A 40-year-old male patient (Hung Yen) has been obese for 10-12 years but did not think this was a disease that needed treatment. Only when he experienced shortness of breath while sleeping, fatigue, and reduced mobility did he go for an examination and found many health indicators at an alarming level.
I work as an office worker, often receive guests, eat erratically, stay up late and exercise less. My weight gradually increases over time, accompanied by cravings, especially in the evening with energy-rich dishes such as grilled food, seafood. About 2 years ago, I started snoring, many times startled awake because of shortness of breath, not sleeping deeply. I often wake up tired, reluctant to walk, exercise. This condition significantly affects work and daily life," the male patient shared.
When coming to Phuong Dong General Hospital to assess the possibility of stomach shrinkage surgery, the patient was determined to have a BMI (body mass index) of 40.93 kg/m2, about 1.6 times higher than the upper threshold of normal BMI and belonging to the group of obesity grade III.
Test results showed blood pressure at 170-180/100 mmHg; HbA1c 9.2%, hunger glucose 9.5 mmol/L; cholesterol 7.25 mmol/L and LDL-C 5.59 mmol/L.
According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan - Director of Surgery, Phuong Dong General Hospital, the patient has been obese for more than 10 years but only seeks treatment when obvious symptoms appear before going for examination. ECG shows ST deviation and T-wave changes in many pathways. The patient was examined by a cardiology specialist, coronary angiography, and at the same time treated to control blood pressure, blood sugar and cardiovascular risk factors.
“Before stomach shrinkage surgery, we must develop a treatment regimen for accompanying diseases, bringing indicators to a safe level to reduce risks during surgery. The goal of stomach shrinkage surgery is not only to lose weight but also to improve related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, sleep apnea, thereby reducing cardiovascular risk and improving the quality of life. Tube-shaped gastrectomy helps reduce stomach volume, making patients eat less and feel full faster. This method also creates changes in digestive hormones and the mechanism of regulating hunger and satiety, thereby supporting weight control and metabolism,” the doctor said.
Doctors also warn that obesity is on the rise among young people, especially office workers in major cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Sedentary lifestyle, uncontrolled eating and staying up late are factors contributing to increasing the risk of overweight and obesity. Experts recommend not waiting until complications appear to be treated, but need to proactively control weight, nutrition and increase exercise.
