The obesity continues to consolidate itself as one of the main challenges of health public worldwide. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2022 one in eight people in the world was living with obesitya condition that continues to increase, especially in Latin America.
According to projections of the World Obesity Federationin some Latin regions the rates of obesity in adults they could reach around 30% by 2030, which reinforces the urgency of promoting prevention strategies, timely diagnosis and effective treatments.
At a global level, it is projected that for the year 2050 half of the world’s population will live overweight or obesity.
During a virtual conversation, the Dr. Omar Ghanemdirector of the Department of Metabolic and Reconstructive Surgery of the Abdominal Wall at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, highlighted the importance of taking care of health all year roundalthough he acknowledged that the start of a new year is usually a key moment for many people to reflect on their well-being.
“The obesity It’s an epidemic, it’s an complex diseasenot a personal failure. Many people try diets, exercise programs, and medications, but still have difficulty because obesity has multiple causes: psychological, metabolic, behavioral and genetic,” said Ghanem.
The specialist stressed that his impact goes a lot beyond weight bodily.
“It is related to other diseases, diabetesheart disease, lung disease, hip pain, knee pain, lower back pain. We know that the obesity participates in many types of cancer“said the doctor.
During the session, the doctor addressed the different therapeutic alternatives available, from lifestyle changes and medications to bariatric surgeryas well as the possibility of combining treatments according to the patient’s profile. patient.
There is not a treatment one size fits all
Dr. Ghanem insisted that the obesity should be treated like any other chronic illnessusually carrying modifications of “diet, exercise, changes in lifestylewhen the obesity It’s mild.”
“He treatment It’s not a one-size-fits-all,” he explained, comparing his approach to that of cancer.
About drugs GLP-1 agonists (glucagon-like peptide-1), injectable medications or oral that mimic an intestinal hormone to regulate blood sugar, reduce appetite and slow gastric emptying, achieving a weight loss significant, recognized its usefulness, but also its limitations.
“Some patients, 40% of them, cannot tolerate these medications due to their side effects. abdominal pain, nauseavomiting,” he acknowledged.
Furthermore, he clarified that the results observed in clinical studies are not always replicated in the daily practice.
“Realistically speaking, in the real world, the percentage it’s much lower, it’s 10% in the real world,” he said.
- Of these medications, the brand Ozempic is the one that has achieved the greatest recognition.
Dr. Ghanem was emphatic in warning against the use of drugs to get off weight without medical supervision.
“These medications are strong, they should not be used without a prescription and without having talked to the doctor. health professional“he highlighted.
Among the possible complications mentioned pancreatitismalnutrition and even vision loss.
“One has to balance risk benefit. He benefit has to overcome the risk“he pointed out.
The bariatric surgery: he treatment more durable
According to the Mayo Clinic specialist, the bariatric surgery remains the most alternative effective and sustained for obesity moderate and severe.
“The surgery will help patients lose 28 to 30% of their weight“, he stated, highlighting that the effect is maintained over time. “The bariatric surgery It is the most durable.
Ghanem cited studies conducted in the United States that compare surgery and treatment pharmacological.
“After two years, those who received medicine only, they lost 10% of the weightOn the other hand, 28% of those who had undergone surgery“he explained.
Likewise, he said that the surgery it is more expensiveeffective in the long term.
“Patients undergoing surgery here, they saved $11,000 in manufacturing costs health after two years,” he said.
Reduction of risk of cancer and other diseases
The specialist maintained that there is solid evidence that the bariatric surgery reduces the incidence and mortality cancer.
“We know that the bariatric surgery helps reduce the chances of cancer and die for cancer“he stated.
Finally, the specialist stressed that looking for treatment It is a right of patient.
“We must not make the patient feel bad for searching treatment“, he said, remembering that the stigma surrounding the disease, including erroneous assumptions such as that the weight It depends only on the willpower or personal responsibility.
The Dominican Republic faces one of the most urgent public health crises in recent decades: overweight and obesity continue to increase in all age groups and already affect more than 70% of the country’s adults, according to data from the Ministry of Public Health (MSP).
The 2024 national micronutrient survey revealed that, among children aged 0 to 6 years, 6.4% are overweight and 4% obese.
