MASSDEVICE ON CALL — The benefits of gastric bypass surgery on severely obese patients lasted an average of 6 years following the procedure, according to a new study.
Patients not only experienced significant weight loss, but had lower rates of diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol, researchers reported.
"The prevalence of extreme obesity in the United States is increasing at a rate greater than moderate obesity," according to the study. "Unfortunately, lifestyle therapy is generally insufficient as a weight management intervention for patients who are extremely obese. To date, effective long-term weight loss through pharmacological therapy has been marginal, leaving bariatric surgery as the only medical intervention providing substantial, long-term weight loss for most patients who are severely obese."
The study included more than 1,100 severely obese patients aged 18 to 72 years old, more than 90% of which remained with the investigation for a full 6 years.
At the 6-year mark, 96% of patients who received surgery had maintained more than 10% weight-loss and more than 75% had maintained at least 20% weight loss, according to the study.
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