Despite campaigns to discourage people from junk food and sedentary lifestyles, more Asians are turning to surgery to counter obesity as health authorities’ efforts to get people to exercise and eat healthier are apparently failing.
Speaking to reporters in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday Lee Wei-jei, president of the Asia Pacific Bariatric Surgical Society said, ?More than 1,300 weight-loss surgeries have been performed in India, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan since the start of 2006.?
“We expect there will be more and more in the future,” Lee added at the launch of an anti-obesity conference involving 200 surgeons and medical experts from 12 Asia-Pacific countries.
Speaking further Lee said, ?Popular procedures include laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, which involves wrapping a silicone band around the upper stomach to create a pouch that restricts food intake.?
A person with a body mass index of 25 and above is considered overweight.
Conference delegates said obesity is rising in many parts of Asia, despite campaigns to discourage people from junk food and sedentary lifestyles.