Surgery for obesity goes far beyond weight loss, providing a significant improvement in patients’ quality of life, with an impact on the control of metabolic diseases, reduction of cardiovascular risks, and some types of cancer, in addition to benefits in mental health and social relationships.
Obesity surgery was, for many years, considered just an alternative to losing weight, but today we know that its benefits go far beyond numbers on the scale.
The objective of metabolic surgery is to control obesity, allowing a recovery of lost quality of life, control of associated diseases, and sustainable and lasting weight loss. This loss depends on the initial weight and the surgery performed and lasts for many years after the intervention.
Although there is a period of some weight recovery after the minimum weight is reached, most studies show that 20 years after surgery the results are maintained in a sustained and clinically significant way.
The increase in food intake over time is a consequence of the regulation of hunger and satiety hormones and is not necessarily associated with the capacity of the gastric reservoir. However, this increase is physiological and, after a period of readaptation of the body, the weight tends to remain at a reduced level in the long term.
In addition to weight loss, surgery has been linked to an improvement in a variety of metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and dyslipidaemia. Around 80% of patients with these diseases go into remission, no longer requiring specific treatment. Practically all patients improve, and their need for complementary drugs decreases. After a few years, these metabolic diseases may return, but their control becomes easier, and their progression is slower and less severe.
Improving insulin resistance, lipid profile, and blood pressure also results in a positive impact on cardiovascular health. Patients undergoing this surgery achieve a reduction of more than 50% in the risk of cardiovascular events, both fatal and non-fatal, namely, reducing the risk of acute myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, or stroke. On the other hand, they can achieve an increase in their average life expectancy of up to 10 years.
Obesity increases the risk of developing more than 12 types of cancer, and these patients’ prognosis is worsened by factors associated with the tumour itself, individual resistance, and the complexity of the treatments required. After metabolic surgery, there is a great reduction in the risk of developing these cancers and a better prognosis if they need to be treated.
Many studies demonstrate that in operated patients, the level of quality of life achieved increases significantly, being even higher than that of the normal population. Losing weight and improving your disabilities can result in greater satisfaction, associated with better mobility and self-esteem. Often, only after surgery and the consequent weight loss, patients are able to realize the limitations they suffered and to which they had become accustomed throughout their lives.
Finally, in addition to the physical benefits, metabolic surgery can have a positive impact on patients’ social and emotional relationships. Weight loss and general health improvement can strengthen family and friendship bonds, increases self-esteem and self-confidence, helping patients to be more fulfilled and happier.
Article submitted by the HPA Group
