Weight loss surgery provides so many benefits above a slimmer body. Yes, losing significant weight can help you look better and fit into the clothes you love. But that’s just the beginning of the many ways bariatric surgery can improve your life: it can also improve or resolve diabetes, lower cholesterol, reduce dangers of heart disease, help with osteoarthritis and arthritis, resolve sleep apnea, and lead to an overall healthier life. Best of all, recent research shows that weight loss surgery can actually significantly extend patients’ lives.

Weight Loss Surgery Helps Patients Live Longer

According to recent research, when compared with other treatments for obesity, weight loss surgery can lower all-cause mortality and lead to a longer life expectancy. These survival benefits are even greater in patients with diabetes.

In the study, published last month in The Lancet, researchers analyzed data on obese patients from a number of controlled trials, cohort studies, and scientific literature. They found that patients who underwent any form of weight loss surgery (including gastric bypass , gastric banding, or sleeve gastrectomy) lived an average of 6.1 years longer than obese patients who were given non-surgical care and had a 49.2% reduction in all-cause mortality. In patients with diabetes, bariatric surgery led to a 9.3-year increase in life expectancy.

According to these researchers, “Among adults with obesity, metabolic–bariatric surgery is associated with substantially lower all-cause mortality rates and longer life expectancy than usual obesity management. Survival benefits are much more pronounced for people with pre-existing diabetes than those without.”

Contact Us With Your Weight Loss Questions

If you or your loved one struggles with obesity, there is help available. Dr. Jay Michael Snow and the team at St. Louis Bariatrics will act as your partners in health, guiding you through a successful weight loss journey that can add life to your years and years to your life. For more information on weight loss surgery, please contact us today for a consultation.