Obesity is a disease where excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may adversely affect health.
The Body Mass Index (BMI), calculated as weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of height (in metres), is the recommended index to define obesity.
Classification of BMI in Asian adults.
Category | BMI | Risk of co-morbidities |
Underweight | <18.5 | Low |
Normal Weight | 18.5 to 22.9 | Average |
Pre-Obese | 23 to 27.4 | Increased |
Obese Class I | 27.5 to 32.4 | Moderate |
Obese Class II | 32.5 to 37.4 | Severe |
Obese Class III | >37.5 | Very Severe |
Patients who are morbidly obese (obese class III) have a much-reduced life expectancy compared to people of normal weight.
There are no specific symptoms of obesity.
Obesity may cause the following problems:
Weight reduction can be achieved through various measures such as diet therapy, physical activity, behaviour therapy, and pharmacotherapy.
Bariatric Surgery, as part of a multi-discipliary approach is the most effective method for helping severely obese patients reduce weight.
[Colquitt JL , Pickett K , Loveman E , Frampton GK . Surgery for weight loss in adults . Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2014 : CD003641.]
There are different types of bariatric/weight loss procedures. They include
Intragastric balloon
Energy imbalances which causes the body to store fat
Some medical conditions such as hypothyroidism
Certain medications
The Body Mass Index (BMI), calculated as weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of height (in metres), is the recommended index to define obesity. Weight loss surgery should be considered for the treatment of obesity for acceptable Asian candidates with BMI ≥ 35 with or without other medical conditions. (IFSO-APC Consensus Statements 2011)
Although every surgical procedure will carry with it a certain amount of risks, weight loss surgery has been found to be one of the safest elective operations.
The three main types of weight loss surgery are gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy and adjustable gastric banding. Each of these procedures has different risks and potential weight loss. The choice of the procedure will depend on the individual patient’s factors such as coexisting medical conditions, BMI, expectations, etc.
You can lose between 20-25% of the total body weight at 5 years after the operation. The results will vary between patients. The amount of weight loss will also depend on how strictly you follow the dietary and lifestyle modification advice given.
Weight loss surgery for obesity alone is generally not covered by insurance in Singapore. However, some insurance plans may provide coverage for treatment of obesity-related medical conditions.
There is a staged approach to the dietary recommendations after weight loss surgery. The progression will be from liquids, pureed foods, and soft foods to solid foods. After 3 months, most patients can tolerate a regular diet comprising of small meals.
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Our clinics will be closed from 16 – 18 Feb for CNY
Our clinic at Mt Alvernia Medical Centre A will be relocating from #06-05 to #03-03 (within the same building) on Friday, 26 Sep afternoon.
Our telephone line 6353 4855 will be temporarily unavailable from 12:00pm – 6:00pm on 26 September. During this period, you may reach out to our other clinics for assistance:
We will begin operations at our new premises (#03-03) from Tuesday, 30 Sep onwards.
We look forward to serving you at our new clinic!
Nexus Surgical clinics at Mt Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre, Gleneagles Medical Centre, Parkway East Medical Centre and Mt Alvernia Medical Centre will be closed on 28 January 2025 for Lunar New Year celebrations, while our clinic at Mt Elizabeth Orchard Medical Centre remains open from 0900-1300 hours on 28 January 2025.
Please leave a message in our voice mails and we will respond to you as soon as we can when we resume our clinics on 31 January 2025. If you require any urgent assistance, kindly go to the Urgent Care Centre of any hospitals or contact your doctor through the Emergency Answering Service. Our team at Nexus Surgical would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a Happy & Prosperous Lunar New Year with good health in the Year of the Snake!
Nexus Surgical will be away from 17 to 20 October 2024 for our Annual Company Retreat. The aim of our retreat is to review and to recharge, so that we may serve you better.
Our clinics at Mount Elizabeth Orchard, Mount Elizabeth Novena, Mount Alvernia and Parkway East hospitals will therefore be closed during this period. In the meantime, if you require any urgent assistance, kindly contact us through our Answering Service at +65 6333 5550.
We thank you for your understanding and patience for any inconvenience.
