Gastric bypass is the most common type of weight loss procedure, according to a variety of reports that have been released. More people are choosing gastric bypass over other weight loss methods, like lap band because it is done laparoscopically with minimal recovery time and a high success rate. Here are some facts and statistics provided by multiple studies and resources that show the success rate of gastric bypass surgery.
Candidates of Gastric Bypass
According to a report by US News, candidates for bariatric surgery are based on the BMI of the patient. This includes having a BMI of 40 or more, or a BMI of 35 or higher that is 100 pounds overweight or more. They also note that candidates for this surgery must be between 18 and 65 years of age as age can increase many of the risks of surgery. They have also found that approximately 300,000 deaths are caused by obesity, further leading to the importance of gastric bypass. Some life-threatening conditions caused by obesity, and the reason gastric bypass is encouraged, include type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension, heart diseases, high cholesterol, respiratory problems, and gallbladder disease.
Benefits of Gastric Bypass
Through several studies performed in 2007, the New England Journal of Medicine found that there are not only long-term adverse effects of obesity but many great benefits of getting gastric bypass surgery. The studies found that over 60 percent of patients had a reduction in cholesterol levels, 90 percent saw improvements in different types of diseases, 50 percent had lower blood pressure, and 85 percent had a significant improvement in their obstructive sleep apnea. Stress urinary incontinence and mental disorders from obesity were also improved.
Risks and Complications
Like all types of surgeries, there is a variety of risks and complications when you choose to have gastric bypass surgery. The October 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that the mortality of patients was between 0.1 and 0.2 percent, showing death is a risk, but very rare. Duke University surgeons have developed a scoring system for risks of mortality of patients getting gastric bypass surgery. This includes a higher risk for patients with a BMI of 50 or more, men with diabetes or hypertension, and older individuals. Additional possible risks and complications include bleeding, infection, leaking of the incision site, stroke, heart attack, ulcers, dumping syndrome, and a variety of other hazards.
Long-Term Results of Gastric Bypass
The U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health ran a 15-year study on gastric bypass patients to look at their long-term success and outcomes. It looked at the issues over an extended period to see how much patients lost after surgery and if they kept off that weight. The study looked at 3,227 patients who had gastric bypass surgery, with an average age of 47 and average body mass index (BMI) of just over 43. 714 of these patients completed the entire 10-year follow-up. Within 15 years after surgery, there was 47.1 percent of excess weight maintained by patients.
These statistics show a very high success rate for gastric bypass. It is not only important to look at short-term weight loss but how much weight loss they have maintained since obesity is a life-threatening condition. Obesity leads to many serious diseases and conditions, making it important that patients can retain their weight loss over an extended period. There is a very low mortality rate of the gastric bypass at less than a 0.2 percent chance, and over 40 percent of patients who lost excess weight kept it off after the 10-year mark.