New Research unveils the Dark Side to Weight Loss Surgery

Here is one of those studies I really don’t understand… But it is worth reading if you are planning to have, or had Gastric Bypass Surgery. The study by the University of Pittsburgh looked at nearly 17,000 Pennsylvania residents who underwent bariatric surgery, between 1995 and 2004 and was published in the October issue of the journal Archives of Surgery.

It reveals that coronary heart disease and suicide helped fuel the rise in the risk of death among patients after weight-loss surgery. Approximately 1 percent of patients died within one year of surgery and nearly 6 percent died within five years.

It is likely that this continued excess mortality after bariatric surgery could be reduced by better coordination of follow-up after the surgery, especially control of high risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia [high cholesterol] and smoking, as well as efforts to prevent weight regain by diet and exercise and psychological support to prevent and treat depression and suicide. (Read more here)