Bariatric surgery evolves: A sleeve gastrectomy can help patients free of obesity скачать в хорошем качестве

Bariatric surgery evolves: A sleeve gastrectomy can help patients free of obesity

For many people, losing weight is a serious challenge. But for some of us, it seems barley possible. Obesity can be compounded by diseases, making it hard to feel full. Doctors sometimes use bariatric surgery to help those patients attain a healthier size. The latest type of surgery, a "sleeve gastrectomy," has less drastic side effects than conventional methods. We spoke to one young woman who struggled with obesity for years, before the procedure gave her a new lease of life. A confident young woman stands beside a life-size cardboard cutout. You might never guess: That cutout is HER, before her surgery. She shows us her old jeans, which are now many sizes too large. Hsiao An Bariatric surgery patient I remember when I was 17, the stress of my studies and socializing with my peers made me develop stress-induced binge-eating. I could eat six full meals a day, but no matter how much I ate, I still felt hungry. Hsiao An had been bullied since childhood for being overweight. As an adult, the 24-year-old went to hospital for some tests, which revealed that her stomach was too effective at absorbing calories. That’s why she never felt full, even after several meals. Binge-eating had caused Hsiao An’s weight to exceed 100 kilograms. But her doctor thought she could try a “sleeve gastrectomy.” The procedure cuts away part of the stomach, creating a smaller, sleeve-shaped route for digestion. It led Hsiao An to drop 40 kilograms. Hsiao An Bariatric surgery patient It’s been nine months since the surgery. Right now my lowest weight is 63.5 kilos. All the red danger figures on my blood test reports have disappeared too. Dr. Wang Ming-yu Surgeon This restriction of the small intestine not only reduces the absorption of food, it also increases hormone secretion in the end of the small intestines, which effectively prolongs the feeling of satiation. Hsiao An has lost 40 kilograms – the same weight as a small child. She now rarely feels hungry. The sleeve gastrectomy is similar to a traditional gastric bypass, but the gastrectomy preserves more of the stomach and doesn’t restrict food intake so drastically. However, the operation is still unsuitable for the casual weight-loss enthusiast. Dr. Wang Ming-yu Surgeon For a sleeve gastrectomy, we will select patients with a BMI of over 37, or over 32 with certain complicating chronic conditions which are difficult to control. Obesity causes many physical health problems, as well as mental health challenges. But doctors say a last-ditch solution like surgery is only for certain patients. For others, it’s a case of learning to live happily in a larger body.