Bariatric Surgery: Focus on Weight Loss Surgery

Bariatric surgery, or weight loss surgery, can help obese people lose significant amounts of weight, permanently, when other weight loss methods such as diet and exercise, have failed. But the benefits to patients go beyond weight loss. Here, we explore the many life-changing benefits bariatric surgery can offer.

Anyone with a body mass index (BMI) of over 35 has an increased risk of developing serious health issues, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol. But if the weight is lost, these health risks are reduced or even eliminated.

How does bariatric surgery work?

When our stomachs are smaller, we feel full after eating smaller amounts of food. In addition, there are other hormonal changes that can slow down the stomach and make us feel less hungry. Bariatric surgery works on these principles, meaning that patients feel full after eating only a small amount. As a result, a significant amount of weight is lost.

There are multiple types of bariatric surgery available to help obese people, who have failed to lose weight through other methods such as diet and exercise. The Bariatric Surgery Program at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Digestive Disease Institute specializes in both surgical and advanced endoscopic (non-surgical) procedures.

What are the benefits of weight loss surgery?

The results of bariatric surgery offer a long-term solution. Usually, when a large amount of weight is lost through diet or other methods, most people end up putting the weight back on within a relatively short space of time. In fact, less than 5% of people are able to keep it off long-term. Bariatric surgery offers a more permanent solution. But long-term, significant weight loss is just one of the advantages, there are also many other life-changing health benefits:

• Remission of type 2 diabetesStudies have found that bariatric surgery can result in long-term remission of type 2 diabetes. It is very effective for obese patients, allowing almost all of them to stop taking insulin and other diabetes medication for many years after the surgery.

• Improved heart healthBariatric surgery can decrease the risk of developing coronary artery disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease. This is down to the fact that blood pressure and cholesterol levels return to near-normal levels, reducing the risk of these conditions.
• Relieve depressionLiving with obesity can cause many mental health issues, often brought on by poor body image and social isolation. When weight loss results are seen, it can greatly improve emotional wellbeing in these patients.

• Stop sleep apneaSleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder which can cause breathing to suddenly stop during the night. It is common in obese patients, so once a normal weight is achieved through bariatric surgery, the condition can be eliminated.
• Relief from joint painObese patients often suffer from severe joint pain, caused by excess weight putting huge amounts of pressure on the joints. Once the weight is lost, this stress is relieved and the pain can subside, reducing the need for pain medication.
• Increased fertilityObesity can negatively affect fertility, so once significant weight loss is achieved, fertility levels usually improve.

There are many other medical conditions that weight loss surgery can improve, including metabolic syndrome, pregnancy complications and more.

As obesity levels rise worldwide, bringing with it a range of health complications, bariatric surgery is increasingly seen as a successful, long-term solution for obese patients when other weight loss approaches haven’t been successful. Talk to your doctor to see if it is right for you.