Dr. Michel Vix explains to us what bariatric surgery consists of.
- A founding member of IRCAD, Dr. Michel Vix specializes in morbid obesity surgery.
- He explains what bariatric surgery is, who it is for, under what conditions it can be successful and where it comes from.
- According to the recent OFÉO 2024 survey, obesity affects 17.9% of French people.
As obesity increases in France, the term “bariatric surgery” is increasingly used… But what exactly does it refer to? Some answers from Dr. Michel Vix, a specialist in this technique and founding member of IRCAD (Institute for Research against Cancers of the Digestive System).
Who is suitable for bariatric surgery?
Bariatric surgery is intended for people who suffer from morbid obesity (defined by a body mass index greater than 40). This technique can also be used for people suffering from severe obesity associated with a comorbidity such as diabetes, high blood pressure or hypertriglyceridemia.
What is bariatric surgery?
The different techniques are designed to reduce food absorption and appetite.
What determines the success of bariatric surgery?
Surgery alone is not enough. It is part of a multidisciplinary approach that combines understanding the origin of obesity and implementing lifestyle actions, therapeutic education and psychological support. It is also necessary to continue regular medical monitoring after surgery.
How did bariatric surgery develop in France?
Obesity surgery is relatively recent, having appeared in the 1950s, when attempts were made to understand the cause of this disease and how patients could be made to lose weight.
The first surgeries consisted of removing part of the intestine to prevent the patient from absorbing too much food. From the sixties, surgery included the stomach, then the first gastric rings appeared in the 80s. It was also in the 1980s (from 1987) that other interventions, previously performed using open surgery, were adapted to laparoscopic surgery.
Finally, the sleeve arrived and took hold.
According to the recent OFÉO 2024 survey, obesity affects 17.9% of French people, with 11.9% being moderately obese (BMI 30 to 34.9), 4.1% being severely obese (BMI 35 to 39.9) and 1.9% being morbidly obese.
It is estimated that in 2019, a BMI above the optimal value was the cause of 5 million deaths worldwide due to non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers, neurological disorders, chronic respiratory problems and digestive problems.
