More than 100 bariatric surgeries for weight loss done in India each day

Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Karnataka, Bangalore, Indore, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are the preferred destinations for weight-loss surgery in India. Overseas patients seeking bariatric surgery from west Asia and Africa are also steadily increasing.

Bariatric surgeons in India are doing more than 100 weight loss surgeries a day, with Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Karnataka, Bangalore, Indore, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh being the preferred destinations.

The northern region predominate with the highest numbers of surgeries done. Delhi and the NCR account for 15 of the 100 surgeries done, but hospitals in southern and western India are fast catching up.

“Morbid obesity affects 5% of India’s population and 4% people have the comorbidities, such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, gout, and breathing disorders like sleep apnea and asthma,” said Dr Kapil Agrawal, senior consultant, laparoscopic and bariatric surgeon, Habilite Obesity Group. “Advancement in techniques has made the surgery safe and minimised side effects, leading to a spurt in cases.”

A large number of overseas patients from Afghanistan, Iraq, Dubai and several countries from Africa are now choosing India to get weight loss surgery done.

There are four types of bariatric surgeries -- sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass, gastric banding -- that are chosen depending on the patient’s health status and preference. Sleeve gastrectomy is the most common procedure but gastric bypass is known for best results, especially for the control of chronic diseases such as diabetes.

People who want to lose 10-12 kg sometimes opt for gastric ballooning, which is a non-surgical procedure done endoscopically. The patient is discharged the same day.