Modern-day sedentary lifestyle is a major culprit for making people increasingly disease-prone and unhealthy today. Two of the most common diseases in today’s day and age are hernia and obesity. While hernia is the bulging of an organ or the fascia of an organ out of the weakened muscle that contains it, obesity is related to the accumulation of excess body fat which can adversely affect general health. Both hernia and obesity can increase the susceptibility of developing other health problems and both can be treated through surgical and non-surgical interventions. There are also multiple instances where an obese patient is also dealing with hernia. If you live in and around Dallas and Fort Worth, TX and have a similar problem, you must consult a DFW hernia surgery or weight loss surgery expert to find out the best solution for you. In this regard, you might be curious whether these separate conditions (obesity and hernia) are related to each other at all. Read on as we attempt to explain the link between hernia and obesity.

What is hernia?

Hernia is the protrusion of the fatty tissue or an organ through its weak muscle cavity or surrounding muscle. Here are the most common types of hernia:

• Inguinal (inner groin)
• Incisional (resulting from an incision)
• Femoral (outer groin)
• Umbilical (belly button)
• Hiatal (upper stomach)

Nearly all types of hernia are caused due to a combination of pressure and weakness of muscle or fascia. In some cases, the muscle weakness might have been present since birth, but it is not uncommon for muscles to weaken gradually later on in life. Some of the common reasons behind hernia include poor nutrition, obesity, and excessive smoking. All of these reasons are known to weaken muscles, increasing the likelihood of developing hernia. It is important to note that not all types of hernias require immediate surgical repair. It depends whether the hernia is causing other painful symptoms in the body. In such cases, it is crucial to consult a hernia specialist. A DFW hernia surgery expert will be able to guide you about the best treatment options based on your specific condition

What is obesity?

Obesity is a complex condition where a person’s body has an accumulation of excessive body fat. A Body Mass Index of 30 or above is considered “obese”. As a reference, BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered “normal”. Obesity if not managed timely can become a serious medical condition increasing the risk of chronic diseases including heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. In majority of the cases, obesity is hereditary, but physiological and environmental factors, in combination with poor diet and low physical activity, can lead to obesity as well. It is said that even a modest weight loss can lower the risk of developing health problems linked with obesity. But the good thing is that obesity is treatable! Following a healthy diet, engaging in regular physical activities, and certain behavioral changes can help you gradually lose weight over time. If all of these traditional solutions don’t produce any results, you can consult a doctor for weight loss surgery. You can get access to a number of options related to weight loss surgery in Fort Worth TX including Sleeve gastrectomy, SIPS and SADI which can help in managing obesity. 

Relation between hernia and obesity

Studies have shown that there seems to be a link between hernia and obesity. Simply put, when a person gains significantly extra weight than their muscles are used to handling, there is an increased risk of developing a hernia. Obesity is widely believed to increase the chances of recurrent hernias. The relation between hernia and obesity is more obvious in severe cases of hiatal hernia, where the stomach moves up along the joint between the food pipe and diaphragm blocking the passage of food. Additionally, there is also an increased possibility of complications in traditional hernia surgeries in obese patients. But with availability of advanced and minimally invasive surgical options, risks in hernia or weight loss surgeries can be significantly reduced. Consult a DFW robotic surgery or laparoscopic surgery expert to know your best options. 

Final word

We hope you got a little clarity about the relationship between hernia and obesity through our blog. If you are dealing with hernia or weight-related health problems or both, you should get a professional consultation from a doctor. To find the best hernia and weight loss surgeons in the Dallas and Fort Worth region, simply search online for ‘DFW Hernia Surgery’ and ‘Weight Loss Surgery Fort Worth TX’. Book a consultation with a surgeon who is experienced in bariatric and general surgeries and provides a range of advanced minimally invasive surgical procedures.