Weight loss surgery for men Two weeks ago, I was asked to write about ‘weight loss surgery for men’ because it was Men’s Health Week 2013. Although this year’s theme was mental health issues for men, the aim was to highlight the increasing problems of an increasing waistline that many men simply are not aware of. Then, the news broke that actor James Gandolfini had passed away as the result of a suspected heart attack. We obviously decided to hold back the piece because some of the content would have seemed opportunistic and in bad taste. In the days that followed, I read a lot of articles online from the American press, quoting various cardiologists all speculating about the impact of lifestyle and in particular, of obesity, on sudden heart attack and heart disease. If you put aside the ethical questions of promoting good health practices in this way, what is most interesting is the common theme which emerged. Men simply do not consider being overweight to be a serious health problem. Gaining some weight as we get older is normal for men and women, but without the same pressures on their physical appearance that women have, men simply accept their weight gain. Studies have shown that overweight men (BMI over 30) are far less likely to correctly identify themselves as obese, than overweight women. Men are also statistically less likely to go to their GP than women. These two factors prevent men from seeing the very real health problems which come with being overweight. In a study recently published online by the peer reviewed BMJ Open, it was revealed that men who were considered obese (BMI over 30) at just 22 years old were 30% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes, heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure or blood clots by the age of 55 than their ‘normal weight’ peers. In fact, 48% of those who were obese at 22 had either developed one or more of these conditions or died before the age of 55. Moreover, a BMI over 40 reduces life expectancy by 10 years. Obesity is one of the leading causes of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart attack and osteoarthritis of the knee. Obesity is sometimes the earliest indication that there is a serious health problem waiting just around the corner. Losing weight has been shown to eradicate type 2 diabetes in many patients, while almost always leading to improved cardiovascular fitness levels, which reduces the risks of all of the above conditions. Weight loss surgery is not the only means of losing weight, but it is proven to be very effective for people with a BMI over 30. We’ve see an increase in men having these procedures over the years, but they still make up only about a quarter of our patients each year. No one really chooses to be overweight, it just happens over time. So why choose to ignore the impact it has on your health? For more on Mens Health Week menshealthforum.org.uk/22647-mens-health-week-lets-talk-about-links
Posted on: Wed, 03 Jul 2013 16:26:39 +0000
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