Fight obesity! Chia Kee Hospital performs 100th laparoscopic bariatric surgery

Obesity is the public enemy. In the past two years, Chiayi Christian Hospital has completed 100 laparoscopic weight loss surgeries with a 100% success rate. The weight loss exceeded 4 metric tons. In addition to helping patients regain their confidence and health, none of the patients have gained weight again so far. The results were announced on the 4th, and a total of 50 patients came to witness and share this joyful achievement.

Director Song Tianzhou (left) pointed out that Chiayi Christian Hospital completed 100 laparoscopic weight loss surgeries in 2 years, with an efficiency rate of 100% and a weight reduction of more than 4 tonnes. (Photo provided by Chiayi Christian Hospital)

According to the survey, Taitung County, Pingtung County, and Chiayi County have the highest adult obesity rates. Taitung County is the county with the highest adult overweight and obesity rates, reaching 48.28%. However, Chiayi County is not far behind, with a rate as high as 45%, far exceeding the national average. Director Tianzhou Song of the General Surgery Department of Chiayi Christian Hospital pointed out that thanks to the efforts of the hospital, schools and the Chiayi City Health Bureau, in the 2011 Healthy City Survey Report published by Health Magazine, Taipei City and Chiayi City became the cities and counties that made the most efforts to combat obesity.

In fact, laparoscopic weight loss surgery is different from general weight loss methods. The surgery is only suitable for severely obese patients with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 32, poorly controlled diabetes, or a BMI of more than 37. Currently, laparoscopic weight loss surgery is mainly based on gastric banding or gastric bypass, which is not suitable for everyone, so it is not easy to complete 100 operations. Currently, only a few hospitals in China can achieve this goal.

Currently, Jiaji's weight loss surgery is a comprehensive assessment, providing different weight loss surgeries based on the conditions of each patient. Ms. Lin Qiuxiang, 60, who once weighed 125 kilograms, underwent gastric banding surgery at the suggestion of her family. Her weight has now dropped to 69 kilograms. Her diabetes and high blood pressure, for which she had been taking long-term medication, have also improved and are now under good control.

In the future, Jiaji will integrate departments such as internal medicine, surgery, traditional Chinese medicine and nutritionists to work as a team to jointly care for obese patients and provide local residents with safer and more effective weight loss medical care.