Scientists Say Weight Loss Surgery is Saving Lives

According to this interesting article, which appeared in the one of the most prestigious scientific journals The Lancet, weight loss surgery or bariatric surgical procedures is saving many lives of severely obese patients because scientific evidence is showing a significant reduction of the risk of death (the complete article is available only for people subscribed to the journal).

Also, It has been estimated that weight loss surgery in the United States has increased 5 times in 5 years, from around 20,000 in 1998 to more than 103,000 in 2003 (According to the American Society for Bariatric Surgery).

Two important scientists, Dr Michael Korenkov, of the Department of Abdominal Surgery, University of Mainz in Germany, and Dr Stefan Sauerland from the Institute for Research in Operative Medicine, University of Witten/Herdecke, also in Germany, have made an analysis of the issues that involve this controversial weight loss treatment.

According to Sauerland a Korenkov there are two kinds of weight loss surgery available today. One of them is called the gastric-restrictive type (because it limits food intake) and the malabsorption type, (it decreases the amount of food absorbed in the digestive tract).

Unfortunately, the effectiveness of any of these surgical procedures has only been measured in terms of the weight reduction and, if this the only measuring rules, they are certainly successful. However, Sauerland and Korenkov point out that today obesity is a more complex issue that involves not only the extra weight but additional key considerations such as metabolic, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal issues.