With obesity on the rise in Malaysia, bariatric surgery is increasingly being recognised as an option that can improve both weight and overall health. (Envato Elements pic)PETALING JAYA: When one thinks of bariatric surgery, weight loss is usually the first thing that comes to mind. But consultant general and bariatric surgeon Dr Navin Mann, founder of Bariatric Surgery Malaysia, says that's only part of the story.Beyond helping people shed excess weight, the procedure can improve - and in many cases reverse - a range of obesity-related conditions.Obesity remains a growing health concern in Malaysia.
The National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023 found that 54.4% of Malaysians are overweight or obese, up from 44.5% in 2011.As those numbers continue to climb, bariatric surgery has become an increasingly recognised treatment option. The procedures, which include gastric bypass and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, help patients lose weight by altering the digestive system.In a gastric bypass, surgeons create a small pouch from the upper part of the stomach and connect it directly to the small intestine, limiting how much a person can eat and reducing calorie absorption.A sleeve gastrectomy, meanwhile, removes much of the stomach, leaving behind a narrow, banana-shaped section that fills more quickly and also affects appetite-regulating hormones."Bariatric surgery is the gold-standard treatment for obesity," Mann told FMT Lifestyle. "It gives the best results, sustainability, weight loss and remission of comorbidities, which means curing problems that come with obesity, such as diabetes, hypertension and more."Interestingly, many of these wider health benefits were discovered almost by accident.
Doctors first noticed that patients undergoing stomach resections for cancer not only lost significant amounts of weight but also experienced unexpected improvements in metabolic diseases.Researchers later found that the surgery changes the hormones released by the intestines, helping patients feel full sooner, reducing hunger and improving insulin sensitivity.Dr Navin Mann says bariatric surgery remains the gold-standard treatment for obesity owing to its long-term results and broader health benefits. (Hizami Safri @ FMT Lifestyle)As a result, a wide range of obesity-related conditions can improve. Besides type-2 diabetes and hypertension, patients may also see improvem…
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