More and more applications for obesity operations

Surgery: Slimming: The health insurer IKK Südwest is registering more and more applications for obesity surgery - 90 percent of the applicants are women

12/27/2011

More and more people want to solve their overweight problem surgically and undergo a stomach surgery. „Applications for gastric surgery have increased dramatically in recent years“, reports IKK health adviser Marie-Louise Conen. For example, IKK Südwest recorded more than twice as many applications in 2011 (89) as in 2008 (40), an increase of 122.50 percent. Around 90 percent of the inquiries come from women between the ages of 30 and 40.

Basically, four surgical procedures for the so-called obesity surgery in question: A gastric balloon, a gastric reduction, a gastric band or a gastric bypass. The costs are per case between 2,000 euros (stomach balloon) and 8,000 euros (gastric bypass). The medical service of the health insurance (MDK) grants such interventions however only in exceptional cases. The medical need for such an intervention must be given. Those who receive rejections usually object.

An overweight problem was also not corrected by a stomach operation overnight, said IKK health adviser Marie-Louise Conen: „Only surgery is not enough.“ Each patient will be carefully examined whether obesity can not be controlled by outpatient therapies.

„In advance, a sound long-term counseling and diet, behavioral and exercise therapy should definitely take place“, explains the health consultant.

Applicants must demonstrate their regular participation in such therapies for several months before an operation can be approved. „And postoperative strict nutritional therapy must be followed“, emphasizes Marie-Louise Conen. In addition, every operation always involves risks and side effects, which must be weighed up.

Insured persons of the IKK Südwest can turn to the IKK health advisers in nutritional matters and take advantage of the nutritional training IKK Healthy and Delicious. It is aimed at all families and children who want to or have to change their diet permanently, gently and without prohibitions. This also applies to diet changes associated with illnesses. For example, IKK Gesund und Lecker offers medical nutrition advice on hypertension, diabetes, elevated cholesterol, nutritional allergies, gout, eczema, osteoporosis, overweight, underweight and indigestion. (Pm)

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Picture: Gerd Altmann