Bariatric (Weight Loss) Surgery: Your Questions Answered

Frederic Wood Jones Lecture Theatre, Level 3 (1st Floor), Medical Building, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
March 15, 2012
06:00pm - 07:30pm

Over four million Australians are clinically obese (BMI > 30.0kg/m2). People who are obese are more at risk of developing heart disease, stroke, high blood
pressure, type two diabetes, cancer, gallbladder disease, respiratory disease, digestive disorders, incontinence, sleep apnoea, depression, skin problems,
musculoskeletal (bone and tendon) problems and infertility. In Australia obesity has overtaken smoking as the leading cause of premature death and illness with experts estimating that between 12,000 to 17,000 Australians die prematurely each year from it.

Obesity is a serious, chronic disease and not a simple condition. The good news is major weight loss can lead to partial or complete control of a wide range of these diseases and related health problems. Bariatric surgery has proven to be a successful method for the treatment of obesity. Weight loss is achieved by reducing the size of the stomach with an implanted medical device (gastric banding) or through removal of a portion of the stomach (sleeve gastrectomy or biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch) or by resecting and re-routing the small intestines to a small pouch (gastric bypass surgery).

Chair:

  • Professor Joseph Proietto (Coordinator Diabetes, Obesity and Endocrinology Research Domain, Sir Edward Dunlop Medical Research Foundation Professor of Medicine, Endocrinologist and Obesity Specialist).

Speakers and Panel of Experts:

  • Mr Ahmad Aly (Bariatric Surgeon, Austin Health & Darebin Weight Loss Surgery)
  • Karen Edwards (Psychologist, Private Practice & Darebin Weight Loss Surgery)
  • Mr Ian Michell (Bariatric Surgeon, Austin Health & Obesity Surgery Melbourne)
  • Emily O’Loughlin (Bariatric Surgery Patient & Comedian)
  • Fiona Sammut (Dietician, Darebin Weight Loss Surgery)
  • Dr John Wentworth (Endocrinologist, Royal Melbourne Hospital & The Centre for Bariatric Surgery)

This lecture will discuss the most common procedures used in Australia, the pre and post surgery care and maintenance, and the risks and benefits of
surgery. This will be followed by a patient’s personal story and our panel of experts taking questions.

All welcome. Free Admission.

To RSVP or for further information, contact Nicola Robinson on (03) 9496 2645.

Download the event flyer here.