August 22, 2007 (Insidermedicine) Severely obese people who have weight loss surgery manage to keep the extra pounds off long term, and have a lower risk of dying, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

This is what we know about obesity and its health effects:
•    The rate of adult obesity has doubled in the past 20 years and tripled in children, affecting an estimated 30% of the US population
•    Obesity has many long term health risks, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer
•    The life expectancy of someone who is severely obese is about five to 20 years lower than a person who isn’t obese

While studies have shown that weight loss improved the health of those who are obese, there have been no studies to show whether weight loss actually reduces the risk of death. In the present study, researchers compared the overall death rate of more than 4,000 obese people, half of whom underwent weight loss surgery and half who received conventional treatment. Weight loss surgery – or bariatric surgery – involves reducing the size of the stomach so that food bypasses part of the small intestine. This reduces the amount of food that can be eaten, resulting in fewer calories being consumed.

Depending on the type of surgery performed, the patients lost between 14% and 25% of their body weight at 10 years compared to less than 2% in those receiving conventional treatment. As well, weight loss surgery lowered the death rate by 29%.

While it’s always best to lose weight through a healthy diet and regular physical activity, weight loss surgery may be an option for those who are obese. Surgery isn’t for everyone with obesity, however. It’s a major procedure that poses significant risks and side effects and requires permanent changes in your lifestyle.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Maria Radina.