Gastric Bypass Can Provide Sustainable Weight Loss

By Ajay Goyal, MD, FACS, New Jersey Bariatric Center

In the early 70’s the first open gastric bypass was performed, then in 1997 the first successful laparoscopic gastric bypass followed. Since then, the medical field amassed significant evidence that weight loss surgery is the only effective long term tool to permanently keep weight off and cure or significantly resolve obesity related illness such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease. In August, the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) published two more studies that add to the growing evidence of the benefits of weight loss surgery: a lower risk of death.

The largest study to date, led by researchers at the University of Utah School of Medicine, involved 15,850 severely obese people. Half of the severely obese people underwent gastric bypass procedure between 1984 and 2002 and the other half had no surgical intervention for obesity. The results were dramatic - 40% of the severely obese patients who underwent gastric bypass procedure were less likely to die from any cause during an average of seven years of follow-up compared to the group with no surgical intervention. Additionally, after gastric bypass patients were 92% less likely to die from diabetes, 59% less likely to die from coronary artery disease and 60% less likely to be killed by cancer.

The second study, led by researchers at Gothenburg University in Sweden, involved 4,047 obese volunteers, 2,010 who underwent some form of bariatric surgery and 2,037 who received conventional obesity treatment, including lifestyle intervention, behavior modification or no treatment at all. Ten years after surgery the bariatric surgery patients had lost more weight and had a 24% lower risk of death than the comparison group.

At the New Jersey Bariatric Center, we have similar results. On average, our patients lose 70% excess body weight 18 months after gastric bypass surgery and 60% excess body weight loss after gastric band surgery. Quality of life drastically improves for our patients, with surgery resolving or improving 90% of patients’ diabetes, 96% of patient’s hypertension, and 73% of patient’s obstructive sleep apnea.

Our approach to patient care has resulted in zero mortality to date and a complication rate that is lower than the national average. These surgical results stand out as some of the best in New Jersey.

But weight loss surgery is not for everyone, it’s only people with weight more than 100lbs (BMI over 40) their ideal body weight should consider either procedures. (qualifications)

In the end, weight loss surgery -- Gastric Bypass or Gastric Band – is a tool that will help people take back control of their weight, and, as the two studies in the NEJM show, have a significant positive affect on their long term health.