Weight Loss Surgery Could Mean Fewer Heart Issues

Finally some good news for folks worrying about having through weight loss surgery – according to a major study, it could just mean that they’re less likely to suffer from heart problems compared to people who didn’t have the surgery.

The findings, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, studied more than 4,000 obese people treated at 500 surgery departments and health care centers in Sweden.

Between 1987 and 2001, half of those people opted for bariatric or weight-loss surgeries, most often stomach stapling, and the other half were treated with routine care, including advice on lifestyle changes.

“Compared with usual care, bariatric surgery was associated with reduced number of cardiovascular deaths and lower incidence of cardiovascular events in obese adults,” said Lars Sjostrom, lead researcher.

The surgery has other health benefits independent of the amount of weight loss, including a reduction in diabetes, which could ease heart risks, said a top doctor involved in the study.