Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 24: Obesity has been on the rise in the last decade in India and latest figures indicate obesity may be the next major health challenge in the country.
This was come out in National Family Health Survey during a conference organized exclusively on the bariatric surgeries trends by Apollo Hospitals. The agenda of the conference was to address the issue of obesity in India and to discuss the latest trend in bariatric surgery.
Experts quoting data from National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) stated that 20.7 % of Indian women in the age group of 15-49 are deemed overweight, a 60% increase from National Family health survey 3 (2005-2006) in which the number stood at 12.6%. For men, the situation is even more dire as 18.6% of men (15-49 years) are obese, a number which is double of 2005 statistic of 9.3.
Renowned doctors discussed the demand for bariatric surgeries nationwide and the controversies related to its techniques and procedures. Experienced surgeons came together to share their experiences on various aspects of bariatric surgery such as the difficulties which arise during surgery, how to avoid them and reduce problems after surgery.
The event was endorsed by IFSO (International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and metabolic disorders), OSSI (Obesity & Metabolic Surgery Society of India), IAGES (Indian Association of Gastrointestinal Endo-surgeons) and Delhi ASI (Association of Surgeons of India) with the attendance of their key representatives.
Dr Arun Prasad, senior Robotic and Bariatric Surgeon at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital said, “Bariatric surgery is a specialized surgery. This surgery is also an evolving science and many procedures like gastric banding have come and gone. Obesity is preventable, which means bariatric surgery is preventable. This is not cosmetic surgery and should be done only in extreme cases where all options are exhausted and obesity has become a threat to life.”
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