What is Metabolic Surgery?

The term Metabolic  or sometimes Diabetes Surgery is used to describe the usage of surgical procedures to treat metabolic diseases, especially type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In contrast to bariatric surgery, metabolic surgery goal is to specifically address metabolic diseases (like T2DM) rather than obesity per se. Whereas bariatric surgery is generally performed in patients with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 40kg/m2, metabolic surgery could be performed in patients with type 2 diabetes with BMIs as low as 27 kg/m2 . Given the important and distinct implications for patient care, using standard, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass to treat type 2 diabetes in patients with BMI above 30 kg/m2 should be considered “metabolic/diabetes surgery” not “bariatric surgery”.

Losing weight is never easy and it takes much more than diet and exercise alone. The truth is that our bodies are genetically designed to gain weight, not to loose it. Losing weight is not something that depends exclusively on willpower, there are several factors that predispose us to fail at losing weight. Obviously there are some people who are able to achieve significant weight loss by dieting and exercising alone, but the second truth is that the majority of use will fail. For people who fall under the second category the adequate choice is: Weight Loss Surgery. Joining a gym and going on a six-week diet may work for people who are simply overweight. But when an obese person has reached a certain size, they are often unable of losing enough pounds through dieting alone, and sudden exercise could present a health risk. In such cases, weight loss surgery can be the best option. Weight Loss Surgery is something that should not be decided impulsively. Considering it (Weight Loss Surgery) as a New Year Resolution can be the perfect way to approach it.

From November 21-23, My New Body Obesity Center co-founders and surgeons, Mónica Valencia MD and Alberto Carlos, MD,  attended the 1st International Congress of Bariatric Surgery at the Grand Hotel Tijuana. It was an action-packed few days of meetings, events and seminars. Dr. Valencia and Dr. Carlos reflected on some highlights from the congress below.

Despite the fact that obesity affects men and women evenly, women are much more likely than men to undergo weigh loss surgery. In fact, 87% of My New Body’s Obesity Center patients are women. Unfortunately this happens with several health related problems. The main reason I found among my patients is cultural. Sexist culture significantly affects the approach we men have about health. We (men) are less concerned about our health until we get older and face more serious problems and this is a serious problem. Men die on average 6 years earlier than women, and for largely preventable reasons. Women seem to be more aware of their health and are willing to take action earlier in their lives. When talking about Weight Loss Surgery they (women) are much more willing to look at surgical weight loss earlier in life, whereas men tend to wait until they have more co-morbidities (adverse health conditions). Men are always reluctant to seek professional help to treat health related problems.

The 2019 International Congress of General Surgery (held at Leon, Guanajuato, México) organized and hosted by the Asociación Mexicana de Cirugía General, included talks on Safe Surgical Procedures and had several events in adjacent conference rooms. Most of them were workshops and precongress courses on Surgical Topics. My New Body Obesity Center Lead Surgeon Alberto Carlos MD,  attended the congress and took the course on endoscopic procedures.