Now, banks to offer loans for obesity surgeries

With rapid urbanisation and changing eating habits, the number of people suffering from obesity is increasing in India, especially urban areas. Estimates suggest India has around 2.2 crore obese persons and 30 per cent of them are concentrated in urban areas. Also, around 16 per cent children in the country are obese or overweight.

 

"There are instances where obesity patients try to avoid surgeries due to high cost involved in the surgery. The cost of various obesity surgeries ranges between Rs 2 Lakh to Rs 5 lakh. In order to tide over financial problems faced by the patients, we have intiated talks with three banks to ensure bank loans for their surgeries," said Asian Surgicentre chairman Dr Mahendra Narwaria.

Offering loan for obesity surgery is a common practice in United States, where every third person is suffering from obesity. The same model is being implemented by Asian Surgicentre in India. He said loans would be offered to patients being treated by Asian Surgicentre. The bariatric hospital is also planning its second centre in Delhi and its patients from the capital city will also be able to avail bank loan services for obesity surgery.

Unlike western countries, obesity is not considered a disease in India. All India Association of Advance Research in Obesity (AIAARO) is actively in dialogue with insurance companies to offer insurance cover for obesity as it is a diease, said Narwaria, who is also a chairman (Gujarat Chapter), AIAARO.

As part of its efforts to spread awareness regarding obesity AIAARO, an affiliated body of International Association of Adavncing Research in Obecity (IAARO), has organised a two day annual conference called Obesity 2008 on 28 and 29 June in Ahmedabad. The conference will have several national experts to educate the people about obesity and related risks.