A study published yesterday in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that obese patients who have received bariatric (weight loss) surgery experience a long-term reduction in the rates of cardiovascular disease and death from heart attacks and strokes.
Whilst obesity is known to increase the risks of developing cardiovascular disease, evidence that weight loss can reduce cardiovascular problems has been lacking. This new survey however, conducted by researchers from Sweden, found that “bariatric surgery is associated with reduced incidence of cardiovascular deaths and cardiovascular events.”
The research took place in almost 500 primary health care centres and included over 4000 obese patients in two groups, one group who received surgery and one who did not. The methods of bariatric surgery undertaken included gastric bypass and gastric banding, with the most popular surgery being vertical banded gastroplasty (also known as stomach stapling). The authors conclude that “there are many benefits to bariatric surgery [some of which]… are independent of the… weight loss.”
