Dr Ramen Goel gives us tips on weight loss and bariatric surgery (watch video)

Should you opt for bariatric surgery for weight loss? Find out.

Obesity has consistently and rapidly become one of the leading health issues our country is dealing with and there is a strong association of obesity with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and some cancers. India needs a solution to this problem. Bariatric surgery as a solution for obesity is gaining popularity these days. We spoke to Dr Ramen Goel who is a Senior Metabolic & Bariatric Surgeon, Director, Center for Bariatric & Metabolic Surgery, Wockhardt Hospitals and he gave us a few tips related to obesity, bariatric surgery and more. Here are a few:

• What to expect during a bariatric surgery?

  It is a surgery that reduces the size of the stomach. So that way you eat a very small meal and feel full and in turn lose weight all over the body.

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• Who can go for it?

  Anyone who is 20 to 25 kg or more overweight can undergo the surgery.

• People with an untreated heart problem and untreated psychological problems cannot undergo the surgery.
• According to observational studies, genetic tendency to gain weight, stress, sleep is responsible for weight loss too.
• After the surgery the patient will lose 10 percent weight in the first month, then 5 percent every month. Overall the patient will lose over 70 to 100 percent.
• Loose skin after surgery is a cosmetic issue, not health. So nothing to worry about it.
• Majority people won't have loose skin post surgery and even if they have loose skin (approx 15% of people), they will generally be people who were initially 200 kg plus or senior citizens.
• Post surgery it is very important to give up fat and sugar intake.
• A year post surgery cheat meal can be allowed.
• If you are eating out prefer grilled food.
• Non-surgery ways like gastric balloons are also available in which a balloon is put through the mouth to the stomach and inflated there to take up space and help you lose appetite.
• Belly fat is the easiest fat to lose weight. Do abdominal exercises crunches etc to have a flatter belly.
• After menopause weight gain could be because of genetic infestation.
• Abdominal weight loss belts used post-pregnancy are temporary and makes your skin in the abdominal area loose.
• Liposuction is for those who are normal weight and mostly done on a particular part of the body where you want to lose weight.

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  No matter what the upper limit of weight is, bariatric surgery is safe.

• BMI below 23 is a good one, people in between 23 to 25 are overweight and above 25 are obese.
• Indians are at a higher risk of developing diseases related to obesity.
• Thin-Fat people(people who are thin but have less muscle weight and more fat in their body) are a lot in India and can opt for bariatric surgery.
• Most importantly, there is no substitute to regular exercises.

Here's the detailed interview: