Bariatric surgery has many health and psychological benefits for patients. Losing weight is an effective way to regain your life back, but it can also completely reverse some ailments like Type 2 Diabetes.
There are numerous reasons why people decide to undergo weight loss surgery, but they all have one goal in mind – better quality of life. Getting your health back can be a thoroughly rewarding experience, so much, that over 95% of people have a better quality of life post-surgery.
Benefits of Bariatric Surgery include:
Type 2 Diabetes- High Blood Pressure
- High Cholesterol
- Osteoarthritis of Weight-Bearing Joints – 90% Resolution
- Depression
- GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) – 98% Resolution
- Urinary Stress Incontinence – 97% Resolution
- Asthma and Pulmonary Conditions
- Reproductive Health
- Sleep Apnea and Respiratory Problems – 85.7% Resolved
Type 2 Diabetes Benefits:
Bariatric Surgery has been known to completely reverse type 2 diabetes in some patients. Obesity and type 2 diabetes are strongly correlated and having type 2 diabetes puts a strain on your quality of life.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes is a lifetime disease that can happen at any age, health status or weight. But according to the National Institue of Health, “low activity level, poor diet, and excess body weight (especially around the waist) significantly increase your risk for type 2 diabetes”.
The NIH also continue to say that “Bariatric (weight loss) surgery may be considered for very overweight patients who are not well managed with diet and medications.”
Bariatric Surgery As a Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes
In a meta-study about the effectiveness of bariatric surgery on Type 2, Diabetes found positive results. They found that 76.8% of patients ultimately resolved their type 2 diabetes. Nearly 10% additional found improvement in their condition. Overall, 86% of patients either improved or completely resolved their situation.
Resources:
Pub Med Health: NIH – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001356/
Benefits on High Blood Pressure:
Bariatric surgery significantly, and positive impacts hypertension according to a recent meta-analysis study. Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a very standard issue in the United States facing millions of individuals. There is a known correlation between increasing BMIs and lifetime risk of hypertension.
Health benefits were overwhelmingly positive, according to the study. 78.5% of patients had resolved or improved their hypertension. Another study on the effects of bariatric surgery and hypertension saw an astounding 92% resolution of high blood pressure.
Benefits on High Cholesterol:
Obese individuals face a greater propensity to develop hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) with severe consequences. But according to new research, bariatric surgery can significantly improve this condition. 93% of patients found that both hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia were enhanced.
High cholesterol carries two big risk factors heart attacks and strokes. Both can be fatal, so it’s crucial to do whatever you can to maintain a healthy LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels.
Choosing to have Bariatric Surgery
The decision to undergo bariatric surgery is tough, and should include your personal physician recommendations. There are specific characteristics and personality types that may not be right for weight loss surgery. It’s also important to fully understand the risks, complications and possible side effects that can occur because of the surgery. Sometimes you may need help breaking a stall after weight loss surgery.
Resources:
- ASMBS: Benefits of Bariatric Surgery – We’ve covered a lot of topics regarding comorbidities, there are still a lot of other benefits of weight loss surgery. We encourage you to review this document to discover other hidden benefits of weight loss surgery.
- Longevity Benefit of Bariatric Surgery – Weight loss surgery truly extends your life, from a myriad of advantages.
- Obesity-Associated Cancers – “A large retrospective study from Canada showed nearly 80% reduction of cancer incidence after bariatric surgery.”