THE RIGHT TIME FOR BARIATRIC WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY? | RESEARCH 2017

Have you considered bariatric weight loss surgery but are wondering: when is the right time? The answer may be sooner than you think.

Recent research from JAMA collected data from patients of Michigan Bariatric Surgery Collaborative tried to identify predictors for reducing BMI to under 30 after surgery. The study concluded that the most significant predator for success was having a BMI under 40 when undergoing the procedure.

While traditional recommendations for bariatric surgery have suggested surgery only as a last resort, this data suggests that advising surgery sooner could be beneficial.

Patients who waited until their BMI was higher than 50 had only an 8.5% rate of successfully lowering their BMI to under 30.

Why does BMI matter?

BMI is a general indicator of overall health. For people who struggle with obesity, a high BMI is often associated with increased health complications and risks such as the development of diabetes, hypertension, etc. These conditions can pose serious life threats and health complications. Patients who undergo bariatric surgery and are able to reduce their BMI can reduce the impact of co-illnesses and in some cases reverse them.

In the study, patients who hit a BMI of under 30 reported a 92% satisfaction rate while only 78% of patients who did not achieve a BMI of under 30 were satisfied with their bariatric surgery.

Surgery can be a big decision and some bariatric procedures such as the gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, and duodenum switch are irreversible. Therefore, satisfaction with the surgery is of great importance and should be taken into consideration.

Why Does It Matter?

Right now, there are restrictions on who is allowed to have certain procedures performed. These restrictions are dependent on your current BMI and overall health status. For patients who have serious health conditions such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure, some forms of surgery are available for people with a BMI greater than 35. For individuals who are not suffering from the serious conditions, a BMI of over 40 is required. Patients who are at a BMI of 50+ are able to qualify for all surgery.

Modern bariatric surgery procedures are an effective and safe method of weight management treatment and research suggests it is less risky than other common procedures related to health complications such as coronary artery bypass, esophagectomy and pancreatectomy surgeries.

If you qualify for bariatric surgery taking action now could greatly improve your life. Our team at WeightMatters can help advise and support you through your bariatric surgery journey. If you do not yet qualify, but continue to struggle with weight loss, our WeightMatters team can help advise you on alternate methods of weight loss.