Morbid obesity should not be taken lightly

MANILA, Philippines - In the field of weight loss, it’s not astonishing to hear of healthcare professionals proclaiming the virtues of a revolutionary product or procedure for losing weight without realizing that sometimes, it’s the old, time-tested and reliable ways that work the best.

In the case of severe and morbid obesity (with a Body Mass Index or BMI of 35 or greater), it may make more sense to stick to what’s scientifically-proven instead of going for new procedures that have not yet been proven with long-term results, or whose results have not been guaranteed. 

”Morbid obesity is not something to be taken lightly,” says Dr. Ferdinand Samonte, a bariatric surgeon of the Center for Obesity Control at the De Los Santos Medical Center. “Morbid obesity can cause a whole lot of other health problems, from heart disease to diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and yes, even several different types of cancer. Morbid obesity also endangers the lives of pregnant women because it makes the birth process more risky.”

The World Health Organization (WHO), as early as 1997, has declared obesity as a disease. Obesity is described as an excess of total body fat, which results from caloric intake that exceeds energy usage. This is measured through the Body Mass Index (BMI) which is used to determine the level of obesity by dividing the patient’s weight in kilograms by his height in meters squared. People with a BMI of 25 to 29 are considered overweight; those with a BMI of 30 to 34 are Type 1 obese, while those with a BMI of 35 to 39 are Type 2 obese. Those with a BMI of 40 and above are Type 3 obese.

When a person reaches a BMI of 40 and above, he/she is considered morbidly obese, a medical condition that poses increased health risks that can result in not only physical disability but also early death. No other single medical condition reduces the quality of life or increases the demand for healthcare services than obesity. It is a disease that causes diseases right now, but you are aware that you are at a high risk of this disease in the future and that your life expectancy is compromised.

 A World Health Organization report disclosed that Asians are more susceptible to obesity complications such as Type 2 diabetes, even among younger patients, because they usually have a higher level of body fat, and a lower level of muscularity for every level of BMI as compared to Caucasians. The report further noted that Asians need not reach a BMI of 35 to

An estimated 115 million obesity sufferers worldwide are seen to develop serious health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea, hypertension, severe knee and back pain, cancer, and metabolic syndrome that may cause sudden, unexplained death. In the Philippines, there are some three million Filipinos suffering from obesity, of which 600,000 are morbidly obese.

Of course, it goes without saying that the conventional approaches to weight loss — going on a diet and physical exercise — work. But these are best suited for people who are a few pounds overweight, not when the person is severely or morbidly obese.

Dustin Balictar, now a 24-year-old entrepreneur, knew what it was like to be morbidly obese. At his heaviest, Dustin — who is 5’4” tall — weighed 338 pounds and had a BMI, or Body Mass Index, of 58. He tried dieting and exercising, and even consulted a nutritionist, but none of these solved his problem, until he learned about a weight-loss procedure called the Lap-Band System. It was said to be an ideal solution to his weight problem, because unlike other surgical procedures, there was no cutting of the stomach or intestines involved, and no stomach stapling. It was a method considered mainstream in numerous developed countries like the United States, Australia, and all over Europe. The very first BIB System (which is short for BioEnterics Intragastric Balloon System, a non-surgical procedure that entails placing a medical-grade silicone balloon in the stomach through the mouth endoscopically and then filling it with 400ml to 700ml of sterile saline water) and Lap-Band procedure were performed in the Philippines in 2004, and patients had successful results with both procedures. Like the Lap-Band, the BIB System induces a feeling of early fullness in the patient, making him eat less. The BIB stays inside the patient’s stomach for six months, during which the patient will experience immediately a significant drop in excess weight. Weight loss results with the BIB System, as observed, were 20 to 60 pounds in six months.

Dustin consulted Dr. Edward Oliveros, a bariatric surgeon at the BIB & Lap-Band Center, who performs his procedures at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City and Global City. Dr.  Oliveros  discussed with him the Lap-Band System and on how it could effectively help him shed the excess pounds before all sorts of health problems set in. Dr. Oliveros explained that the Lap-Band is placed on the upper part of the stomach laparoscopically, meaning keyhole surgery with small incisions, and it regulates food intake. The Lap-Band System is unlike other bariatric procedures because it is restrictive, not malabsorptive. Therefore, there is no malabsorption of nutrients that may cause alopecia (hair loss), malnourishment or depression. It gives a feeling of early fullness or satiety so the patient is not hungry, gets full with less food, and loses weight consistently — around two pounds every week. 

Today, four years after his Lap-Band surgery, and still with a waistline of 29 inches, Dustin maintains a normal weight of 156 pounds, with a BMI 27.

Lani Ayala, 41, of Davao City had the same problem as Dustin years ago before she had the Lap-Band System. It had come to a certain point where Lani would hear people make snide remarks about her weight. Weighing 248 pounds, with a BMI 44, she knew she was way beyond the average that her 5’3” frame should have.

She turned to the Lap-Band System and Dr. Ferdinand Samonte. “I became interested because it was safe, reversible, and wouldn’t involve cutting my intestines up, stomach-stapling, or losing a lot of blood. On top of that, the weight loss is sustained.”

Six years after her Lap-Band surgery, Lani still weighs around 132 pounds with a BMI 23 and has kept the weight off ever since.

To know more about the procedures, patients may visit www.totalobesitysolutions.com. Interested parties may text or call 09175272263 to schedule a private free patient info session with the BIB & Lap-Band Center.  The center was recently relocated from Makati to Fort Bonifacio and free info sessions are held at selected areas in Metro Manila.  Patients may also send an e-mail to bom@aemed.biz.