Iraq’s heaviest man undergoes a bariatric surgery in Delhi, all set to lose 150 kgs in the next year

Obesity is a lifestyle disease and the more we tend to neglect healthy habits the more we are to become obese. It is a major hindrance and can take a huge toll on not only on your physical but also on your mental health. Imagine if you weighed 300 kgs how difficult it would be for you to move around and perform the simplest of tasks. Ali Saddam from Iraq had a similar lifestyle. His unhealthy eating habits lead to a rapid increase in his weight and it reached 301 kgs. But now he’s all set to lose weight owing to a bariatric surgery performed in New Delhi, which will help him lose over 150 kgs in the next year.

The 43-year-old Iraqi national is known as Iraq’s heaviest man and underwent the surgery on March 23. Dr Deep Goel, Sr Consultant and Director, Bariatric and Advance Laparoscopy Surgery, BLK Super Specialty Hospital informed that he has reduced 20 kg within five days after the surgery. (Read: Scientists develop new hormone that can cure obesity)

Ali’s unhealthy lifestyle included a heavy intake of food. His diet included 24 eggs for breakfast, two chickens with 12 chapattis for lunch and one goat for dinner along with two liters of milk and 15 khaboos (Arabic flat bread). This high fat diet not only led to an increase in his weight but also gave rise to a number of other ailments like an uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep disorder. He also developed obstructive sleep apnoea and had to depend on depend on Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine. (Read:Revealed — how obesity causes heart disease )

Dr Goel said that the most difficult part of the surgery was locating his abdomen as Ali had more than one feet of fat deposition around his belly. All his organs were densely covered with layers of fat. Also, controlling his heart beat, blood pressure and sugar level was critical. Owing to his huge size, he was laid down on two operation tables, and two surgeons had to stand on stools. Also, special arrangements had to be made in the ICU for Ali. The surgery was minimally invasive and only took an hour to perform despite his heavy weight, informed Dr. Goel. (Read:Does bariatric surgery help you lose weight?)

Barely few months ago life had seemed hopeless for Ali. ‘Ignored and discarded by many hospitals in my country and was only steadily increasing body weight all around. My appetite increased day-by-day, and I maintained a sluggish lifestyle for years. I did not realise that heavy diet full of saturated fat will bring me at this weight,’ said Ali.

He does not fail to point out that he had to block three seats in the airlines to accommodate him. He was admitted to the hospital on March 16.’CPAP machine which Ali used to breathe while sleeping has been removed from the first day, and he is not taking any medication for diabetes as well. He has reduced 20 Kg within five days after the surgery, and we are hoping that he will reduce half of his weight in next 12 months to stabilise at around 151 Kg,’ Dr Goel said. (Read: Bariatric surgery – nothing cosmetic about this weight loss)

Gastric Sleeve Gastrectomy is a stapling procedure in which 60 percent of the stomach is reduced leaving around 100cc volume in pouch.
‘Studies have shown that by bariatric surgeries 70-80 per cent of extra weight is lost in 6-9 months, with 92 percent improvement in hypertension, 95 per cent improvement in diabetes, 82 per cent in osteoarthritis and 75 percent in sleep apnoea with increased quality of life after this surgery, said,’ Dr Ravinder Vats, consultant, Bariatric and Advanced Laparoscopy Surgery at the hospital said.

With inputs from PTI

Image source: The Hindu

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