For Bariatric Surgery Patients, Weight Loss Success Remains At 10 Year Mark

Short term studies have long shown the efficacy of bariatric surgery on morbidly obese patients.  Here’s a longer term study that reaffirms what we’ve known.  At one year, patients who underwent gastric bypass lost 31% of their starting weight. those who did not undergo a surgical intervention (i.e. tried diet alone) lost a paltry 1.1% of their starting weight.

At 10 years, those who underwent bypass maintained an average loss of 21% of their starting weight.  Surgical intervention is the only type of intervention that even comes close to these levels of success.

The study also compared a few different types of surgeries and their successes at the 4 year mark:

• Roux-en-YGastric Bypass: patients lost an average of 27.5% of their starting weight
• Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy: patients lost an average of 17.8% of their starting weight
• Gastric Band: patients lost an average of 10.6% of their starting weight

This seems to confirm earlier research that suggested that bypass was the most effective surgical intervention (of the three).  At four years, it appears to result in nearly 10% more weight loss than the sleeve gastrectomy…but both have a much more dramatic effect than the gastric band.

Does this mean I got the wrong surgery?

Here’s the editorial response to the research, and it undoubtedly gets at the heart of some pretty heavy emotional elements for many of us. As a sleever myself, I couldn’t help but wonder for a moment if I should have gone with the Roux-en-Y.  I’m sure I’m not alone.  But here’s the rub: these are average results.  The one thing that’s clear, regardless of surgery type is this: the benefits of any of these surgeries clearly outweigh attempting to succeed with diet and exercise alone.

And there’s another thing to consider. We’re looking at the law of averages here.  We all know sleevers who have lost more than people who got bypass.  And banders too.  The surgery…regardless of the type…is a tool.  You win the game by what you bring to it.  So it’s probably best to keep your eye on the prize and focus on healthy eating with whichever tool you chose.

You can succeed with any of them.

References

• Bariatric Surgery and Long-term Durability of Weight Loss JAMA Surg. Published online August 31, 2016. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2016.2317.
• Study: Many Bariatric Surgery Patients Maintained Weight Loss for 10 Years Endocrinology Advisor. September 2, 2016.