In the fight against obesity, Montauban hospital has set up two treatment programs. Dr. Julie Francoual, specialist in digestive surgery and Patricia Castel, nurse tell us about it.
No more diets, make way for food rebalancing. Considered a public health problem, obesity continues to grow. Good eating habits tend to disappear in favor of “junk food” that is quick to prepare. Dietitians, nutritionists and doctors are more than ever at work reminding them of the basics of healthy and healthy eating. This is the case of Céline Rousseau, dietician and nutritionist in Montauban.
“70% of patients who come to see me do not eat starchy foods on the advice of other types of diets. Without starches, we cannot last the day. This will encourage you to snack on fatty and sweet things that will be stored. The 3 meals a day are essential for a balanced diet,” she insists.
Knowing a success in sales, ready-made meals found in supermarkets have conquered consumers who do not take the time to cook to the detriment of health.
“Ready meals add a lot of fat. It’s good to cook yourself, but you have to be careful not to add too much fat. Some people think that adding olive oil is good for your health. Thinking this, they consume large quantities and have the impression of eating balance. It’s up to us to manage the fat we put in. You have to take a minimum of time to eat well,” advises Celine Rousseau.
A century ago, we were in the fields and there weren’t all those supermarkets with junk food. The obesity epidemic is linked to our lifestyles.
The Montauban hospital fights and accompanies people who are victims of obesity by offering a free 3-week program entitled “therapeutic education of obese patients in precarious situations”. It helps people with economic constraints. Validated by the Regional Health Agency, it can be followed by health professionals (dietician, nutritionist, doctor, educator in adapted physical activity, social and family economics adviser).
“We help patients by offering several workshops in small groups. We put in place a balanced diet for them, we launch them into a physical activity adapted to their health problem. We work on psychological and emotional nutrition. A century ago, we were in the fields and there weren’t all those supermarkets with junk food. The obesity epidemic is linked to our lifestyles”, explains Patricia Castel, nurse in this program which welcomes nearly 90 patients.
I have been obese for 10 years. I can’t stand my body anymore, this program at the hospital helps me the best so that I get better.
Testimony of one of the beneficiaries of this program, whose anonymity we preserve.
“I had alcohol problems when I was young that I managed to get treated. After stopping treatment, I gained a lot of weight, I snacked a lot between meals. Today I have difficulty in breathing, others in stooping and moving around. I have been obese for 10 years. I can’t stand my body anymore, this program at the hospital helps me the best so that I get better, ”says this woman.
Bariatric surgery, a one-year treatment
The Montauban hospital has just launched another service to treat obesity: bariatric surgery. It is aimed at all adults aged 18 to 60.
“Bariatric surgery is a multidisciplinary treatment that lasts approximately 1 year. Patients are followed by a surgeon, a dietician, an educator in adapted physical activity, etc. Obesity is a public health problem. In France, we do a lot of surgery,” says Dr. Julie Francoual. Digestive surgeon at the origin of this program, she already anticipates an increased demand.