The rising population of adult obese in India has exceeded the total population of Australia and rising obesity causes several other health problems amongst adults.

Recently, the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020 report has brought out that more Indian adults became obese during 2012-2016 as the number of adults (18 years and above) who are obese grew from 25.2 million in 2012 to 34.3 million in 2016, thereby growing from 3.1 per cent to 3.9 per cent. 

Dr Anupam Goel, Consultant Minimal Access Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery, Max Super Speciality Hospital Mohali, said, “Obesity is arguably the most pressing public health problem we face and increasing rate of obesity amongst adults is a grave issue as it brings a host of other diseases and they constitute the largest chunk of the population”.

On the treatment of obesity, Dr Goel said the conventional treatment methods like diet, exercise and medications for certain BMI range has shown fruitful results. However, when it comes to long term weight loss, Bariatric surgery or weight loss surgery has proven to be the most effective. The main purpose of bariatric surgery is making changes in the digestive system which helps in long term and healthy weight loss.

On the insurance coverage of Bariatric surgery,  he said, as per IRDAI’s (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India) latest guidelines, Bariatric or weight loss surgery has been included under medical insurance cover helping patients in need of financial assistance.

One of the methods in Bariatric surgery is Laparoscopy, which is a minimally invasive technique requiring small incisions, making wound healing faster, less pain and early recovery. This also helps in the early discharge of the patient and making them get back to their routine faster.