NEWSROOM

In England where 26.2% of the population is fighting with obesity, the ratio of obesity is expected to have gone over 35% by 2030. Experts say that obesity, which is the cause of many diseases, can be treated.

LONDON (UK) - Obesity, which has become one of the biggest public health problems in the 21st century, has tripled in Europe since 1980. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) data, the number of people suffering from obesity in England has gone over 14 million and 26% of the males, and 27.7% of the females are considered to be obese.  Having increased to alarming levels particularly among children, obesity ratio has reached 9% between the ages of 0-9 and 14% between 11-15. It is estimated that the ratio of obesity will have gone over 35% by 2030 in England.

“Obesity is preventable and removable.”

Diseases associated with obesity such as diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnoea, depression, and asthma have serious effects on lifespan and life quality. Stating that the life expectancy of individuals with a Body Mass Index of 40 and above are 8-10 years shorter compared to healthy individuals, Bariatric Surgeon Op. Dr. Volkan Arayıcı spoke as follows, “Obesity has become a serious epidemic today. Obesity can be treated, as a result of which the person's life quality and lifespan can be improved. It is possible to get rid of the excess weight without pain by means of the new techniques including sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass.”

“It is a must to cut off the appetite and learn the rules of nutrition.”

Stating that the surgery must be performed by experts, Op. Dr. Volkan Arayıcı continued, “Sleeve gastrectomy helps reduce the stomach volume by 80% and slows down the secretion of the ghrelin hormone which is the cause of increased appetite. As the stomach shrinks in volume, the person feels full by eating less and therefore the extra weight is gotten rid of within a short and painless period. This method helps lose 60% of the excess weight in the first 6 months.” Stating that sleeve gastrectomy is similar to a simple rhinoplasty, Arayıcı added, “Since sleeve gastrectomy is a closed surgery, the person is able to stand up 4 hours after the operation and be discharged at the end of the 2nd day. More importantly, the person learns about the rules of a healthy living and healthy nutrition at the end of the process."

Turkey has recently come to the forefront of health tourism. Being one of the top 5 countries in the world with regard to the number of international patients, Turkey is preferred mostly because of the doctors experienced in aesthetics, obesity and diabetes surgery and because of the cost advantage of up to 40%.