According to a recent study, those who have had gastric bypass surgery that have both diabetes and a larger stomach pouch both felt a less successful weight loss result then those that did not. It’s no secret that weight loss surgery is becoming more popular and is used as an effective tool to lose weight in order to prevent the onset of potentially dangerous conditions or to help put them into remission.
Almost two-thirds of all Americans are either overweight or obese. This alarming number is similar to that of other countries that are experiencing 40-50% rates too. Not only is this alarming, but it is apparent that a solution is needed. By studying why people don’t lose weight, doctors and researchers can better understand how to prepare patients for surgery and who are not good candidates for bariatric surgery. This can save them time and money as well as the disappointment in not as great of results as they first expected from the surgery.
Most patients enjoy a significant weight loss as a result of weight loss surgery as well as a resolution of various health problems and increased quality of life. However, some patients experience a lower weight loss. The study found that those with diabetes and have a large stomach pouch both were linked to poor results in the long term.
After gastric bypass surgery (the most popular of all bariatric surgeries), weight loss occurs because food intake is reduced by creating a small stomach pouch that bypasses the lower stomach. The study found that 5-15% of all patients have a more disappointment result then the norm and they lose a small amount of weight despite having no complications from the surgery. Researchers believe that greater initial weight, a diabetes diagnosis and stomach pouch size all contribute to this unsuccessful status.
About the Study
A team at the University of California reviewed the outcomes for a large number of patients undergoing this gastric bypass surgery. They reviewed their follow-up visit information including their weight loss progress and found similarities between those who didn’t lose as much weight as was expected. Nearly 361 gastric bypass patients’ information was reviewed including their health status before surgery, size of the pouch created during surgery and their overall weight loss. Researchers examined information up to their year follow-up mark and noticed that 310 of the total patients had an average body mass index or BMI of 52 before surgery occurred.
The study determined that “good” weight loss would be losing more than 40% of their initial weight in a year following gastric bypass surgery. Poor weight loss was associated with any weight loss that was less than 40%. The majority of patients resulted in losing nearly 60% of their body weight and had an average BMI of 34. 38 of these 361 (10.5%) experienced poor weight loss and most all had a larger size pouch or diabetes before surgery. Researchers believe that some diabetes medications may lessen one’s chance of weight loss. They also believe that a small stomach pouch may become routine in order to guarantee success for a patient.