Obesity should not be taken lightly
MANILA, Philippines - “Morbid obesity is not something to be taken lightly,” says Dr. Ferdinand Samonte, a bariatric surgeon and department head of the Center for Obesity Control at the De Los Santos Medical Center, a high-volume hospital in terms of Orbera (BIB System) and Lap-Band procedures performed. “Morbid obesity can cause a whole lot of other health problems, from heart disease to diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and yes, even several different types of cancer. Like colon rectal, esophageal, gall bladder, kidney, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, pancreatic, prostate, stomach, breast, cervical, and ovarian cancers. Morbid obesity also endangers the lives of pregnant women because it makes the birth process more risky.”
Obesity is described as an excess of total body fat, which results from caloric intake that exceeds energy usage. This is measured through the Body Mass Index (BMI), which is used to determine the level of obesity by dividing the patient’s weight in kilograms by his height in meters squared. People with a BMI of 25 to 29 are considered overweight; those with a BMI of 30 to 34 are type 1 obese, while those with a BMI of 35 to 39 are type 2 obese. Those with a BMI of 40 and above are type 3 obese. A person with a BMI of 40 and above is considered morbidly obese, a medical condition that poses increased health risks that could result not only in physical disability but also in early death.
Dustin Balictar, a 24-year-old entrepreneur, was 5’4” tall, weighed 338 pounds, and had a BMI of 58. He tried dieting and exercise and even consulted a nutritionist, but none of these solved his problem, until he learned about a weight-loss procedure called the Lap-Band System. Unlike other surgical procedures, there was no cutting of the stomach or intestines involved, and no stomach stapling.
The very first BIB System (BioEnterics Intragastric Balloon System, a non-surgical procedure that entails placing a medical-grade silicone balloon in the stomach through the mouth endoscopically and then filling it with 400ml to 700ml of sterile saline water) and Lap-Band procedure were performed in the Philippines back in 2004 and patients had successful results with both procedures.
To learn more about the procedure, Dustin consulted Dr. Edward Oliveros, a bariatric surgeon of the BIB & Lap-Band Center who performs these procedures at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City and Global City.
Lani Ayala, 41, of Davao City had the same problem as Dustin years ago. She weighed 248 pounds on a 5’3” frame with a BMI of 44. Five years after her Lap-Band surgery, Lani has kept her weight of 132 pounds with a BMI of 23.
The Orbera (BIB System) and the Lap-Band System are the two breakthrough obesity treatments being offered at the BIB & Lap Band Center. To know more about the procedures, visit www.totalobesitysolutions.com. Interested parties may text or call 09175272263 or simply 0917-LAP-Band to schedule a private and discreet free patient info session. The center recently relocated from Makati to Fort Bonifacio. Patients may also send e-mail to [email protected].
