Research about the outcome of bariatric surgery, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has found that when obese patients in their middle age were given gastric surgery, they had a 53% reduced chance of dying from any cause between five and 14 years after the procedure.

The University of Washington in the US looked at 2,500 people with obesity who had had surgery and a further 7,400 people as a ‘control’. The surgery group had had either gastric bypass, gastric sleeve surgery, gastric band surgery or another procedure. When compared with the control group, they were 4% less likely to die from year five to year ten after their treatment and in the period after 10 years afterwards, were 10% less likely to die.

These results suggest that surgical weight loss can have a positive effect on mortality, just like natural weight loss can. People with lower BMI numbers usually live longer.

The aim of the study was to see if bariatric surgery could affect the course of chronic diseases that typically effect people who are obese – such as heart disease and diabetes – and subsequently reduce the bills of healthcare authorities and tax payers. Researchers hope that the study will encourage health providers to use weight loss surgery as a treatment for co-morbidities and to increase the longevity of patients.

Gastric bypass is an operation to make the stomach smaller and bypass part of the digestive system so that the person can only eat small meals. It can be done via keyhole or open surgery. The top of the stomach is turned into a pouch using staples and a piece of the intestine is joined to this pouch, bypassing the rest of the stomach and the upper intestine. The effects are permanent and patients can enjoy up to 70% weight loss after the procedure. Those with type 2 diabetes will have a remission in most cases and if the patient has high blood pressure, they usually find that it stabilises.

The London Obesity Clinic is offering an entirely FREE consultation with the only obesity surgeon in London or the UK to achieve certification as ‘Surgeon of Excellence in Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery’ from the Surgical Review Corporation, Mr Sanjay Agrawal.

Any person with obesity can discuss their personal circumstances and surgical options with Mr Agrawal in London’s premier private obesity clinic.

To gain a free appointment, call 07876618424.