Bariatric surgery will be among the presentations at an upcoming diabetes conference in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a possible treatment option for rising obesity rates in that country, especially among the young. Studies suggest that nearly one-third of all children in the UAE are overweight or obese.
Obesity in children can lead to type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, orthopedic complications, and psychosocial difficulties, as well as abnormal cholesterol levels, fat in the blood, or heart and liver disease.
According to a press release, Dr. Evan Nadler, co-director of the Children’s National Obesity Institute at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., will discuss bariatric surgery’s criteria and its potential benefits at the conference, part of the Arab Health Exhibition and Congress. The event takes place on Jan. 25–26, 2016, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center in Dubai.
Bariatric surgery is a weight loss procedure where the size of the stomach is reduced through a gastric band or through removal of part of the stomach. The surgery is advised for obese patients with weight-related diseases that cannot be treated solely through diet changes or medication, and the criteria remains the same despite the patient’s age.
“I have performed surgery on three patients from the Middle East, two of which had a rare genetic defect. All the patients have all done well after their surgery. There is a recent publication in the International Journal of Obesity which was collaboration between the Children’s National Medical Centre and the Imperial College of Surgeons Diabetes Centre in Abu Dhabi detailing two of these patients,” said Dr. Nadler.
Dr. Nadler’s presentation will discuss three major types of bariatric surgery recommended for weight loss: the laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, the laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.
“Bariatric surgery for children and adolescents can help them defeat obesity. The surgery not only helps the patient lose weight, but it corrects the obesity-related illnesses that may afflict the patient. Diabetes is an example of a disease that almost always goes away after weight loss surgery in children and adolescents. Still, the long-term success rates of any bariatric surgery procedure rely heavily on the patient committing to changing their lifestyle and eating habits,” Dr. Nadler concluded.
More information on bariatric surgery, its potential risks and reported long-term results, is available through this link.
