Bumrungrad International Hospital

Morbid Obesity

Morbid obesity is defined as being 45 kilogram (100 pounds) overweight. This is equivalent to having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40. When body weight approaches this level, the person is at great risk for many serious illnesses. Therefore, it is now universally accepted that morbid obesity is a disease, and not just a mere variation in body size.

When body weight reaches this level, traditional non-surgical weight loss efforts, such as dieting, exercise and the use of anti-obesity drugs, almost always fail or do not achieve lasting results. For these patients, surgical weight reduction by bariatric surgery is the only realistic option to achieve successful and long-lasting weight control. It has been approved by the National Institute of Health (NIH) in the USA as the definitive treatment of morbid obesity.

Health Risks

Diabetes
High blood pressure & High cholesterol
Heart failure and heart attacks
Stroke & blood clots which can move to the lungs & cause sudden death
Sleep apnea
Fatty liver, gallstones and gall bladder infection
Heartburn or Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Pain in weight-bearing joints of the back, hips & knees
Abnormal menstruation, pregnancy complications and infertility in women
Increased risks for certain cancers
Shortened life-expectancy
Pregnancy complications

Weight Loss Solutions

Laparoscopic bariatric surgery is a minimally invasive operation that reduces the stomach capacity to a very small volume and helps a person to lose weight. The most commonly performed laparoscopic bariatric operations are the Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass, Gastric Sleeve and Lap Band Surgery.

Gastric Bypass

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass is performed by laparoscopic technique, through tiny holes (ports), made in the abdomen. One of the ports is for placing a long slender camera to give excellent visualization of the inside of the abdomen. The other ports are used for passing long slender instruments to perform the operation without having to cut open the abdomen. Stapling instruments are used to construct a new tiny stomach pouch which is connected to the small intestine, bypassing the rest of the stomach. The surgery reduces the size of the stomach and thus patients not only eat less, but are less hungry as well and feel full much more quickly.

Gastric Sleeve

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is a surgical weight-loss procedure that removes a portion of the stomach to reduce its capacity and then stapling the open edges closed. The operation is performed through laparoscopy, with four small incisions of one to two centimeters each made in the abdomen. Seventy-five to eighty percent of the stomach is then removed. This minimally-invasive procedure requires just a short stay at the hospital. The purpose of the operation is to drastically decrease the amount of food eaten without causing hunger. Appetite is dramatically controlled by the restrictive effect of the new stomach, leading to an early feeling of fullness.

Candidates for Surgery

Patients approximately 45 kilograms (100 pounds) heavier than their ideal body weight, which is equal to a BMI (body mass index) of >40.
Patients with BMI of less than 40 with existing medical complications, such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, sleep apnea, and joint pain due to excess body weight.