Shobha De Fat-Shaming: Did you know these 6 Benefits of Bariatric Surgery Apart from Weight Loss?

Last year in February, socialite Shobha De fat-shamed a portly police inspector, Daulatram Jogawat, from Madhya Pradesh on Twitter. It was later understood that the inspector’s weight gain was not a result of his bad lifestyle; rather, it was a complication of a gall bladder surgery, which caused an insulin imbalance in his body. Scores of people on Twitter rushed to his support and decried De’s mean-spirited tweet. But ironically, the tweet that was meant to demean the inspector actually worked in his favour, when he was offered free bariatric surgery by Saifee Hospital under Dr Muffazal Lakdawala. Cut to a year later, Daulatram has whittled down his weight to 115 kg from a gargantuan 180 kg, all thanks to the surgery that worked in his favour. He also thanked Shobha De for the ‘life-changing’ tweet that spurred his weight loss.

The surgery that he underwent for weight loss is known as a bariatric surgery, which has helped scores of people like Daulatram Jogawat afflicted by obesity. In a Times of India report, Dr Lakdawala said that the cop underwent a banded gastric bypass surgery where the stomach is reduced through surgical stapling. Such surgeries involve changing the anatomy of the gastrointestinal tract, stomach and digestive system, to restrict the food intake of the person. This will reduce the amount of calories consumed, leading to weight loss. Those wondering whether bariatric surgery is the definitive answer to weight loss, here are some risks and benefits of the surgery.

1 Reduction in weight

The most obvious benefits of bariatric surgery is weight loss. It is considered the most effective treatment option for obesity. Bariatric surgery results in a dramatic weight loss. By altering the stomach’s capacity, it helps patients reduce their food intake, effecting a big reduction in total calories consumed. This would lead to a definite weight loss in obese individuals. But maintaining a healthy lifestyle after the surgery is a given. Patients may put on weight if they fail to do so.

2 Remission of Type 2 Diabetes

One of the most important benefits of bariatric surgery is full and rapid remission of type 2 diabetes. It was observed that patients who undergo bariatric surgery managed to attain freedom from diabetes and could stay without medication for at least three years after the surgery.

3 Improvement in heart health

Obesity is one of the biggest contributing factors of heart diseases. Once obesity is, it is only natural that heart functioning starts improving. Weight loss surgery reduces the person’s risk of strokes, peripheral heart diseases, etc.

4 Improvement of mental health

There are contentions that a failed bariatric surgery (when the person gains weight after the surgery) can cause depression in the patient. But generally it is believed that a person mental health improves after the surgery. The person’s body image improves significantly after the weight loss, leading to improved confidence levels.

5 Reduction in joint pain

Excessive weight puts pressure on the knees and joints, causing chronic pain and strain on the joints. The weight loss following bariatric surgery eases the weight off the joints.

6 Better fertility

Study backs the fact that bariatric surgery can bring about a huge improvement in fertility. Obesity is one of the factors that cause infertility in men and women. It is also tied to one of the biggest causes of infertility – PCOS. So the weight loss caused by bariatric surgery can also bring about a significant improvement in fertility.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 09, 2018 06:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).