Truncal obesity is characterized by a high concentration of visceral fat around the stomach and abdomen, often linked to increased health risks.
Treatment:
Treatment of obesity starts with comprehensive lifestyle management (ie, diet, physical activity, behavior modification), which should include the following : Self-monitoring of caloric intake and physical activity. Goal setting. Stimulus control.
The best treatment option for truncal obesity depends on the underlying cause. But options such as changes to your diet and lifestyle, medications, therapy, and surgery can help resolve truncal obesity.
Managing truncal obesity typically involves a combination of strategies, including:
Dietary Changes: Reducing calorie intake and focusing on a healthy, balanced diet.
maintaining a healthy diet.
Regular Exercise: Engaging in regular physical activity to burn calories and improve overall health. Regular exercise is especially effective in reducing visceral fat and preventing it from coming back.
Aerobic exercise includes any activity that raises your heart rate such as walking, dancing, running or swimming. This can also include doing housework, gardening and playing with your children. Other types of exercise such as strength training, Pilates and yoga can also help you lose belly fat.
Access to healthy, affordable foods and safe, convenient places for physical activity can impact obesity.
Anti obesity Medications: In some cases, medications might be prescribed to help with weight management.
Surgery: In severe cases, surgical options might be considered..
No diet that can target truncal obesity specifically. However, weight loss, in general, can help. Eating a balanced diet and regular exercise can help people achieve and maintain a moderate weight. A balanced diet involves eating from various food groups to ensure adequate nutrient intake.
*Ways to Lose Belly Fat and Live a Healthier Life
Try curbing carbs instead of fats. ...
Think eating plan, not diet. ...
Keep moving. ...
Lift weights. ...
Become a label reader. ...
Move away from processed foods. ...
Focus on the way your clothes fit more than reading a scale. .
•Anti obesity medications:
Anti-obesity medications include orlistat, phentermine-topiramate, naltrexone-bupropion, liraglutide, and semaglutide. These medications are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for long-term use.
Mode of action of anti obesity drugs:
(1) Orlistat: A pill taken three times per day that affects how the body absorbs fat
Side effect:Orlistat can cause oily rectal discharge and flatus
(2) Naltrexone-bupropion: A pill taken one to two times per day that combines an opioid antagonist and an antidepressant
Side effect:: Naltrexone-bupropion can cause gastrointestinal side effect
(3) Liraglutide: A daily injection that is also used to treat diabetes
Side effect: Liraglutide can cause nausea and vomiting
(4) Phentermine-topiramate can cause paresthesias and dysgeusia Phentermine-topiramate: A pill taken once per day that combines a sympathomimetic amine and anti-seizure/migraine medication
(5) Semaglutide: A medication that is approved for long-term use to treat overweight and obesity
Other anti-obesity medications include: Sibutramine (Reductil or Meridia), Phenylpropanolamine, and Amphetamine.
This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional.
Surgical options to resolve truncal obesity:
Truncal obesity, or excess fat in the abdomen and around the waist, can be treated surgically, with options including liposuction, bariatric surgery (like gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy), and in some cases, abdominoplasty.
Surgical Options:
(1) Liposuction: Liposuction, also known as lipoplasty or body contouring, is a cosmetic surgery procedure that removes excess fat from specific areas of the body using suction, aiming to improve body shape and appearance. This procedure removes fat from a specific area using a suction tube, potentially reducing waist circumference. However, it doesn't address the underlying metabolic causes of truncal obesity and lifestyle changes are still important.
Every surgery comes with risks. Liposuction has a good safety record. The risks are limited when you choose a trained, board-certified plastic surgeon. Smaller areas of fat removal involve a shorter procedure with the fewest risks.
(2) Bariatric Surgery:
While bariatric surgery can be an effective tool for significant and sustained weight loss, especially for individuals with severe obesity and related health conditions, it's not a universally "best" solution and should be considered alongside other weight management strategies and after careful evaluation of risks and benefits.
Bariatric surgery, also known as weight-loss surgery, is a surgical procedure designed to help individuals with obesity lose weight and improve related health conditions by modifying the digestive system. Gastric bypass and other types of weight-loss surgery — also called bariatric or metabolic surgery — involve making changes to your digestive system to help you lose weight. Bariatric surgery is done when diet and exercise haven't worked or when you have serious health problems because of your weight.
Procedures like gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy can help with weight loss and improve metabolic factors, particularly in severe cases of obesity.
(3) Abdominoplasty or tummy tuck: This surgery can address excess skin and fat in the abdominal area, improving the overall appearance and contour.
Abdominoplasty, commonly known as a tummy tuck, is a cosmetic surgery that removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen, and tightens the abdominal muscles to improve the shape and appearance of the stomach area.A tummy tuck is generally a safe procedure, but as with any surgery, there are risks. Your surgeon will discuss these risks with you during your consultation so you can make an informed decision about your health. Complications of a tummy tuck may include: Scarring.
Cost of Lower Body Lift / Belt Plasty varies from 110000 ₹ to 160000₹ depending upon amount of redundant skin . Abdominoplasty is major surgery, it involves general anaesthetic and then a procedure which typically takes several hours. Recovery also takes some time, initially the patient is likely to have some pain and bruising, with the ongoing recovery then taking several months.
Weight-loss surgery is typically recommended for individuals with a Body Mass Index (BMI) above 35, or a BMI above 30 with serious obesity-related health problems.
Some ethnic groups, like those of South Asian descent, may be considered for surgery at lower BMI due to a higher prevalence of truncal obesity.
Other Considerations:
Lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise, are crucial for long-term weight management, regardless of the surgical approach.
Patients should be well-informed about the potential risks and complications of any surgical procedure.
Specific Surgical Procedures:
(1) Gastric Bypass: This procedure restricts stomach size and alters the digestive tract to reduce food intake and absorption.
Gastric bypass surgery refers to a technique in which the stomach is divided into a small upper pouch and a much larger lower "remnant" pouch, where the small intestine is rearranged to connect to both.Risks. Gastric bypass is major surgery and it has many risks. Some of these risks are very serious. You should discuss these risks with your surgeon.
Gastric bypass surgery in India typically costs between ₹2,80,000 and ₹6,00,000, but the price can vary based on the hospital, surgeon, and the patient's individual needs.
If you overeat and stretch your stomach pouch, your stomach will get big, even after a gastric bypass
(2) Sleeve Gastrectomy: This procedure involves removing a large portion of the stomach, reducing its capacity and leading to weight loss. Sleeve gastrectomy, is a weight-loss surgery that involves removing a large portion of the stomach, leaving a smaller, tube-shaped stomach, which limits food intake and helps with weight loss.
(3) Belt Lipectomy: This procedure can improve abdominal contour, abdominal wall laxity, and other areas of the trunk.
A belt lipectomy is a type of surgery. It's done to remove the loose skin and fat around your waist or “belt line.” This is also called an abdominal lipectomy, lower body lift, or panniculectomy. You may have this surgery after you lose a great deal of weight.
Surgery for weight loss lowers the risk of death related to many diseases including heart disease (40% lower), diabetes (92% lower), and cancer (60% lower) are also significantly reduced. Comparing the risks of surgery to the benefits of surgery makes the decision for surgery much easier to make..
Rarely, surgery-related problems can lead to death. Other side effects may occur later. Your body may not absorb enough nutrients, especially if you don't take your prescribed vitamins and minerals. Not getting enough nutrients can cause health problems, such as anemia and osteoporosis link.
Resolve truncal obesity and stay fit and healthy
Information complied by Dr.Bhairavsinh Raol
