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Surgery to Reduce Weight
Becoming Common
Obesity has become a worldwide
epidemic. In Costa Rica, it is
estimated that six out of 10
women over the age of 40
and that three out of every 10
school children are obese.
Doctors are worried about
obesity as it is not only a
question of esthetics but it
produces other health problems.
Traditional methods like pills
and diets are not as effective
as the new surgery that reduces
the stomach so that the obese
can eat less and be full.
At the Hospital Calderón Guardia
in San José the surgery is
performed to those who weigh in
at over 300 pounds. At the
private CIMA hospital in Escazú,
the surgery will soon be offered
under the name "minibypass
gástrico".
Doctors say that those patients
who receive the surgery can keep
the weight off if they continue
with a strict diet and exercise
program that can help them reach
their ideal weight in less than
a year.
At the Hospital Calderón Guardia
the surgery is performed to
those patients deemed to be at
risk and paid for by Caja
Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS),
while at the private hospital
CIMA, the surgery will cost
about ˘5 million colones
(us$10.500 dollars at the
current exchange rate).
CIMA is giving is a free seminar
tonight (May 3) at 7pm in Escazú
on the benefits of the surgery.
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