Advertisement

Obesity treatment abroad - is it right for you?

With increasing numbers of people in Western countries who are overweight, obesity has become a major health problem. According to the UK’s NHS, around 23% of adults are classified as obese in the UK, while the Centre for Disease Control has the figure for US citizens at 36%. (Obesity is defined as having a body mass index or BMI of 30 or more.)

What is obesity treatment?

Obesity treatment is any program of treatment aimed at reducing BMI and therefore eliminating or reducing obesity. Obesity treatment can be either non-surgical, such as diets and nutritional programs, exercise plans and behavioural therapy and counselling, or it can involve solutions such as a gastric band or surgery such as a gastric bypass or duodenal switch.

The right kind of obesity treatment for you will depend on your weight and health, as well as your personality type. You should not consider obesity surgery, either at home or abroad, until you have fully explored the non-surgical alternatives..

Is obesity treatment right for you?

Non-surgical obesity treatment carries few risks, and so is usually the first call for anyone who is concerned about their weight. Many people find that diet and exercise plans are all they need to tackle their weight problem. Kick starting such a new regime with an obesity boot camp, or a health spa retreat abroad can often be very effective.

Obesity surgery should not be considered unless you have exhausted the other alternatives, or unless your obesity is immediately life threatening and urgent action is required. If that is the case, then the chances are you will qualify for surgery in your own country as part of your medical insurance or within the national healthcare system.

In most cases, obesity surgery will not be considered unless you have a BMI of 40 or above or 35 or above if you have other related medical issues. You will also need to demonstrate that you are psychologically stable. Many clinics require a referral from your regular doctor in your home country before they will perform obesity surgery.

Why go abroad for obesity treatment?

With the rise in obesity in Western countries, there are often waiting lists for obesity surgery, even in private hospitals. Travelling abroad for obesity treatment means you can choose when you have your treatment to suit your schedule and avoid lengthy delays.

For some borderline cases, obesity surgery may not be available in their home country at their BMI level. Some clinics abroad will provide obesity surgery at a lower BMI than the national guidelines in countries like the US and UK. However, while these guidelines are not legally binding, they are well researched and are there for a reason, so you should think carefully before you try to get around them. Obesity treatment is serious surgery and should not be treated as a fix-all solution. The more extensive procedures still require you to completely change your eating habits and lifestyle.

For most people who have decided surgical intervention is for them, the biggest attraction of obesity surgery abroad is the cost saving. Treatments in Mexico and Costa Rica are up to 70% less than they are in the US, and there are huge differences in the price of obesity treatment across Europe, with Turkey and the Czech Republic significantly cheaper than the UK or Western Europe.

The disadvantages of obesity treatment abroad

Obesity surgery involves major surgery and you should consider the procedure carefully before agreeing to have such surgery abroad. This is especially true the larger you are. The most obese patients may be unsuitable for keyhole surgery, and may require a more complex ‘open’ procedure, which carries greater infection risks and requires a longer period of recovery.

Even after keyhole surgery, you will still need time to recover, and will probably need someone to help you travel home afterwards. This will inevitably increase the overall cost of the treatment.

By far the biggest issue with obesity treatment abroad is the need for planned aftercare for weeks, or even months, following your surgery. For example, gastric bands, one of the most popular obesity surgeries, often need adjusting after a few weeks, and can develop complications months after they have been inserted. If you have this surgery abroad, then it may be difficult to obtain aftercare from the foreign clinic unless this is pre-arranged. Local hospitals may also lack the detailed medical records required to treat you in an emergency situation if you have had surgery abroad.

Think it through... consider the travel options

By its very nature, travelling abroad for obesity surgery requires more consideration than travelling for other surgeries, such as dental or cosmetic work. For example, flying abroad is not always easy, or comfortable if you are particularly overweight. Add to this the pain and irritation of fresh surgical scars, and you could be in for a very uncomfortable return journey. Cross border travel which doesn’t involve a flight may be a preferred option for some. Thus, some UK patients opt for obesity treatment in European countries such as Belgium which can be accessed by high speed rail services.

Budget hotels may not be the most comfortable for larger travellers, and again this will be magnified by post operative issues. You need to think through every aspect of your trip and your treatment before deciding if obesity treatment abroad is right for you.

Download DOWNLOAD GUIDE

Download this guide as a PDF

This 28 page guide helps you explore the options for obesity surgery abroad

Get a quote for obesity surgery abroad

Get a quote
  1. Complete the enquiry form
  2. Select countries of interest
  3. Providers respond
    directly
Additional information

Please provide the following information to get a better idea of the overall cost of your medical travel. We will factor in the typical price of travel, accommodation and travel insurance along with the cost of the treatment.



I am travelling from:
No. of travellers:

Skip this step  >    

Find providers of obesity surgery abroad

 
 
In the following countries:
Show cheapest countries

Compare the average cost of treatment, flights, accommodation & insurance

 

Include medical travel agencies

 Yes  No
 

Medical tourism articles

Medical tourism news

Advertisement
Advertisement