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Surgery numbers grow as Americans continue to battle obesity
By Kenny Green, kgreen@starlocalnews.com
Obesity continues to be one of the biggest health concerns that many face on a daily basis. The overwhelming number of Americans that are considered obese or morbidly obese has caused a surge in the number and types of surgical procedures in recent years.
“Weight-loss has become one of the number one common surgeries,” said Dr. Bassam Zakhour, a Mesquite surgeon who is on staff at several area hospitals including Texas Regional Medical Center at Sunnyvale and Lake Point Medical Center. “Morbid obesity is getting out of hand. About one-third of our population is obese or morbidly obese. This caused many problems such as diabetes and hypertension. There is no medicine that can truly help you with these like the surgery will.”
Several recent studies have determined many patients who underwent weight-loss surgeries were able to stop taking their diabetes medications within approximately 15 days. While both studies only researched a small number of patients, most of those who had the surgeries showed no signs of diabetes two years after their operations and the patients’ cholesterol levels and other heart-risk factors also improved.
It’s common for doctors to recommend weight-loss surgery for a diabetic patient who is overweight and has a body-mass index greater than 35. To qualify for the surgery a patient and their physician must determine if surgery is appropriate for the individual patient and which procedure would be best.
“I never perform weight-loss surgery on a patient until they have met with a dietician and a psychiatrist. It is a life-changing procedure and I have to know that they can handle it,” Zakhour said. “Their life will change quite a bit when the surgery is successful.”
To share more about the various options and discuss the procedures available Zakhour will host a seminar at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 12, at Sunnyvale Medical Plaza, 341 Wheatfield Drive. There’s no charge for the seminar, but reservations are required and may be made by calling 877-554- 8762. Zakhour is a general surgeon in private practice in Mesquite and board certified by the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery. He has been performing weight-loss surgeries through his practice for the last seven years.
“The purpose of the seminar is to introduce people to the surgical options of weight-loss. We always will list diet and exercise as the first option. Most people usually fail at that option so it is important to list the other options,” Zakhour said.
Each type of surgery is performed laparoscopically, using small incisions to insert a tiny camera and the surgical instruments. The minimally invasive approach usually involves less pain, no hospitalization or a short hospital stay, and a quick recovery time.
“We have come a long way with the procedures. Now most are done on an outpatient basis or with a short hospital stay,” Zakhour said.
Many insurance providers cover weight-loss surgeries for patients with specific medical problems,” he said.
“Each procedure has different benefits and risks,” he said. “The method chosen is usually determined based upon the patient’s choice and the desired weight reduction.”
Zakhour said he will structure the seminar from the very beginning of the surgery selection process.
“Surgery is not the answer for everything. I will cover what they can expect before and after a procedure,” Zakhour said.
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