Coalition calls for better access to surgery for obese Quebecers

More Quebec women than men are morbidly obese and require urgent medical help for health problems associated with their condition, says a Montreal-based anti-obesity coalition.

The Coalition against Morbid Obesity, a non-profit group based in Montreal,released a study of 1,011 Quebec residents who are morbidly obese on Wednesday.

The study was conducted between March 22 and July 31, 2007 by research firm Zins Beauchesne et associes.

The coalition's mandate is to improve access to bariatric surgery in Quebec for the over 200,000 people in the province suffering from the condition.

"Bariatric surgery is the only efficient treatment of morbid obesity. It is a matter of life and death," said Jennifer Schultz, a co-founder of the coalition, in a release.

The report finds that in Quebec, approximately 3,500 people are on a waiting list for bariatric surgery, withmost waiting an average of five years before undergoing the surgery. According to the coalition, only 1,000 surgeries are performed annually in the province.

Ninety-eight per cent of the study's respondents feel that waiting five years for bariatric surgery is not normal. Ninety-nine per cent feel the Quebec government should ensure more bariatric surgery is made available to patients.

Bariatric surgery shrinks the stomach and bypasses a portion of the intestine. People shed pounds because they consume less food and absorb fewer calories.

Health, public perception major concerns

The study finds that Quebec women account for eight out of10 cases of morbid obesity, with an average body mass index of between 40 and 50.

The report also finds that most patients are mobility-challengedand have little support from their families or health-care providers.

It also finds that 66 per cent of respondentssaid that they have suffered from obesity longer than 10 years.

Respondents with morbid obesity indicated that they are very concerned with their health, with 91 per cent reporting they worry about health problems.

Public perception was also a main concern, with 68 per cent reporting it as an issue. And 62 per cent reported a fear of dying from their condition.

In terms of health problems associated with obesity, 79 per cent reported suffering from health problems related to their condition. These included bone/joint problems (66 per cent),high blood pressure (50 per cent), depression(43 per cent) and sleep apnea (42 per cent).