A new study of nearly 22,000 people who had weight loss surgery in Utah found that the procedure reduces the risk of premature death, particularly from obesity-related conditions like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
The study found that compared to people of similar weight, those who underwent one of four types of bariatric surgery were 16% less likely to die from any cause.
The decrease in deaths from obesity-related illnesses, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, was even more significant.
According to lead author Ted Adams, an adjunct associate professor in nutrition and integrative psychiatry at the University of Utah’s School of Medicine, the study found that deaths from cardiovascular disease decreased by 29%, while deaths from various cancers decreased by 43%, which is quite impressive.
Furthermore, there was a 72% decline in deaths related to diabetes in people who had surgery compared to those who did not. However, the study also found that younger people who had the surgery were at a higher risk for suicide.
The four procedures included in the study were Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, adjustable gastric banding, sleeve gastrectomy and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch.
Patients who had bariatric surgery had done so between 1982 and 2018 and were identified through three large bariatric surgery practices in Salt Lake City, as well as at the University of Utah and Intermountain Healthcare.
Researchers said the results may increase interest in weight-loss surgery.
Obesity surgery is currently the most efficient method to decrease the risk of death from related diseases, and in the long term, it is beneficial to have surgery sooner rather than later to avoid further complications.
The findings were published Jan. 25 in the journal Obesity.