In a positive example of success of Columbia Asia Hospitals, Palam Vihar’s weight loss program, a 25-year old year man weighing a massive 132 kg has succeeded in losing almost one-third of his previous body weight through bariatric surgery, after a series of failed weight loss attempts that included regular visits to the gym, heavy exercising and as well as diet control programs.
Abey Abraham works as a nursing supervisor and patient safety officer at Columbia Asia Hospitals, Palam Vihar. Six months ago, he weighed 132 kg and had an alarmingly high Body Mass Index (BMI). Six months after undergoing a successful bariatric surgery, he now weighs 83 kg and is on road to achieving a healthier body.
While Abraham was always conscious of his excessive weight, his condition raised alarm bells only recently after doctors informed him about the co-morbidities and serious health concerns he was facing due to obesity.
“At the beginning of the year, I used weigh somewhere around 130 kg. My weight-loss attempts have been never ending since teenage. I had tried several things including exercise, gyms and liquid diet. Seeing my peers discovering easy athleticism at this age, I always felt left out. What was more frustrating for me was the constant failed weight loss attempts; each time I lost some weight, I re-gained it or even more in no time,†says Abraham.
Abey underwent a 4-hour long laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, a minimally invasive surgical weight-loss procedure earlier this year at his own hospital. Ever since, he has been losing weight periodically, and that too, without any notable side effects.
“Abey was overweight since his childhood days only. We had already performed many trials of medical management, but it did not work out for him. Hence, we decided to adapt a staged approach to surgical weight loss, especially to reduce the belly fat.  Sleeve gastrectomy is a laproscopy procedure which involves making few small incisions in the abdomen. It is restrictive in nature and helps reduce the amount of your food intake which means that you will be eating smaller and controlled food portions after the surgery,†says Dr. Mriganka Sekhar Sharma, Consultant Bariatric Surgery, Columbia Asia Hospital, Gurgaon.
During sleeve gastrectomy, around 75% of stomach is removed using a narrow gastric tube. The procedure normally takes one to two hours to complete. This short operative time is a significant advantage for patients with pre-existing heart or lung conditions.
“In addition to reducing the stomach size, a gastric sleeve surgery also eliminates the portion of the stomach producing the hunger hormone (Ghrelin). In fact, taking a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is like a lifetime commitment of staying on a stringent diet. Due to stomach stapling, you will feel full even after eating small meals. The same thing has happened with Abey. He used to eat 3-4 full meals a day earlier and still felt hungry, but now, he is satisfied only after eating a smaller portions,†informs Dr. Amit Deepta Goswami, Consultant Bariatric Surgery, Columbia Asia Hospital, Gurgaon.
Studies suggest that patients can expect to lose 40% to 60% of their excess body weight in the first year after surgery. Obesity-related co-morbidities can be resolved and risk of diabetes, hypertension, and abnormal cholesterol levels can be lessened after the surgery, say doctors.
“The weight loss process just begins with the surgery. Post-surgery, it is important to consult your doctor and figure out a smart diet plan. I have done that and with the help of a team of doctors and nutritionists at Columbia Asia, the transition has been very smooth for me,†says Abey.
Abey was discharged the very next day after the surgery and resumed his regular life activities within days. He now feels “fit as a fiddle†as he is completely relieved from obesity-linked health problems. His New Year resolution is to get fitter and healthier.
The Department of Bariatric Surgery at Columbia Asia Hospital, Palam Vihar performs different types of weight loss surgeries tailored to individuals’ needs such as gastric banding, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, biliopancreatic diversion, and so on. The team focuses on delivering the best clinical outcomes in the most effective and caring environment and provides comprehensive care from basic evaluation to post-surgery support.
