Weight Loss Surgery Decreases Cancer Risk and Related Deaths in Adults

Many people often think of weight loss surgery as a cosmetic procedure. However, it is the health benefits of weight loss surgery that make the procedure an effective solution for those who cannot reach a safe and healthy weight using conventional weight loss methods.

While it is well known that obesity is a risk factor for a wide range of conditions, including cancer, there has been far less research on the direct link between weight loss surgery and these conditions. Now though, a new study published in JAMA has shown weight loss surgery to lead to a decreased risk of cancer and related deaths in adult patients.

What is Weight Loss Surgery?

There are several different procedures that fall under the umbrella of weight loss surgery, but most of them work essentially the same way. Weight loss surgery is designed to limit the amount of food that a patient eats by surgically decreasing the size of their stomach. Some procedures also limit the amount of food that the digestive system is able to absorb.

Sleeve gastrectomy is the most common type of weight loss surgery performed in the United States. This procedure removes 75-80% of the stomach and leaves a gastric sleeve in place that is 15% of the stomach’s original volume.

Since hunger sensations are triggered based on how full or empty the stomach is regardless of its size, reducing the stomach’s volume enables patients to feel fuller much faster and avoid cravings throughout the day.

According to UCLA Health, weight loss surgery patients can experience excess weight loss of 60-70% within one year of surgery, leading to an improved quality of life and helping prevent a wide range of obesity-related conditions.

Weight Loss Surgery Shown to Decrease Cancer Risk

The link between obesity and a higher cancer risk is well established. However, the link between intentional weight loss and lower cancer risk has not been studied nearly as much. Now, though, researchers have found a strong correlation between weight loss surgery and a reduced risk of both cancer and cancer related mortality. The study examined 30,318 patients with a median age of 46 and a median BMI of 45. 5,053 of these patients underwent weight loss surgery while the remainder were used as a control group.

In the study’s conclusion, researchers stated, “Among adults with obesity, [weight loss surgery] compared with no surgery was associated with a significantly lower incidence of obesity-associated cancer and cancer-related mortality.”

This is promising news for anyone who is considering weight loss surgery to improve their health, showing that intentional weight loss – via surgical procedure or otherwise – can indeed help reverse the increased cancer risks caused by obesity.

How to Decide if Weight Loss Surgery is the Right Choice for You

Contrary to popular belief, not everyone who wants to shed a few pounds is a candidate for weight loss surgery. Weight loss surgery is typically reserved for those who have a BMI of 40 or higher or for those with a BMI of 35-39 as well as significant health problems such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes. Again, the primary purpose of weight loss surgery is to promote better health outcomes for those who are significantly overweight. Unless you fall into one of these two categories, you’ll have to stick with losing weight the conventional way.

However, if your weight is negatively impacting your health and you have struggled to lose weight from diet and exercise alone, weight loss surgery might be a good choice for you. Schedule an appointment with your physician to discuss the benefits and risks of weight loss surgery and to determine if you are a good fit for this procedure.

Conclusion

Yet another miracle of modern medicine, weight loss surgery can be life-changing for those who are experiencing serious health and lifestyle complications due to their weight. If you would like to learn more about the health benefits of weight loss surgery, be sure to discuss the procedure with your physician at your next appointment. At Bikham Healthcare, we are committed to supporting physicians across the country via industry-leading RCM, credentialing, and enrollment services. To learn more about these services, feel free to contact us today!

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