visit a psychologist and specialists such as endocrinologists to tackle their diabetes.
"After six months, we evaluate the case. Not every patient is selected for bariatric surgery. Those who have shown improvement through non-surgical methods during the six-month period are asked to continue the same plan. We highly recommend that patients should first consider weight loss through regular exercise and diet programmes and they should take the assistance of health professionals to ensure the right way of weight loss, so that it can be sustained," said Al Maazami.
Al Maazami said: "In cases of morbid obesity, bariatric surgery helps patients tackle co-morbidities as well. Severely obese people suffer from various chronic conditions due to obesity. The common ailments associated with obesity include sleep apnoea, joint paints, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, acid reflux, urine incontinence etc.
"Post bariatric surgery, patients see a reduction or even elimination in 70 per cent of their co-morbidities. Many patients can reduce or even eliminate diabetes medication. High cholesterol and high blood pressure issues often diminish and patients commonly report improvements in joint pain and sleep apnoea."
However, he warned that bariatric surgery is not a one-stop solution and post-surgery patients need to follow a proper healthy diet that can be maintained life-long along with regular exercise.
Dr Farah Ibrahim Bakhit Juma, senior house officer in general surgery department at Dubai Hospital, said: "Patients are regularly followed up for one-year post-surgery and thereafter we recommend they continue to stay on track with their nutritional and exercise plan. Primarily patients need to accept responsibility for their health and wellbeing."
reporters@khaleejtimes.com