Four Health Benefits Seen in Bariatric Surgery Patients

A study published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association looked at obese patients with type 2 diabetes who underwent bariatric surgery (gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, gastric banding, or duodenal switch). When researchers compared the results of these patients to similarly matched patients who did not undergo any type of weight loss surgery, researched noted several benefits in the group that had bariatric surgery.

As the study participants (both surgical and nonsurgical) were obese and had type 2 diabetes, researchers focused their study on several of the most common complications encountered by people with both obesity and type 2 diabetes: death, coronary artery events, cerebrovascular events, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and kidney disease. Below are four health benefits the study observed over the eight year follow-up period:

1. Study participants who had bariatric surgery were found to have a 40% lower risk of coronary or cerebrovascular events, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and kidney failure compared to those who received standard medical care.
2. Participants who had bariatric surgery had a 41% lower risk of death.
3. Those who underwent weight loss surgery lost an average of 15% more weight.
4. Blood sugar levels were 15% lower in those who had gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, gastric banding, or duodenal switch.

The lead author of the study Dr. Ali Aminian, a bariatric surgeon from the Cleveland Clinic, noted the results of the study as “striking” and “may be related to the patients’ substantial and sustained weight loss.” The study was an observational study and direct cause and results can not be proven, but the results are in line with other studies observing health benefits after gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, lap band, and duodenal switch.

The combination of obesity (BMI > 30) and type 2 diabetes can lead to devastating health conditions and should be taken seriously in order to prevent and/or limit the harm it can cause. Bariatric surgery is one way to try to control the effects of obesity and type 2 diabetes. For more information on weight loss with gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, or lap band surgery, call Dr. Shillingford’s office today at (561) 483-8840. Dr. Shillingford, MD, PA is a board certified surgeon who received training at the Cleveland Clinic for his specialty in bariatric surgery. His Boca Raton office is conveniently located for those in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Naples, Wellington, Delray Beach areas, but can also accommodate those who travel for their weight loss surgery from Orlando and Jacksonville, plus other states like Georgia, New York, Michigan, and Texas.