Weight Loss Surgery Types Are Not All Equal for Patients with Severe Obesity

Although you might only think of one type of weight loss surgery, there are actually a few different procedures available. And, researchers have now found that weight loss surgery types are not all equal for patients who have been diagnosed with severe obesity. Continue reading to learn more.

An Older Procedure Might Be Better for Some People

According to Reuters, a study suggests that individuals who are extremely obese might end up losing more weight if they undergo one of the older weight loss surgery types, such as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. This means that they may experience better results with this procedure than they would if they went with the more modern sleeve gastrectomy surgery.

A Look into Weight Loss Surgery Types

Here’s how the study into weight loss surgery types and their effectiveness went: experts followed a total of 59 patients who were classified as obese. They underwent sleeve gastrectomy surgeries before it was a widely accepted procedure, and before it was even covered by health insurance. That was back in 2006-2009. These particular patients qualified for the new procedure because they were either severely obese or they had other medical problems that would make undergoing the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) risky.
Researchers decided to analyze weight loss surgery types by looking at the 59 patients’ results and comparing them with the results of patients who underwent the RYGB procedure. It took seven years, and at the end of that time period, both surgeries proved that they could provide lasting effects in terms of weight loss and a reduction in health problems like hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
However, the researchers did note one significant difference between the patients. Those who underwent sleeve gastrectomy actually lost less weight than those who underwent RGYB.

So, What Are the Conclusions?

As a result of this study, experts recommend that higher risk patients consider going with the RYGB procedure, particularly if their goal is to lose more weight and keep it off for longer. So, if you are considering undergoing weight loss surgery, talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of both sleeve gastrectomy and RYGB in order to make the choice that will be the least risky and the most effective for you.