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From left: Ashwini, 18, before and after bariatric surgery
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Three years ago, 18-year old Ashwini Gupte (name changed) got a new lease of life when she underwent a bariatric surgery at Poona Hospital. Besides irregular periods, she also ran a high risk of developing diabetes (with both her parents afflicted by the lifestyle ailment).
“I used to go for three-four months at a stretch, without getting my periods. My weight rose to 99 kgs. My mother and I then decided to go for the laproscopic procedure,” Gupte said. “The doctor told me my genetic inclination for diabetes was compounded by my obesity. Having lost my father to the disease, I did not wish to take any chances,” she added.
She now weighs 76 kgs. Gupte’s is not a one-off case. Obesity is staring Pune in the face with a greater vigour, particularly in the under-18 age group. Just two hospitals in the city dealing with bariatric surgery have seen the number of obese under-18 patients almost double to 152 in 2012 from 88 in 2011.
Dr Jayshree Todkar, director of Laparoscopic, Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Department in Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune, said, “In 2010, we had seen 60 patients of which four had to undergo the surgery after all other measures failed,” said Todkar who attends to cases both at Ruby Hall and Poona Hospital. The rise in the number of youngsters coming in with obesity problems is not matched by the number of bariatric surgeries being done for this age group.
Dr Shrirang Godbole, endocrinologist at Jehangir Hospital, seconds this claim on the remarkable rise in obesity among the under-18. “The genetic predisposition, skewed metabolism and lifestyle issues of physical inactivity, unhealthy food, etc. are the culprits. Our bodies are better at facing under nutrition than over-nutrition,” he explained.
Ahmedabad-based bariatric surgeon Dr Mahendra Narwari, also blames this trend on the changing socio- cultural fabric of the country. “Nuclear families, lack of playgrounds, greater attraction for indoor activities have acted as triggers,” he highlighted.
Clearly, the continued reservation about deploying bariatric surgery on children has kept a tight rein on its application. In 2011, about six children underwent bariatric surgeries. In 2012, this number was only five. “We began bariatric surgeries at Poona Hospital and Ruby Hall in 2003.
Since then we have operated on over 2,200 people. Of these only 23 were below the age of 18,” she informed, while underscoring the success of bariatric procedure even among children.
“We follow international protocol and guidelines while performing these surgeries on the children and the outcome is phenomenal, despite the claims in some sections of the medical fraternity that the procedure is not suited for kids,” Todkar insisted.
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03:37:55 PM