08 Jun Obesity & Diabetes Support Group Meeting – A Ray of hope
CODSILS – Advanced Centre for Obesity, Diabetes & Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery, Mohali organised an obesity and diabetes support group meeting on Wednesday, 25 May 2022. The Obesity & Diabetes Support Group Meeting was initiated by Dr Amit Garg, Bariatric & Metabolic Surgeon in 2014 with the vision of offering world-class obesity and diabetes solutions to patients; a dream that has grown by leaps and bounds over the years. Biggest Weight loss Achievers were also awarded at the support group meeting held at a hotel in Panchkula.
Obesity is an increasingly common condition in the modern era. Lack of proper exercise, irregular eating habits, an overall unhealthy lifestyle, etc., contributes to the growing obesity rates. This support group is dedicated to those of us struggling with obesity. It provides an ecosystem to interact with others who are facing the same challenges and triumphs and helps people understand the benefits of bariatric surgery and other treatment procedures to overcome the disease.
Comprising a three hour structured program with sessions on understanding diabetes and obesity, why problem is increasing rampantly, how life style modification can help, what is metabolic surgery etc, the meeting was beneficial for morbid obese, type 2 diabetics, all diabetics with obesity, obese with hypertension, sleep apnea or other co morbidities. Around 45 participants including patients operated in the past attended this obesity support group meeting.
Obesity comes with significant emotional and psychological stress. Bariatric surgery, by enabling sustained weight loss, corrects most negative emotions harbored by patients for lifetime such as depression, low confidence and low self esteem due to obesity. However, some patients who are struggling with obesity and patients after Bariatric surgery too may feel a different type of emotional stress as they disassociate themselves with the old food habits and lifestyle. Thus, this Support Group Meeting also focused on stressed over eating and managing emotions to sustain weight-loss after surgery.
Mr Keshav Kant Sharma, 50 yr old from Dehradun who lost 101 kgs shared about his poor quality of life due to severe sleep apnea , Type 2 Diabetes and Hypertension. He shared that post bariatric/ metabolic surgery his blood sugar levels & blood pressure are normal without medicines and he also got freedom from Bi-pap machine which he was using for sleep apnea issue. He shared that not only his quality of life improved, it has impacted his family members life too. He was awarded CODSILS Biggest Weight loss Achiever award for 2020.
Mrs Vandana Sharma, 52 yr old resident of Chandigarh, who has lost around 90 kilos of excess weight since her surgery, used to be confined to her home as she could not walk before her surgery. It was a proud moment for her to step onto the stage on her own two feet and motivate the group. She was also given CODSILS Biggest Weight loss Achiever award for 2020
