Switch to हिंदी

Health, Fitness, Beauty & Diet | Pregnancy & Parenting | Diseases & Home Remedies | TheHealthSite.com

Health, Fitness, Beauty & Diet | Pregnancy & Parenting | Diseases & Home Remedies | TheHealthSite.com

हिंदी
  • Health A-Z
  • Diabetes
  • Diseases
    • Type 1 Diabetes
    • Type 2 Diabetes
    • Cancer
    • Heart Attack
    • Pneumonia
    • Diseases A-Z
  • Diet & Fitness
    • Weight Management
    • Exercise & Body Building
    • Diet & Recipes
    • Yoga
  • Coronavirus
  • News
  • Pregnancy
    • Conceiving
    • Infertility
    • Labour & Delivery
    • Pregnancy week-by-week
    • Breastfeeding
    • Baby Names
  • Beauty
    • Skin
    • Hair
    • Grooming
  • Photos
  • Videos
Home / Diseases & Conditions / Bariatric surgery – nothing cosmetic about this weight loss procedure

Bariatric surgery – nothing cosmetic about this weight loss procedure

Many medical insurance companies refuse to cover bariatric surgeries claiming it's a cosmetic procedure but are they wrong?

By: Editorial Team   | | Updated: October 26, 2013 12:03 pm
Tags: Bariatric surgery  World Obesity Day  World Obesity Day 2013  

World Obesity Day Also Read - Bariatric surgery may help individuals with early-onset obesity as well

Also Read - Bariatric surgery recipients may develop nutritional deficiency



October 26 is World Obesity Day. Also Read - Weight loss surgery may increase genetic risk for developing breast cancer

As risk firms continue to refuse medical insurance for weight loss surgeries, surgeons mull a resolution to demand cover in such cases since obesity has become a life-threatening disease. With insurance companies refusing to provide health cover to bariatric surgeries, the Obesity Surgery Society of India (OBSSI) has decided to pass a resolution terming obesity as a life-threatening disease. Insurance companies generally refuse health cover to obesity-reduction surgeries, saying such procedures are cosmetic in nature. Around 20 obesity surgeons from across the country will meet on Sunday to pass the resolution. (Read: Is bariatric surgery a cosmetic procedure?)


OBSSI president Dr Shashank Shah, who is also attached with Fortis Hospital, said, ‘Once we get this resolution passed, we will put pressure on insurance companies to cover diabetes in their disease list. In the last 10 years, more than 4,000 such surgeries were conducted in the state. Once the resolution is passed, we will then write a letter to Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad regarding this.’ Shah added, ‘We had already written a letter to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA), requesting them to provide insurance cover to bariatric surgeries. According to my knowledge, claims of at least 80 patients have been pending.’

Weight loss surgery was introduced in Maharashtra almost 10 year ago, but people were hesitant to opt for the procedure. Now, people have started going for it to cure obesity-related ailments such as diabetes and respiratory disorders. Obesity surgeons feel that insurance companies are of the opinion that only rich people opt for bariatric surgeries to shed flab and look slim and trim.

Recently, the state-run JJ Hospital started this procedure as they felt it helps in curing ailments related to obesity. ‘Weight-loss surgery not only reduces the weight of a patient but also helps him/her get relief from many diseases like obstructive sleep apnoea, diabetes and thickened veins,’ said Dr Sanjay Borude, obesity surgeon, Breach Candy Hospital. Last year, more than 2,000 people underwent weight-loss surgeries in India.

What is bariatric surgery?

A bariatric surgery is a procedure that promotes weight loss by changing the digestive system’s anatomy, limiting the amount of food that can be eaten and digested. Though bariatric surgeries have become synonymous with weight loss, and people who can afford it consider it an easier alternative to healthy eating and exercising. Dr Ramen Goel, a bariatric surgeon tells us more about the procedure.

It isn’t a shortcut to weight loss

People who believe that it is a short cut for weight loss are generally not the ones who need it. This is for people who have honestly tried to lose weight and tried various gyms, diets, have gone and have lost weight which keeps coming back. It’s suggested for patients who are 25-30kg overweight with a BMI higher than 32.5. People suffering from obesity-related ailments should opt for this surgery.

Who shouldn’t get it?

Patients suffering from an unstable heart condition or angina should avoid it. Also those who’re are psychologically unstable and will not follow the diet and exercise suggested by the doctors should avoid it.

They are not the same as liposuction and tummy tucks

Liposuction and tummy tucks are cosmetic procedures and are done in a person whose weight is near normal and only has stubborn fat areas in particular body parts. Liposuction removes excess fat from thighs, back, etc. while a tummy tuck is done in the lower part of abdomen. The part of the abdomen that is in excess is tucked or removed and the skin is tightened so that you get a flat tummy. Read more

With inputs from DNA/Santosh Andhale

Loved this article? Vote for www.thehealthsite.com for the ‘Website of the Year’ Award and stand a chance to win goodies. Don’t forget to activate your vote from your inbox.

For more articles, visit our Diseases and Conditions Section and for videos check out our YouTube Channel. Don’t miss out on the latest updates. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus.

Published : October 26, 2013 8:35 am | Updated:October 26, 2013 12:03 pm
Read Disclaimer

World Obesity Day: The health hazards of being obese!

World Obesity Day: The health hazards of being obese!

World Obesity Day 2013: Fat ain't fit

World Obesity Day 2013: Fat ain't fit

Please Wait. Article Loading ....

Coronavirus Updates

Coronavirus Updates

Stay Informed, Be Safe

  • COVID-19 vaccines: How It Works, Who Should Take It, Safety, Precautions And Thereafter
  • Arthritis drug cannot lower the risk of death in severe COVID-19 patients: Study
  • You are at higher risk to catch Coronavirus in closed spaces. Here’s how
  • Patients with inactive cancer at high risk of severe COVID-19 infection; Study suggests
  • Alert! Coronavirus spike proteins may evolve to evade immune responses

Health Calculators

BMI Calculator
bmi Calculator
Ideal Body Weight
ideal body weight
Daily Calorie Intake
Daily calorie intake
Calories Burned
calories burned

Related Stories

Bariatric surgery may help individuals with early-onset obesity as well

Bariatric surgery may help individuals with early-onset obesity as well

Bariatric surgery recipients may develop nutritional deficiency

Bariatric surgery recipients may develop nutritional deficiency

Weight loss surgery may increase genetic risk for developing breast cancer

Weight loss surgery may increase genetic risk for developing breast cancer

World Obesity Day 2019:  Avoid these lifestyle mistakes for fast weight loss

World Obesity Day 2019: Avoid these lifestyle mistakes for fast weight loss

World Obesity Day 2019: Shed your excess kilos with these simple yoga asanas

World Obesity Day 2019: Shed your excess kilos with these simple yoga asanas

Health News in Hindi

दुबले-पतले शरीर वालों को तंदुरुस्त बना देंगी यह 4 ट्रिक्स, जानिए बॉडी ट्रांसफॉर्म करने के उपाय

Treating Diabetes with Ayurveda: डायबिटीज की बीमारी हो जाएगी खत्म, आज़माएं ये आयुर्वेदिक तरीके

खाना खाने के बाद कभी न करें ये 6 काम, आयुर्वेद में है सख्‍त मनाही, एक्‍सपर्ट से जानिए कारण

क्‍या होता है स्‍टेमिना और इसे कैसे बढ़ा सकते हैं? जानिए स्‍टेमिना बढ़ाने के 5 बेस्‍ट तरीके

Winter Exercise: सर्दियों में घर के बाहर (आउटडूर) एक्‍सरसाइज क्‍यों करनी चाहिए, जानिए इसके फायदे

Read All

Recent Posts

  • COVID-19 vaccines: How It Works, Who Should Take It, Safety, Precautions And Thereafter
  • Diabetic women under 55 at risk of heart disease; Know what to include in your diet
  • Breast cancer: Male sex hormones can effectively help in treating this condition
  • Arthritis drug cannot lower the risk of death in severe COVID-19 patients: Study
  • You are at higher risk to catch Coronavirus in closed spaces. Here’s how

About The health Site

TheHealthSite.com is India's largest health site with more than 40 lakh unique visitors per month. We focus on fitness, beauty, health, pregnancy and more.

Most popular health and wellness website in India in 2012 at the Website of the year awards.

health@corp.india.com
+91 – 22 – 6697 1234
Landline Phone number 91 – 22 – 2490 0302.

ZEE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISES LTD, 18th floor, A-Wing, Marathon Futurex, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013.

Useful Links

  • Weight Loss
  • Keto Diet Tips
  • Skin Care Tips
  • Intermittent Fasting
  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Ashwagandha
  • Cancer
  • Pneumonia
  • Diarrhoea
  • Dengue
  • Typhoid
  • Tuberculosis
  • Chickenpox
  • Chikungunya
  • Depression
  • Hepatitis
  • Diabetes
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Arthritis
  • Swine Flu
  • Baby Names
  • Cough and cold
  • Heart Attack
  • Breast Cancer
  • Ebola Virus
  • Dengue
  • Malaria
  • International Yoga Day
  • Hypotension
  • Heart Failure
  • Asthma
  • Brain Tumour
  • Celebrity Fitness
  • Goitre
  • HIV/AIDS

We respect your privacy

  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Author Profiles

Copyright © 2021 Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved.