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EDITORIALS: David Arterburn Bariatric surgery BMJ 2008; 337: a755 [Full text]

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Obesity - Nip the evil in the bud

Mohammad Siddiq   (12 September 2008)

Obesity - Nip the evil in the bud 12 September 2008
Mohammad Siddiq, associate specialist anaesthetist Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds LS1 3EX Send response to journal: Re: Obesity - Nip the evil in the bud	I praise David Arterburn's well-balanced editorial about bariatric surgery for obese patients. He comprehensively describes some positives and negatives of this very risky intervention. However, he has not emphasised the financial cost associated with the bariatric surgery or managing co-morbidities associated with obesity. He has not mentioned the significance of prevention of modern age plague. Obesity is a treacherous enemy that has affected all the countries on the earth. It has a lot of physical, mental and financial implications for an individual as well as for the whole nation. It is multifactorial. Personal lifestyles and mindsets as well as fast food contribute to its aetiology. As anaesthetists I face many difficulties and dilemmas when I anaesthetise obese patients for bariatric or non-bariatric surgery. As it has several serious implications for the whole society, it is a collective responsibility of all the stakeholders, including business community to tackle this pandemic. Parents, children themselves, schools, health departments, health policy makers, primary health care and hospitals, food industries and media, all should take positive measures to prevent this problem in future. As prevention is better than cure, let us nip the evil in the bud. Arterburn D. Bariatric surgery. BMJ 2008;337:a755 Competing interests: None declared