Chennai, Tamil Nadu – In a historic medical milestone for South India, Dr. Anirudh Rajkumar, Advanced Laparoscopic & Bariatric Surgeon and Joint Managing Director of Lifeline Group of Hospitals, along with Dr. JS Rajkumar, Chairman & Chief Surgeon, successfully performed South India’s first-ever bariatric surgery on a 5-year-old girl from Bangladesh suffering from Prader-Willi Syndrome, a rare genetic condition leading to extreme childhood obesity.
Her obesity was so severe that she could neither walk nor breathe properly, and was already battling hypertension, diabetes, early-stage fatty liver disease, and a painful bow-leg deformity at such a young age.Following careful evaluation and counseling, the team undertook this first-of-its-kind, high-risk bariatric procedure in South India, achieving remarkable success. Within just two weeks, she lost 8 kg, breathing more comfortably and showing visible improvement.
Doctors anticipate another 10-15 kg weight loss in the next six months, significantly enhancing her quality of life.However, experts stress that surgery is only one part of the journey. The child’s recovery and long-term health will depend on a dedicated multidisciplinary team approach, involving pediatricians, nutritionists, physiotherapists, psychologists, and obesity specialists, ensuring her weight loss is sustained and complications are prevented.
“This case is not just a surgical feat; it is a wake-up call to the growing crisis of childhood obesity and its devastating impacts on young lives. Early intervention, backed by continuous, holistic care, is critical,” said Dr. Anirudh Rajkumar.
Lifeline Hospitals urges parents and caregivers to take childhood obesity seriously and seek timely medical help, ensuring that children have the chance to live healthy, active, and joyful lives.
Patient : Name Mayesha siddika
Age – 5
Address – Chapainawabgang, Bangladesh
Father : Juelrana
Mother : Zohra khatun
Lead Surgeons
Dr. Anirudh Rajkumar
Advanced Robotic & Laparoscopic Obesity Surgeon
Joint Managing Director – Lifeline Multispeciality Hospitals
Dr. JS Rajkumar
Chairman & Chief Surgeon
Dr. K.R. Dharmendra
Advanced Robotic & Laparoscopic Surgeon
Ms. J. Jayavani
Nutrition Head
Dr. V. Sampath Kumar
Anaesthesiologist
Dr. G. Venkatesh
Anaesthesiologist
(Bariatric Surgery)
About the Author
