PEOPLE who go for long periods without meals are at risk of developing stomach ulcers, whose treatment can be complicated, medical experts assert.

In remarks at an extended interview, the medics linked with correcting body weight and nutritional components of meals people take, said people need to follow recommendations on healthy diets to stem the rising cases of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), said to be alarming in recent years.

Abubakar Abushiri, a nutritionist at the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) issued this precaution in an interview in Dar es Salaam at midweek, stating that a balanced diet needs to have fruits and vegetables at any particular serving.

Stressing the need for a balanced diet, he said there are various cases of NCDs that arise from lifestyles, especially having unbalanced diets, while Dr Eric Muhumba, head of the surgery department at MNH-Mloganzila branch underlined the same risks.

People who overeat without considering nutrition are at risk of becoming obese, he said, explaining that obesity occurs when a person's body mass index (BMI) is 30 or higher, referring to the measure of weight in kilograms to square meters based on the person’s height.

"People who go hungry for extended periods are at risk of developing stomach ulcers due to stomach acid starting to digest the stomach lining,” he explained, elaborating that excessive stomach acid is produced inside the body.

Similarly, stomach ulcers could be due to an infection from bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori), tested with a device for a procedure known as endoscopy or biopsy.

Prolonged fasting, consuming acid-producing foods and stress can cause the intestines to perforate, often requiring emergency surgery when the situation is acute, he said.

As stomach acid starts digesting the stomach walls, treatment can be quite challenging, resulting in many sufferers living with the condition for a long time. “If it's an infection, we will diagnose it using endoscopy or by taking a biopsy. If it's H. Pylori, treatment will begin.”

Those who overeat and cause excessive weight gain have a treatment option, placing a balloon in the stomach to have less appetite, he said. MNH is focused on gastric balloons to help people adopt smaller meals in their routines, he added.