Obesity affects more and more people in Switzerland. To deal with this problem and better understand it, the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG) will inaugurate their center for obesity and bariatric surgery next Thursday (operations related to obesity).
KEYSTONE
This center will provide patients of all ages with a coordinated care pathway. “We want to develop individualized care for anyone suffering from obesity,” said Professor Zoltan Pataky, who will co-direct the center, in a press release from the HUG on Saturday.
The new structure will also be responsible for training health professionals and encouraging continuing education in the management of obesity. Finally, the center will promote research in the field of prevention and treatment of obesity.
A great challenge
Obesity has become a major public health challenge worldwide. In Switzerland, between 1992 and today, the proportion of adults suffering from obesity has increased from 5 to 11%. By adding overweight people, 42% of the adult population and 15% of children are concerned by the theme of body weight.
Overweight and obesity are at the root of many diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. People with obesity can suffer from different pathologies and are often followed by several services.
Because obesity is a chronic and complex disease. Many medical, genetic, dietary, professional and psychological factors come into play. The new HUG center must respond to this problem by offering comprehensive and multidisciplinary care, also including visceral surgery.
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