Obesity
Care options for patients with obesity who choose to undergo treatment to enjoy a better quality of life and a longer lifespan.
Obesity is a disease. It is not a result of personal weakness or gluttony. Food addiction and using food as a coping mechanism can often contribute to dangerous weight gain. Healthy food choices and coping strategies are crucial for long-term success after weight loss surgery.
Obesity is the second leading health-related cause of mortality worldwide after smoking. This disease has become an epidemic in Canada over the last 20 years. The Public Health Agency of Canada estimates that 25% are now obese. These numbers are rising.
A body mass index > 40 is associated with a shortened life expectancy of 20 years in men and five years in women.
Impact of obesity
Severe obesity is a significant contributor to many serious health problems, such as:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Elevated blood cholesterol and triglycerides
- Breathing problems
- Depression
- Decreased mobility
- Cancer
- Sleep apnea
Treatment
Obesity surgery is an excellent tool for weight loss. Perhaps more importantly, it can reduce and eliminate obesity-associated diseases and prolong life expectancy.
The Richmond Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery program uses minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery techniques to treat obesity. In these operations, several small incisions are made into your abdomen. The laparoscope (camera) is inserted through the incisions to facilitate the operation. Because of the small incisions, you recover faster from surgery compared to an open technique.
Learn more about the types of surgeries we perform.
Learn more about the metabolic & bariatric surgery service.