Weight Management Programme @ NUH Wellness Centre

Obesity shortens Life
join our
Weight Management Programme

Reduce your weight and gain an healthy life !

This programme supports NHG/NUH’s vision of “adding years of healthy life…”

1. What is Obesity?
2. How is defined Obesity in Asia?
3. What are the problems associated with Obesity?
4. Why I should join a Weight Management Programme?
5. NUH’s Weight Management Programme
6. Why a Multi-Disciplinary Team Approach?
7. How the programme is organized?
8. Which surgical options are today useful for weigh-loss?
9. Who is suitable for Obesity Surgery?
10. What are the benefits?
11. What are the risks of Surgery?
12. More about Weight Management Programme @ NUH’s Wellness Centre

Download the Weight Management Programme @ NUH Wellness Centre brochure (PDF).

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1. What is Obesity?

   Obesity is a condition that substantially raises the risk of morbidity and also associated with increases in mortality. The Obesity incidence in Far East countries is arising and will affect more people in the next years.

2. How is defined Obesity in Asia?

   Obesity is defined as an excess amount of body fat (and not merely of weight). Excess body fat is measured by the Body Mass Index (BMI). In Asia, obesity is to have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of greater than 35, or a BMI of 30 accompanied by other issues related to health (co-morbidities).

   

   BMI Values For Asians*

   <18.5	Underweight
   18.5 - 23	Normal weight
   23.1 - 27	Overweight
   =27	Obese
   37.2	Severe Obesity
   >37.5	Morbid Obesity

   * note BMI values are different for non-Asians

3. What are the problems associated with Obesity?

   Besides aesthetic and social problems, Obesity shortens life expectancy and predisposes to sudden death. Medical conditions (co-morbidities) that are caused by obesity include diabetes, coronary heart disease, hypertension, stroke, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea, respiratory problems, osteoarthritis, dyslipidemia, endometrial, breast, prostate and colon cancers.

4. Why I should join a Weight Management Programme?

   Weight loss is important and necessary to prevent obesity and its associated diseases. Even as little as 5% - 10% weight loss in obese patients has a significant effect on improving quality of life, mortality and morbidity.

5. NUH’s Weight Management Programme

   NUH’s Weight Management Programme is a four months holistic and multidisciplinary effort using medical, psychological, dietary modifications, exercise and eventually surgical intervention for weight reduction.

   We help patients prevent and reduce the health consequences of obesity through a supervised weight reduction and weight gain prevention programme. This also helps reduce their risk of chronic health conditions.

6. Why a Multi-Disciplinary Team Approach?

   Because Obesity is a complex medical problem and a successful therapy requires a modern integrated team work. The multidisciplinary team (comprising endocrinologists, gastroenterologists, laparoscopic surgeons, dietitians, physiotherapists, psychologists and nurses) cares for the patient from initial screening all the way to follow-up.

   The endocrinologist (physician) seeks to establish the underlying cause of obesity and assesses the co-morbidities. Through behavioural modification and cognitive therapy, the psychologist helps you to establish and maintain positive lifestyle changes. We believe that healthy eating for weight loss can be both enjoyable and sustainable. To achieve healthy eating and successful weight loss, the dietitian will provide diet counseling and advice (in a team group sessions) over a four-month period. During these sessions, patients will be given a nutritional assessment based on a three-day food diary. The physiotherapist (exercise therapist) helps patients exercise sensibly and rationally.

7. How the programme is organized?

   Regular appointments are scheduled with the team to assist patients and monitor their progress. During these sessions, patients can discuss their progress with the physician and determine the type of adjustments (if any) that need to be made in their programme. These appointments are important in keeping track of patients’ health and progress in weight management.

   However in some patients, these conventional techniques may have limited success in ensuring weight loss. Thus, surgery is the last option to help them achieve significant weight loss.

8. Which surgical options are today useful for weigh-loss?

   The so-called Bariatric or Obesity Surgery helps morbidly obese patients lose weight. It is only recommended as a last option for patients with severe obesity and when all other forms of weight reduction therapy have not been successful. Surgery is also advised for patients who are suffering from serious complications of obesity. It must be emphasized that bariatric surgery is a medical and not cosmetic procedure.

   Although there are multiple operative approaches, the most common type of bariatric surgery practiced in Asia is the Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (lap-banding).

   

9. Who is suitable for Obesity Surgery?

   1. Extreme or morbid obesity (BMI >35 kg/m₂ in Asians) or severe obesity (BMI >30 kg/m₂ in Asians) with medical co-morbidities or complications of obesity. Commensurate BMI values for non-Asians are >=40 kg/m₂ and >=35 kg/m₂ respectively.
   2. Failure of significant non-surgical attempts at weight reduction.
   3. The patient must fully understand the bariatric surgical concepts, accept the risks, undergo pre-operative endocrinological, dieticians and psychological evaluation and give informed consent.
   4. The patient must be motivated and capable of participating in lifelong follow-up.

10. What are the benefits?

    Immediately after surgery, most patients lose weight rapidly and continue to do so until 18 - 24 months after the procedure. Surgery improves most obesity-related conditions. Clinical studies showed that blood sugar levels of most obese patients with diabetes returned to normal after surgery. Other studies demonstrate a reduction in antihypertensive medications. The symptoms of gastric reflux (heartburn) are diminished, and the use of a CPAP machine for sleep apnea is eliminated.

11. What are the risks of Surgery?

    10% - 20% of patients who have weight loss operations require follow-up operations to correct complications. Abdominal hernias are the most common complication, requiring follow-up surgery. Less common complications include displacements of the band or the reservoir. As during any weight loss therapy also after surgery there is an increased risk to develop gallstones.

12. More about Weight Management Programme @ NUH’s Wellness Centre

    A convenient, one-stop resource housed in NUH’s Wellness Centre (Main Building 1, Level 1), our Weight Management Programme is designed to help patients improve their health and the quality of their lives.

    NUH Wellness Centre (Main Building 1, Level 1).
    Contact our Nurse Coordinator:
    Tel: 67724461 / 67724462

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Information is correct at time of publishing (November 2004).