Weight Loss Surgery May Add Years to Life

Stomach-Stapling Surgery
------------
There's no doubt that stomach-stapling surgery leads to dramatic weight loss. But new research shows that the procedure might also add years to life.

As the number of obese people in the U.S. has soared, so has the popularity of the surgery. In fact, East Carolina University researchers estimated that the number of people undergoing weight-loss surgery increased from 40,000 in 2001 to 86,000 this year and will reach 140,000 next year.

Past research has shown that gastric bypass improves diabetes, high blood pressure, and other diseases related to excess fat. But the effect on a person's life span has been unknown, until now

To answer that question, researchers at New Hampshire's Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center first looked at data from previous research that showed how much a weight an average person loses after having the surgery. Then they looked at the average life expectancies of people at various heights and weights. In this way, they could estimate how much the change in weight caused by surgery would affect patients' life span.

The results suggest that most people eligible for the surgery would benefit, says lead researcher G. Darby Pope, MD, surgery resident at Dartmouth-Hitchcock. "By undergoing the surgery, they will gain life years," he said. Pope presented the study this week at a meeting of the American College of Surgeons in San Francisco.

People with a BMI, a measure of obesity that takes both height and weight into account, over 25 are considered overweight. But according to U.S. government guidelines, patients should have a BMI of at least 40, or a BMI of 35 with a related serious disease, to be eligible for gastric bypass surgery. Most such patients are more than 100 pounds overweight.

The results varied according to the patients' age, gender, and body mass index (BMI). According to the researchers, a woman with a BMI of 45 at age 40 would gain three years of life. A man of similar age and size could expect to gain 3.9 years.

These results are better than those obtained by heart disease surgery, Pope said. But he cautioned that no one should interpret these findings literally. The actual effects of the gastric bypass surgery will vary a lot from one individual to another.

Questions about the benefits of gastric bypass surgery will be answered with more certainty by studies now under way on large groups of patients, Pope says.

The surgery is getting more popular not only because more people are obese, but also because surgeons have improved their techniques. In earlier weight-loss surgery, doctors routed the digestive track past much of the intestines, resulting in malnutrition.

In the kind of surgery in the Dartmouth-Hitchcock study, most of the stomach is stapled shut so that food can only enter a small pouch at the top. A branch of the intestines is connected to this pouch. (The unused part of the stomach is connected to this branch downstream in order to drain its fluids.)

Patients vomit if they overeat, but feel full with much less food. Typically, they lose about three-quarters of their excess weight in the first year, then gradually gain some back. After ten years or more, most carry about half the excess weight they had before the surgery, says Pope.

Patients must take nutritional supplements for the rest of their lives, and there is a chance of dying from complications of the surgery. But Pope and his colleagues took this risk of complications into account in their study and the results suggest that the risk of death from the procedure are much less than the risk of death from obesity.

The main problem with this type of surgery is it is only a short-term solution. Usually overweight people have poor eating habits and do not exercise. Having surgery does not correct either. It is vital to have a change of lifestyle to undergo healthy weight loss. Without the change, the body remains in an unhealthy state.

Source: WebMD

You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated.

About The Author
------------
Michael Lewis has been collecting articles and information on Weight Loss and HGH (Human Growth Hormone) and related health benefits. He has created and edits numerous web sites about this subject. Michael is a staff writer for http://www.ageforce.com and several other websites. If you would like to contact Michael you can e-mail him at Michael@AgeForce.com or if you would like to know more about Weight Loss, HGH (Human Growth Hormone) and related health topics please visit us at AgeForce.com.

---

Loss Your Weight

WEIGHT LOSS:Nutrition and weight-loss researchers say that some supplements can... Read More

Four Big Weight Loss No-Nos

I've worked with hundreds of people who were interested in... Read More

Weight Loss and Water: The Unknown Secret

Weight Loss and Water: A Way to Make Your Body... Read More

How High-Carb Diet Plans Treat Carbohydrates

A number of popular diets are focused on carbohydrates. Some... Read More

Why Low Carb Dieters Can Eat Chicken Skin And Meat Fat

While low-fat dieters and non-dieters may want to avoid chicken... Read More

Panic After WLS: Im Succeeding at Weight Loss: Now What?

The fear of success arises in patients when they realize... Read More

Gastric Bypass Surgery - What Are The Risks?

Although all of the risks involved in gastric bypass surgery... Read More

The Right Diet Pill ? Where Do You Begin?

The right diet pill should be carefully considered when deciding... Read More

I Can, I Cant

One common question I receive is, "What do you do... Read More

You Can Lose Weight on a High Carbohydrate Diet

A startling fact is that carbohydrates are not responsible for... Read More

Ultimate Weight Loss: Fight Fat and Win

As if you needed another reason to hit the snooze... Read More

7 Tips for Dieting Success

There are lots of dieters, trying every sort of plan... Read More

The Type Of Food and Nutrition That Can Help You Lose Weight Fast

The following are diet tips that can help you shape... Read More

The Ultimate Weight Loss Attitude

We in the diet and exercise industry have our own... Read More

Want Power Before Will Power

The problem isn't that you don't have enough will power... Read More

1-2-3, Weight Loss & Maintenance Has Become So Easy

Millions of people spend billions of dollars, hoping to achieve... Read More

Are You Controlled by the Urge to Splurge

I gotta confess: I'm completely addicted to crisps. Any kind... Read More

The Lost Road of a Failed Gastric Bypass Surgery

In 1994, I had a RNY surgery. At 350 lbs... Read More

How Did I Get So FAT!

"I never saw it coming, how did I get so... Read More

Be a Loser: 50 Reasons to Get Weight Loss Surgery

Weight loss surgery is fast becoming a very popular way... Read More

Get NeanderThin on the Cave Man Diet

Are you up to a cave man diet? You won't... Read More

Overcoming the 7 Roadblocks to Maintaining Weight Loss

1. Become aware of what you are eating.Before I started... Read More

Walking: Its Never Too Late to Lose Weight!

How did a thin person like me become overweight? My... Read More

Weight Loss: Why Do We Gain Weight?

There are many factors that cause us to increase body... Read More

The Tao of Weight Watchers Part Two

As I explained in the first part of this article,... Read More

Weight Loss: The Strength in Setting Goals, Achieving Objectives, and The Power of Intention

The act of taking the first step is what separates... Read More

Grains and Weight Loss--Do Whole Grains Help You Lose Weight?

Whole grains and weight loss have a definite, scientific, and... Read More

Weight Loss Maintenance Tip - Staying Aware

Stop Weight From Creeping Up By Staying AwareEveryone has small... Read More

How Music Can Help You Burn More Fat

Browsing one of the Russian websites I have recently found... Read More

To Be or Not To Be: Low Carb...

I get asked all the time, "what do you think... Read More

Weight Loss for Good ? The 80/20 Rule!

Have you ever thought, "I just can not seem to... Read More

5 Diet Pill Free Weightloss Tips For Powerful Living

Before you even think of taking diet pills to lose... Read More

Successful Weight-loss Pointers

Well we're at it again, trying to honor our promise... Read More