Scientists Take a Closer Look at the Risks of Weight Loss Surgery

For men and women who are fed up with what can seem like a never-ending struggle to lose weight, bariatric surgery has become an increasingly popular option. Over the last decade, the number of people electing surgical options for weight loss has skyrocketed. In 2007, an estimated 170,000 people underwent weight loss surgery in the United States alone.

There is a strong consensus among the medical establishment that obesity is a very clear risk to the public?s overall health. Furthermore, traditional methods of weight loss, such as diet changes and exercise regimens, appear to be unable to turn the tide of obesity for millions of overweight men and women.

However, despite the growing popularity of weight loss surgery, there are also a number of significant risks associated with these procedures. Taking the health risks of obesity into consideration, many doctors advise that the dangers inherent in any major surgery still outweigh the long-term health risks of being significantly overweight.

Still, scientists around the world are engaged in ongoing studies that are seeking to highlight and eliminate the risks associated with weight loss surgery. This week, we?ll review the results of several recent studies that have focused on possible dangers associated with these procedures.

Many Doctors Do Not Fully Understand the Risks of Weight Loss Surgery

The media has been diligent in reporting the potential dangers of gastric bypass surgery and other weight loss procedures, and the scientific and scholarly presses have also released a substantial amount of information on the subject. However, according to the results of a recent study conducted by the Duke University Weight Loss Surgery Center, a sizable number of physicians do not have a clear grasp of the magnitude of the risks that are associated with these procedures.

The impact of this lack of understanding has several consequences, according to the researchers who conducted the study. Some physicians who don?t fully understand the process of weight loss surgery may be reluctant to recommend it as an option to their overweight patients. This could deprive many obese men and women with their best opportunity to lose weight.

On the other hand, other doctors who don?t fully understand the risks of weight loss surgery may recommend it to patients for whom the procedure is overly dangerous. The authors of the study asserted that this problem may account for some of the complications that patients suffer after undergoing weight loss surgery.

Based on these findings, the authors of the study recommended that candidates for weight loss surgery visit an accredited, full-service center for comprehensive screening before electing to undergo a procedure. This approach has the best chance of eliminating risk factors and screening out high-risk patients.

Suicide and Heart Disease are Major Risk Factors for Weight Loss Surgery Patients

A team of researchers at the University of Pittsburgh recently undertook a study designed to assess the post-surgery death rates of patients who had undergone weight loss surgery. According to their analysis, weight loss surgery patients have a risk of death that is much higher than that of the general population.

In addition, it was found that weight loss surgery patients stood particularly high risk of dying as a result of suicide and coronary heart disease. Although the factors that cause suicide are complex, the researchers asserted that this statistic underscores the importance of psychological screening for weight loss surgery candidates.

Heart disease was the leading cause of death for weight loss surgery patients, with 20% of the sample studied succumbing to coronary heart disease. The authors underscored the importance of adhering to a heart-healthy diet in the post-surgery period, even after desired levels of weight loss have been achieved.

New Study Stresses Importance of Psychological Assessment of Candidates for Weight Loss Surgery

A team of researchers at Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University recently assessed the psychological implications of weight loss surgery. According to the researchers, the stress of major surgery and recovery, paired with the confusion and conflicting feelings that can be incited through rapid weight loss, can pose the threat of severe emotional damage to patients who undergo the procedures.

Based on a review of hospital records, the research team found that as many as 20% of all patients who underwent weight loss surgery were not adequately screened by licensed psychologists or psychiatrists prior to the procedure. The team suggested the implementation of more thorough screening protocols in the future, with particular emphasis on identifying eating disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders, substance abuse, emotional or binge eating, or a history of noncompliance with medical directives.

If you?re considering weight loss surgery, talk to a qualified expert in the field to determine if this is the right approach for you. Please check back each week for more of the diet and weight loss news you need!