Bane of bariatric

Bariatric surgery can be a life-changer for severely obese teenagers, but the recipients may develop nutritional deficiencies years after treatment that can carry their own health risks if not properly managed, said health experts.

Lifestyle modifications and eating healthy food, along with exercise, might work, they added.

Bariatric surgery refers to a gamut of weight-loss surgeries often recommended to people suffering from chronic obesity and obesity-related health problems such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol level and sleep apnea.

There are many types of bariatric operations, but surgeons commonly use three — Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, vertical sleeve gastrectomy and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding.

By making changes to the anatomy of the gastrointestinal tract, including the stomach and digestive system, these surgeries help people lose weight by cutting down their food intake, or by reducing the absorption of nutrients, or both.

However, the side effects of bariatric surgery may include infection, bone demineralisation, anaemia, diarrhoea, nutritional shortages, gallstones, hernias, pregnancy complications for women and premature birth of babies. In a recent study, researchers found that Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery and vertical sleeve gastrectomy are linked to lower levels of vitamin B12 and iron deficiency.—IANS