Weight loss surgery is by no means a quick or easy fix to cure your state of obesity. But if you’ve been battling obesity for years, trying every diet and exercise program available to no avail, is it a good move to consider a more drastic option to lose weight, in consultation with your doctor and dietician?
In other words, is it okay to go under the knife to save your life?
According to an international study and released this month, yes – if you meet the required medical and psychological conditions, getting bariatric surgery could reduce your risk of dying from poor health in the short-term.
Researchers found that the bypass surgery improved the patient’s blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure control five years after the procedure.
The Israeli study, , compared 24,000 obese people, some of whom had bariatric surgery, and found those who did were less likely to die within the next four and a half years after the procedure.
The findings revealed that obese patients who underwent we bariatric surgery had a lower rate of death from any cause compared with obese adults who received nonsurgical care – dietary counselling and behaviour changes – to manage their obesity.
Bariatric surgery provided included laparoscopic banding, a gastric bypass, or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.
“The rate of death from any cause over about 4.5 years was lower among obese patients who underwent bariatric surgery compared with patients who managed their obesity with nonsurgical care,” the study reads.
In the conducted by the same researchers, also published in JAMA, obese patients with type 2 diabetes who had gastric bypass surgery were observed.
Researchers found that the bypass surgery improved the patient’s blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure control five years after the procedure.
However, the rate of improvement seemed to decline over time. The researchers concluded that although gastric bypass surgery is effective at reducing an obese person’s related risk of diabetes, it’s unknown whether the effects will last beyond the five years tested in the study.
A lap-band is placed on a replica stomach. This medical procedure is used to help those with obesity. (Getty) Source: iStockphoto/Getty Images
Lifestyle and diet changes v surgery: what you need to know
Obesity is a major health problem in Australia. Figures from the that almost two-in-three adults are overweight or obese.
Going under the knife, however, does sound like a drastic option to achieve weight loss and a reduction in your diabetes risk. spokesperson Charlene Grosse reassures people battling the bulge that medically advised obesity surgery will be a valid option for some people. But, she explains, it should only ever be considered as a last resort.
“Obesity surgery can play an important role in aiding weight loss in severely obese people, where diet and lifestyle approaches have not been sufficient in achieving long-term weight loss,” says Grosse, an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian.
“On average people undergoing weight loss surgery lost 50 per cent of their excess weight at the three-year mark.
“The Australian Bariatric Surgery Registry has [also] identified 38 per cent of people no longer identified as having diabetes 12 months after surgery (predominately sleeve gastrectomy procedure).”
That’s not to say that once you get surgery, you will never have to diet again. On the contrary, Grosse says: “this approach is only effective in the long-term when used in conjunction with healthy eating and regular exercise”.
“Like diets, surgery is not a quick fix and requires positive dietary changes to be made. Weight loss surgery changes how much someone can eat but does not change the psychology of eating.
“If a person eats the high calorie, nutrient poor foods or does not eat they are at risk of long-term nutritional deficiencies (particularly with the sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass).”
Like diets, surgery is not a quick fix and requires positive dietary changes to be made. Weight loss surgery changes how much someone can eat but does not change the psychology of eating.
Grosse explains that weight loss usually peaks after 12-18 months of surgery, and patients should expect to regain some weight after this time if they increase their intake of alcohol, constantly graze on food and don't do any physical activity.
“Achieving long-term weight loss relies on weight management strategies being continued after bariatric surgery has occurred.”
Grosse advises anyone who wants to lose weight to visit their GP and a qualified dietician to obtain medical advice that is specific to them.
