Surgeons specialized in Obesity at the Amiri Hospital have warned of the dangers from diseases that are caused by obesity. About 400 types of metabolic diseases have prevailed in recent times among almost half the society.
Doctors also confirmed that they are trying to take measures against obesity and promote awareness of its risks such as diabetes, blood pressure, liver failure, GERD, respiratory problems, or even cancer. They stressed that obesity should be dealt with like dealing with chronic diseases, and that surgery is the best solution to deal with cases of chronic obesity.
Dr. Walid Buhaimid, a consultant in obesity and endoscopic surgery, stated that “obesity is directly linked to many diseases, including diabetes, pressure, heart disease, bones and joints, liver failure, and other chronic diseases.”
He also believed that “the ideal solution for cases of severe obesity is sleeve surgery, bypass surgery, or a simplified bypass, noting that the patient’s condition is to be strictly monitored after the operation for two years.
Further, Dr. Hussein Al-Tarrah, a specialist in general surgery, advanced obesity surgery and gastroscopy, warned of the dangers of not following the instructions of a healthy lifestyle after performing surgery. Leading to weight gain in some patients, post-surgery along with consequent complications and health risks.
He pointed out that “most of the 25 recent operations in the Amiri Hospital were cases where surgery was already performed for obesity about 10 to 15 years ago,”
The surgical consultant at the Amiri Hospital, Dr. Saud Al-Subaie added that obesity is a disease of the present age and that it causes many diseases to the body, which amounts to about 400 types of associated or metabolic diseases.
He stressed that obesity cases are dealt according to the rules established by the Ministry of Health, and that there is a full team specialized in obesity in the Amiri Hospital, including surgeons, nutritionists, anesthesiologists, internal medicine, psychologists and physiotherapists, who are keen on providing the highest levels of safety and security for the patient along with determining the most appropriate procedure for a patient’s body mass and health status.
Further, adding to statement, Dr. Faris Al-Faraj stated an example of a case recently received at the Amiri Hospital where a patient weighing about 300 kilograms required advanced surgery for obesity, as part of an obesity drive that was held in the hospital.
Dr. Saud Al-Subaie also pointed out that “the Amiri Hospital performs between 6 to 10 various obesity operations per week, including sleeve gastrectomy, restoration and repair operations, and the annual operations related to obesity cases in the hospital range between 350 and 450.”
Dr. Al-Tarrah added that “lifestyle is the most prominent cause of obesity in Kuwait, with the spread of restaurants and cafes paired with lack of movement due to the nature of the weather, and spending most of one’s free time at home or in restaurants.”