Obesity is now an Issue for Four out of every Ten Spaniards

People with untreated obesity may see their life expectancy reduced by as much as 10 years.

In Spain, according to the research by ENPE (Estudio Nutricional y de Hábitos Alimenticios de la Población Española [Nutritional and Eating Habit Study of the Spanish Population]), published in 2016 39.3% of the population is overweight, and 21.6% suffer from obesity. Obesity has become a chronic epidemic that can reduce life expectancy by as much as 10 years in those who suffer from it, state the specialists at Quirónsalud.

Obesity negatively affects the general health of those who suffer from it, and is related to other cardiovascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure, type-2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia, sleep apnoea, and some types of cancer, such as colon or breast cancer.

The origin of this unrelenting increase in obesity is in lifestyle changes, a sedentary life and the abandonment of the Mediterranean diet that have been taking hold of our current society. (Dr. Juan Luján, Head of the Digestive System Surgery Service and the Obesity Unit at Hospital Quirónsalud de Murcia)

The increase in obesity and its accompanying illnesses (comorbidities) has led surgeons to increase the indications for bariatric surgery.

Although bariatric surgery is generally indicated for obese people with a Body Mass Index (BMI) above 35 or 40, due to the worldwide diabesity epidemic and the surgery’s excellent results, we also focus interventions on the resolution of its comorbidities, even in patients with Grade I obesity (BMI > 30) that suffer from severe diseases such as diabetes with poor metabolic control. (Dr. Carlos Sala, Head of the Obesity Units at Quirónsalud Alicante and Valencia)

High Effectiveness of Obesity Surgery

Obesity, like type-2 diabetes, can be reversed with surgery, and the results are highly promising in over 75% of obese patients that undergo a bariatric or metabolic surgery and that, in addition to losing a great amount of weight, stop being diabetic and improve their cardiovascular risks

The effectiveness is immediate in patients with type-2 diabetes; they usually stop using insulin and medication after the intervention. (Dr. Luján)

Among the techniques that have shown the most effectiveness and safety to this date, we can include the tubular gastrectomy and the gastric bypass.

Both techniques are performed with minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, which allows for a less uncomfortable post-operatory period and a quick recovery, since the patient can leave the hospital 36 hours after the intervention. (Dr. Sala)

In cases where the patient is not a candidate for any type of surgery, the experts at Quirónsalud recommend seeking a specialist in Nutrition and Endocrinology to supervise the patient during his or her weight loss journey.