A session was organised by the ‘Fight Obesity Club’ of the GEM Hospitals in which the people who have benefited from the bariatric surgery and lost their body weight shared their experiences with the public and the press.
Dr. Praveen Raj lead consultant and head of the department of Bariatric surgery at GEM hospitals while addressing the press said, “Obesity is becoming a major epidemic in today’s world. Obesity is the leading cause of many other diseases like diabetes, heart problems etc. Bariatric surgery is the option for people who cannot reduce their body weight by any other means.”
When speaking at this session Jayanthi, a 43 year old person from Chennai said that, “I was 103 kgs when I approached the doctors at the GEM Hospitals for help to reduce weight. I had problems at personal and professional life because of my obesity. After consulting many hospitals without seeking any results, I visited the GEM Hospitals in Coimbatore, before one and half years. I now weigh 68 kgs and I am very happy now. Also everyone is amused to see me now.”
Kamala Narayanasamy who is 65 years old was diagnosed with diabetes when she was 38 years old. Due to her medical condition, she became insulin dependent and weighing 78 kgs which became a problem. Her body weight showed no signs of reducing those extra kilos, after which she consulted the doctors at the GEM Hospitals. Doctors performed the bariatric surgery on her after which she has lost weight and her blood sugar levels have also come under control. She is currently taking tablets for diabetes instead of insulin injections which she was dependent on earlier. At this interactive session, she thanked the doctors at the GEM Hospitals for giving her a new lease of life.
Balaji (54) from Madurai was weighing 160 kgs. He was facing a lot of problems due to his obese body. Owing to being overweight, Balaji was unable to perform the last rites of his deceased mother and this prompted him to work towards reducing his body weight. Last year he came to GEM Hospitals seeking help to reduce his weight. Doctors at this hospital performed the bariatric surgery on him and now he is weighing 103 kgs. He is currently under strict diet as advised by the doctors at the GEM Hospitals.
“Taking into consideration, the risk factors of obesity, bariatric surgery has been included in the list of surgeries under the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s (CMs) insurance scheme which is an initiative of the Tamil Nadu government. Bariatric surgery is not the only option for controlling obesity rather it is the last option for controlling the obesity for people who fail to obtain results after trying all other options like dieting and exercise.”